Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: A man was in a desert when he heard a voice in the cloud: (Cloud!) Go and water the garden of such-and-such man. The cloud moved to one side and rained on a solid piece of land. When this man reached there, he saw that all the water had gathered and, flowing through various channels, had formed a large stream. This man walked along with the water and, going further, saw a man standing in his garden, watering his plants with a shovel. He asked: O servant of Allah! What is your name? He gave the same name that he had heard in the cloud. The garden owner said: O servant of Allah! Why do you ask my name? He said: The cloud from which this water came, I heard a voice in it, mentioning your name and saying to go and water his garden. Therefore, now tell me, do you do any special deed because of which Allah’s special mercy continues to reach you? The garden owner said: Since you have asked, then listen! I give one third of the total income of this garden in charity in the way of Allah, one third is for me and my family to eat, and one third I spend on this garden.