the other said: I once performed a good deed; I had surplus, and a hardship befell the people. A woman came to me asking for help. I said: By Allāh, it is not without your own self! She refused and left, then returned and reminded me of Allāh. I refused her again and said: No, by Allāh; it is not without your own self! She refused and left, then told her husband, who said to her: Give him yourself and enrich your family! She returned to me, imploring me by Allāh, but I refused her and said: By Allāh, it is not without your own self! When she saw that, she submitted herself to me. When I uncovered her and intended her, she trembled beneath me. I asked: What is the matter with you?! She said: I fear Allāh, the Lord of the worlds! I said to her: You feared Him in hardship, and I did not fear Him in ease! So I left her and gave her what was due to her for uncovering her. O Allāh! If I did that for Your sake, then relieve us! He said: It split open until they recognized and it became clear to them. the other said: I once performed a good deed; I had elderly parents, and I had sheep. I used to feed my parents and give them drink, then return to my sheep. He said: A rainy day detained me, and I did not leave until evening. I came to my family, took my milking vessel, and milked my sheep while standing. I went to my parents and found them asleep. It was hard for me to wake them, and hard to leave my sheep, so I remained sitting with my milking vessel in my hand until morning woke them, and I gave them drink. O Allāh! If I did that for Your sake, then relieve us! al-Nuʿmān said: It is as if I hear this from the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) — the mountain said: It opened; and Allāh relieved them, so they went out. Recorded by Imām Aḥmad (4/274-275): narrated by Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAbd al-Karīm ibn Maʿqil