Hadith 36

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): We were sitting around the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and with us were Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and a group of people. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up from among us and delayed in returning, and we feared that something might have happened to him, and we were alarmed. So, we got up, and I was the first to be alarmed. I went in search of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until I came to a garden of the Ansar of Banu Najjar. I circled around it looking for a gate, but I could not find one. Then I saw a stream entering a garden from an area outside. The stream was called "Rabi'a." I hurriedly entered and found the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "O Abu Huraira, what is the matter with you?" I said, "You were among us, and then you stood up and delayed in returning. We feared something might have happened to you, and we became alarmed. I was the first to become alarmed, and I went in search of you until I reached a garden of the Ansar of Banu Najjar. I found no gate, but I saw a stream entering from the outside. I quickly entered and found you." He then gave me his sandals and said: "Go with these sandals and whoever you meet behind this garden, who bears witness that there is no god but Allah, and whose heart is certain in this belief, give him the good news of Paradise." The first person I met was Umar, who asked: "What are these sandals, O Abu Huraira?" I said: "These are the sandals of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He sent me with them to give the good news of Paradise to whoever bears witness that there is no god but Allah, with certainty in his heart." Umar struck me between the chest, and I fell to the ground. He said: "Return, O Abu Huraira." I returned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, weeping, and Umar followed me. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked: "What is the matter, O Abu Huraira?" I replied: "I met Umar, and I informed him of what you had sent me with. He struck me between the chest, causing me to fall, and said: 'Return.'" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked Umar: "O Umar, what made you do this?" Umar replied: "By my father and mother, O Messenger of Allah, did you send Abu Huraira with your sandals to give the good news of Paradise to anyone who meets him and believes in the testimony of faith with certainty in his heart?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ confirmed: "Yes." Umar said: "Do not do this, for I fear that people will rely on it, and they will neglect to work for their deeds." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ responded: "Let them continue their work."