Hadith on Trials: Allah tests a Blind Man, Bald Man, and a Leper
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, there were three among the children of Israel whom Allah Almighty intended to test: a leper, a bald man, and a blind man.
He sent an angel to them and he came to the leper, saying: What would you love most? The leper said: I want a beautiful color and beautiful skin, for people have shunned me. The angel wiped over him and it had gone away, then he was given a beautiful color and beautiful skin. The angel said: Which property would you love most? The man said: Camels. Thus, he was given a pregnant camel. The angel said: May Allah bless you in it.
The angel came to the bald man, saying: What would you love most? The bald man said: Beautiful hair and to be rid of this, for people have shunned me. The angel wiped over him and it had gone away, then he was given beautiful hair. The angel said: Which property would you love most? The man said: Cows. Thus, he was given a pregnant cow. The angel said: May Allah bless you in it.
The angel came to the blind man, saying: What would you love most? The blind man said: For Allah to return my sight so I can see people. The angel wiped over him, then Allah returned his sight. The angel said: Which property would you love most? The man said: Sheep. Thus, he was given a pregnant sheep. The animals had grown and given birth such that one man had a valley of camels, another had a valley of cows, and another had a valley of sheep.
Then, the angel came to the former leper while disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, saying: I am a poor man, bereft of my livelihood while on a journey, none can take care of my needs today but Allah and then you, so I ask by the One who gave you beautiful color and beautiful skin and a wealth of camels to help me reach my destination! The man said: I have many duties. The angel said to him: It is as if I recognize you, were you not a leper shunned by people, in poverty, but Allah gave this to you? The man said: I have inherited it from my forefathers. The angel said: If you are lying, then may Allah return you to what you were before!
The angel came to the former bald man in a similar appearance, saying the same as he had said to the leper and the man responded the same way. The angel said: If you are lying, then may Allah return you to what you were before!
The angel came to the blind man in a similar form, saying: I am a poor man and wayfarer, bereft of my livelihood while on a journey, none can take care of my needs today but Allah and then you, so I ask by the One who returned your sight and gave you sheep to help me reach my destination! The man said: I was once a blind man and Allah returned my sight, I was poor and He enriched me, so take whatever you wish for, by Allah, I will not dispute you today in whatever you take for Allah’s sake.
The angel said: Keep your property, for I was only sent to test you and Allah is pleased with you but angry with your two companions.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3464, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2964
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
