Our Lord al-Hasan said: {No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning. ❁ No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned. ❁ Then indeed, they will [enter and] burn in Hellfire. ❁ Then it will be said [to them], "This is what you used to deny."}¹ and he pointed with his hand toward our Lord Abu Shu’ayb.

(459) Abu al-Fath Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Baghdadi narrated to me, saying: My sheikh Abu al-Hasan al-Muqri—may God be pleased with them both—narrated to me, saying: My father and lord Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Rifa’i—may God have mercy on him—narrated to me, saying: My sheikh Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Hamdan al-Khasibi—may God sanctify his soul—narrated to me from Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Malik from Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Hasani, who said: I was with my lord Abu Shu’ayb—peace be upon him—as he intended to ride, and he had been brought a new pair of boots. I saw that it was difficult for him to put them on, so I said to him: "O my lord, if you command me, I shall wear them [first] to soften them for your wearing." He replied: "O Muhammad, I am more capable of softening them than you; would you like them to inform you of their story?" I said: "Indeed, by God, my lord!" He signaled to those in his presence and they dispersed; then he tapped the boot with his forefinger and said: "Speak to him, woe to you!" The boot then spoke in clear Arabic and said: "Yes, my master. I remember you when you were al-Mufaddal ibn Umar and I was a camel that carried you on my back to Mecca and brought you back. And I remember you when you were Muhammad ibn al-Mufaddal and I was a grey, paper-colored work-horse (birdhun) that carried you on my back to Medina before I died. And I remember you when you were Umar ibn al-Furat and I was a grey mule with a variegated tail that carried you to Baghdad at the time of the manifestation of the Call. And I remember you when you are Abu Shu’ayb and I was a donkey that carried you on my back for six years; then you transformed me into a goat and I was slaughtered in Ta’if, my skin was sold, carried, and cut—and I am he."