Hadith 2340

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: “There were three men from the Children of Israel: a leper, a bald man, and a blind man. Allah wanted to test them, so He sent an angel to them. The angel came to the leper and asked: ‘What do you desire most?’ He said: ‘A good complexion and good skin, and to be rid of what makes people avoid me.’ The angel touched him, and his ailment was cured, and he was given a good complexion and skin. The angel asked: ‘What kind of wealth do you desire most?’ He said: ‘Camels,’ or he said: ‘Cattle’—Ishaq was unsure, but one of them said ‘Camels,’ and the other said ‘Cattle.’ He was given a pregnant she-camel. The angel said: ‘May Allah bless you in it.’ The angel then came to the bald man and asked: ‘What do you desire most?’ He said: ‘Good hair and to be rid of what makes people avoid me.’ The angel touched him, and he was cured. He was given good hair. The angel asked: ‘What kind of wealth do you desire most?’ He said: ‘Cattle.’ He was given a pregnant cow. The angel said: ‘May Allah bless you in it.’ The angel then came to the blind man and asked: ‘What do you desire most?’ He said: ‘That Allah restores my sight so I can see people.’ The angel touched him, and Allah restored his sight. The angel asked: ‘What kind of wealth do you desire most?’ He said: ‘Sheep.’ He was given a pregnant ewe. The sheep and cattle multiplied until one man had a valley of camels, another had a valley of cattle, and another had a valley of sheep. Then the angel came to the leper in his previous form and condition and said: ‘I am a poor man, and my journey has exhausted me. I have no means of reaching my destination except with the help of Allah and then you. I ask you by the One who gave you good complexion, good skin, and wealth to give me a camel to help me on my journey.’ The man said: ‘I have many obligations.’ The angel said: ‘I think I recognize you. Weren’t you a leper whom people avoided and a poor man? Allah gave you wealth.’ The man said: ‘I inherited this wealth from my ancestors.’ The angel said: ‘If you are lying, may Allah return you to your previous state.’ The angel then came to the bald man in his previous form and condition and said the same to him, and the man replied similarly. The angel said: ‘If you are lying, may Allah return you to your previous state.’ The angel then came to the blind man in his previous form and condition and said: ‘I am a poor man, and my journey has exhausted me. I have no means of reaching my destination except with the help of Allah and then you. I ask you by the One who restored your sight to give me a sheep to help me on my journey.’ The man said: ‘I was blind, and Allah restored my sight. Take what you want and leave what you want. By Allah, I will not burden you today with anything you take for the sake of Allah.’ The angel said: ‘Keep your wealth. You have been tested, and Allah is pleased with you but angry with your two companions.’”