Volume 3, Book 39, Number 526:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar:
The Prophet said, “While three men were walking, It started raining and they took shelter (refuge)
in a cave in a mountain. A big rock rolled down from the mountain and closed the mouth of the
cave. They said to each other, “Think of good deeds which you did for Allah’s sake only, and invoke
Allah by giving reference to those deeds so that He may remove this rock from you.” One of them
said, ‘O Allah! I had old parents and small children and I used to graze the sheep for them. On my
return to them in the evening, I used to milk (the sheep) and start providing my parents first of all
before my children. One day I was delayed and came late at night and found my parents sleeping. I
milked (the sheep) as usual and stood by their heads. I hated to wake them up and disliked to give
milk to my children before them, although my children were weeping (because of hunger) at my feet
till the day dawned. O Allah! If I did this for Your sake only, kindly remove the rock so that we could
see the sky through it.’ So, Allah removed the rock a little and they saw the sky. The second man said,
‘O Allah! I was in love with a cousin of mine like the deepest love a man may have for a woman. I
wanted to outrage her chastity but she refused unless I gave her one hundred Dinars. So, I struggled
to collect that amount. And when I sat between her legs, she said, ‘O Allah’s slave! Be afraid of Allah
and do not deflower me except rightfully (by marriage).’ So, I got up. O Allah! If I did it for Your sake
only, please remove the rock.’ The rock shifted a little more. Then the third man said, ‘O Allah! I em –
ployed a laborer for a Faraq of rice and when he finished his job and demanded his right, I presented
it to him, but he refused to take it. So, I sowed the rice many time till I gathered cows and their shep –
herd (from the yield). (Then after some time) He came and said to me, ‘Fear Allah (and give me my
right).” I said, ‘Go and take those cows and the shepherd.’ He said, ‘Be afraid of Allah! Don’t mock at
me.’ I said, ‘I am not mocking at you. Take (all that).’ So, he took all that. O Allah! If I did that for Your
sake only, please remove the rest of the rock.’ So, Allah removed the rock.”