Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to a Bedouin, and the Bedouin honored him greatly. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: “You should also come to visit us.” So he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And in another narration, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed with a Bedouin, and the Bedouin received him with great hospitality. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: “You have taken great care of us, so come to visit us as well.” So the Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) one day. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: “Express any need you have (so that I may fulfill it).” He said: “I want a she-camel with its saddle and some goats, so that my family may milk them.” Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Have you become incapable of making a request like the old woman of Banu Isra’il?” The Companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Who is this old woman of Banu Isra’il (and what is her story)?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Musa (peace be upon him) set out with Banu Isra’il from Egypt, they lost their way. He (peace be upon him) asked: ‘What has happened?’ Their scholars said: ‘We will tell you. When Yusuf (peace be upon him) was about to die, he made us swear by Allah that we would not leave Egypt until we took his bones with us.’ Musa (peace be upon him) asked: ‘Then who knows about his grave?’ The scholars said: ‘We do not know the location of Yusuf’s grave, but perhaps an old woman from Banu Isra’il knows it.’ He (peace be upon him) sent for her, and she came. Musa (peace be upon him) said to her: ‘Tell me about the grave of Yusuf (peace be upon him).’ She said: ‘No, by Allah! I will not tell you until you fulfill my demand.’ He asked: ‘What is your demand?’ She said: ‘I want to be with you in Paradise.’ Musa (peace be upon him) disliked to guarantee this for her, but Allah revealed to him to fulfill her demand. Then she led them to a lake, where there was a pond. She said: ‘Drain all its water.’ So they drained all the water from there. Then she said: ‘Now dig here and take out the bones of Yusuf (peace be upon him)’ (meaning his remains). (So it was done.) When they lifted those bones (the remains), the path became as bright as day.”