Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Rifa’ah bin ‘Arabah Juhani, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates: We were returning from Makkah with the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. People began to seek permission from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, began granting them permission. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “What is the matter, that the side of the tree closest to the Messenger of Allah is more disliked by you than the other side?” (Meaning, you do not wish to walk with me.) The narrator says: I saw every person present there weeping. The narrator says: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, began to say, I think that after this, whoever seeks permission from you will be foolish. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, stood up and praised and glorified Allah. Whenever he took an oath, he would say: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul.” (He said:) “I bear witness before Allah that whoever among you believes in Allah and then remains steadfast (i.e., continues to act upon Islamic commands), that person will enter Paradise. My Lord has promised me that He will admit seventy thousand individuals from my Ummah into Paradise without reckoning or punishment, and I hope that those people will not enter Paradise until you and your righteous wives and children reach your places in Paradise.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When half the night—(the narrator is unsure, perhaps these are the words)—when the night falls, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says: I do not ask My servants about anyone other than Myself. Who is there who asks of Me, so I may grant him? Who is there who seeks forgiveness from Me, so I may forgive him? Who is there who supplicates to Me, so I may accept his supplication?” (The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, says:) This continues until the break of dawn.