Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 13412

Sayyiduna al-Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioning (the people of) the cave, and he said: "Three people were in a cave. A rock came from the mountain onto the mouth of the cave, and the entrance was sealed upon them. One of them said: 'Recall which good deed each of you has done, so that Allah Almighty may have mercy on us through His mercy.' One of them said: 'Once I did a good deed. I had some labourers who used to work. Once some labourers came to me, and I fixed a set wage for each one of them. One day a man came to me at midday, and I hired him on the same terms as his companions. He worked for the rest of the day as much as the earlier ones had worked the whole day. When I saw his great effort in his work, I thought it binding upon me not to give him any less than what I had given his companions. One of them said: "Have you given him as much as you gave me?" I said: "O servant of Allah! Have I reduced anything of what I agreed with you? This is my wealth; I decide about it as I wish." That man became angry and left, abandoning his wages. I kept his wages in a corner of the house for as long as Allah willed. Then once some cattle passed by me, and I bought a calf from them, and they went on increasing for as long as Allah willed. After some time a weak old man whom I did not recognise passed by me. He said: "I have a right with you." Then he reminded me, and I recognised him. I said: "It is you I have been wanting to find; this is your right." Then I gave all those animals to him. He said: "O servant of Allah! Do not mock me! If you cannot give me something (as charity), then at least give me my right." That man said: "By Allah! I am not mocking you. This is your right; nothing of it is mine." So I handed all those animals over to him. O Allah! If You know that I did this solely to seek Your pleasure, then grant us relief!'" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The rock moved a little, until they could see out through it. The second man said: 'Once I also did a good deed. I had surplus money, and the people were struck by famine. A woman came to me seeking a favour (that is, financial help). I said: "By Allah! I want your intimacy; without it I will give nothing." She refused me and went away. Then she came back and reminded me of Allah, but I refused her and said: "No, by Allah! It will not be without you giving yourself up." She refused me and went away again. She mentioned this to her husband, and her husband said to her: "Give yourself to him and (try to) provide for your children!" So she came back to me and adjured me by Allah, but I refused her and said: "By Allah! It will not be without you giving yourself up." When she saw this situation, she gave herself up to me. When I began to remove her covering and intended to approach her, she began to tremble beneath me. I asked her: "What is the matter with you?" She said: "I fear Allah Almighty, the Lord of all the worlds." I said to her: "You fear Him even in this state of hardship, and I do not fear Him even in such a state of ease?" So I left that woman, and I gave her the payment that had been agreed with me, because I had sought to uncover her. O Allah! If You know that I did this to seek Your pleasure, then grant us relief!' Then the rock moved so far that they could recognise one another, and (the inside of the cave) became clear to them. The third man said: 'I too once did a good deed. My parents were old and aged, and I had goats. I used to feed my parents and give them drink, then I would go back to my goats. One day it rained, and because of that I could not come early; I was delayed until evening came. When I came home, I took the milking vessel and milked, while my goat was standing. I went to my parents and found that they had both fallen asleep. It weighed upon me to wake them, and I also did not like to leave my goat. So I remained sitting with the milking vessel in my hand until they both woke up in the morning, and then I gave them both the milk to drink. O Allah! If You know that I did this to seek Your pleasure, then grant us relief.'" Sayyiduna al-Nu'man (may Allah be pleased with him) said: It is as if I am hearing the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) even now; he said: "The mountain shifted, Allah Almighty granted them relief, and they came out (of the cave)."
Ahmad recorded it, and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat and al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Al-Bazzar recorded something similar through various routes. The narrators of Ahmad are thiqat (trustworthy).