Sunan al-Tirmidhī · Musnad Aḥmad

Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: One morning, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stayed home and did not come out to offer the Fajr prayer until the sun almost rose. Then he came out in a hurry and led us in the prayer, which he performed quicker than at his usual pace. After the prayer was over, he asked us to remain in our places, and then he said to us: "I will tell you what caused me to be late. I got up at night to pray.

I made ablution and then prayed as much as Allah willed me to pray. I dozed off while praying and fell into a deep sleep, whereupon I saw My Lord, Glorified and Exalted, in the best appearance. He said to me: 'O Muhammad.' I said: 'Here I am, my Lord.' He said: 'Do you know what the higher assembly (of angels) argue about?' I said: 'My Lord, I do not know.' He asked me three times, and then I saw Him put His Palm between my shoulders until I felt the coolness of His fingertips between my breasts.

Consequently, everything became clear to me and I had knowledge.

He asked me: 'O Muhammad.' I said: 'Here I am, my Lord.' He said: 'Do you know what the higher assembly (of angels) argue about?' I said: 'About acts of expiation (for sins).' He said: 'What are they?' I said: 'Walking to join congregational prayers, sitting in the mosques after prayers, and performing ablution properly when it is difficult (to do so).' He asked me: 'Then about what else?' I said: 'Feeding people, lenient speech, and offering prayer at night while the people are asleep.' He said: 'Ask Me anything.' I said: 'O Allah, I ask You to help me do good deeds and abstain from evil ones, to grant me the love of the poor and needy, and to forgive me and have mercy on me.

And if it is Your Will that You put some people to trial (regarding their faith), then make me die without being put to that trial. I ask You to grant me Your Love, the love of those who love You, and the love of deeds that bring me closer to Your Love." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then said: "These words are true, so study them and then learn them."