Musnad Ahmad 652:71

Isma'il ibn 'Abd al-Karim ibn Ma'qil ibn Munabbih narrated to me, 'Abd al-Samad—meaning Ibn Ma'qil—narrated to me, he said: I heard Wahb saying: Al-Nu'man ibn Bashir narrated to me that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, mentioning the *Raqim* (the people of the cave), and he said: "Three men were in a cave, and the mountain fell upon the door of the cave and closed it upon them. One of them said: 'Recall among yourselves which of you has done a good deed, perhaps Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will have mercy upon us through His mercy.' One of them said: 'I once did a good deed. I had laborers working for me, and my workers came to me. I hired each man among them for a known wage. Then a man came to me one day in the middle of the day, and I hired him on the same terms as his companions. He worked for the remainder of his day just as each man among them had worked for his entire day. I saw that it was my obligation not to diminish him from what I had hired his companions for, because of the effort he put into his work. One of them said: "Do you give this one the same as you gave me, when he only worked half a day?" I said: "O servant of Allah, I did not cheat you of anything of your terms; it is merely my wealth, and I judge over it as I wish." He became angry, left, and abandoned his wage. I placed his due in a corner of the house for as long as Allah willed. Then, cattle passed by me, and I bought a herd of cattle with it, which grew as much as Allah willed. After a while, an old, weak man whom I did not recognize passed by me and said: "I have a right with you." He reminded me of it until I recognized him. I said: "You are the one I have been seeking; this is your right." I offered them all to him. He said: "O servant of Allah, do not mock me if you do not believe me; just give me my right." I said: "By Allah, I am not mocking you; they are truly your right, and I have nothing of them." So I handed them all over to him. O Allah, if I did that for Your sake, then relieve us.' The mountain cracked until they could see through it and perceive light. The other said: 'I once did a good deed. I had abundance, and the people were struck by hardship. A woman came to me seeking a favor from me. I said: "By Allah, it will not be granted unless you give yourself to me." She refused me, left, then returned and reminded me of Allah, but I refused her and said: "No, by Allah, it will not be granted unless you give yourself to me." She refused me and left. She mentioned it to her husband, and he said to her: "Give him yourself and enrich your family." She returned to me and pleaded with me by Allah, but I refused her and said: "By Allah, it will not be granted unless you give yourself to me." When she saw that, she surrendered herself to me. When I uncovered her and intended to have relations with her, she trembled beneath me. I said to her: "What is the matter with you?" She said: "I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds." I said to her: "You feared Him in hardship, yet I did not fear Him in ease?" I left her and gave her what was due to me because I had uncovered her. O Allah, if I did that for Your sake, then relieve us.' The mountain cracked until they knew and it became clear to them. The other said: 'I once did a good deed. I had two parents who were very old, and I had sheep. I used to feed my parents and give them to drink, then I would return to my sheep. One day, rain caught me and detained me, and I did not leave until evening. I came to my family and took my milking vessel, and I milked while my sheep were standing. I went to my parents and found that they had fallen asleep. It was difficult for me to wake them, and it was difficult for me to leave my sheep. I remained sitting, with my milking vessel in my hand, until the morning woke them, and I gave them to drink. O Allah, if I did that for Your sake, then relieve us.'" Al-Nu'man said: "It is as if I am hearing this from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him." The mountain said: "Crack," and Allah relieved them, and they went out.