among the righteous».1 For indeed, he who performs righteous deeds to draw near to Allah and out of desire for His reward, and avoids sins out of shame before Him and fear of His punishment, He shall give him beyond what the hopeful hope for and save him from the fear of what the fearful fear.'"
He [the narrator] said: The youth then placed his hand upon his head and wept, crying out to Allah for a second chance. He kissed his father's foot and said to him: "O my master, I adjure you by Allah to ask Allah to excuse my lapse and forgive my slip, for I am repentant to Allah the Almighty; I shall neither desert a brother nor cut him off, for Allah — Exalted Glory — commanded the opposite of my words, lest He hasten my departure."
He said: So, he prayed for his acceptance and repentance, then gestured to his middle son and said to him: "Tell me your story so that it is as if I am with you, seeing you and witnessing you." He replied: "As for me, O my master, I employed joy, gladness, and pleasure. I ate the finest food, drank the most delicious drinks, wore the grandest clothes, perfumed myself with the most magnificent scents, bought the beautiful [slaves], and enjoyed the fair ones. I consorted with the kings of men and the affluent, I removed the veils2, acquired singing girls, listened to the beautiful ones, and left no pleasure unsought until I attained it and reached it. My affairs are upright, my estates are flourishing, and I possess such prosperity and good fortune that exceeds the limit."
He said to him: "O my son, as for your worldly affairs, they have been arranged for you in the best manner. But what have you done with your brothers? How was your kindness toward your brothers and your bringing them near? What have you thésaurized for your hereafter? And what have you acquired of the sciences?" He answered: "As for my brothers, O my master, I did not find among them one fit for my intimate companionship, nor did I see among them one fit for my fellowship. I