Mukhtasar Muslim

´It is narrated from Sayyiduna Amir bin Wathilah that` he heard from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them), who used to say: The wretched one is he who is wretched from his mother’s womb, and the fortunate one is he who takes admonition from others. Amir bin Wathilah, after hearing this from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them), came to a companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) whose name was Hudhaifah bin Asid Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him), and narrated to him the statement of Abdullah bin Mas'ud and asked: How can a person be wretched without having done any deeds? Sayyiduna Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: Do you find this strange? I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: When forty-two nights pass over the drop (of semen), Allah sends an angel to it, who shapes it and creates its hearing, sight, skin, flesh, and bones. Then he asks: O Lord! Will it be male or female? Then Allah decrees whatever He wills, and the angel writes it down. Then he asks: O Lord! What will its lifespan be? Then Allah decrees whatever He wills, and the angel writes it down. Then he asks: O Lord! What will its provision be? Then Allah decrees whatever He wills, and the angel writes it down. Then the angel comes out with this record in his hand, and nothing is added to it nor subtracted from it. And in another narration, it is added that (the angel asks): Will it be sound in body or defective? Then Allah creates it either free from defect or with a defect.