Hadeeth about the man who worshipped Allaah on a mountain for 500 years

21-7-2015 | IslamWeb

Question:

is this trueAngel Jibrail (as) told Rasulullah :saw: the following incident about a man in the past who worshipped Allah Ta’ala continuously for 500 years. He was granted a shelter on top of a mountain that was surrounded by salty water. However, Allah caused a stream of sweet water to flow through the mountain for that individual. The man would drink from this water and use it to make ablution. Allah Ta’ala also raised a pomegranate tree from which the man would eat one fruit every day.One day, this person supplicated to Allah that, “Oh Allah, bring my death while I am in the state of prostration.” Allah accepted this dua of his. Whenever Jibrail (as) came down to Earth, he found this man prostrating to Allah. Jibrail (as) said that on the day of Judgement, Allah will tell the angels to take this individual to Paradise through His mercy. However, this man will insist that he should enter paradise through the good deeds that he had performed.Then, Allah will tell the angels to compare his good deeds with the blessings that were given to him in the world. It will be seen that 500 years of his worship does not even equal to the gift of eye sight that was given to him by Allah. The angels will be asked to take him towards the hell fire. Then the man will plead, “Oh Allah! Enter me into Paradise only through Your mercy.” At that point, the following discussion will take place between Allah and that man.Allah: Oh my servant, who created you?The worshipper: Oh Allah, You have created me.Allah: Were you created because of the good deeds you have done or because of My mercy?The worshipper: Because of Your mercy.Allah: Who granted you the ability to worship for 500 years?The worshipper: Oh the Almighty! You have granted me that ability.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Al-Bayhaqi may Allaah have mercy upon him cited this report in Shuʻab Al-Eemaan as well as Al-Haakim may Allaah have mercy upon him in his book Al-Mustadrak. Shaykh Al-Albaani may Allaah have mercy upon him  classified it as Dhaʻeef (weak) in his books As-Silsilah Adh-Dhaʻeefah and Dhaʻeef At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb.

Allaah Knows best.

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