Three Men Trapped in a Cave

Abdullah ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Long ago, three men were travelling when a sudden storm forced them to take shelter in a cave. As they entered, a large rock rolled down from the mountain and blocked the entrance, trapping them inside.

Realising they had no way out, one of them said, "The only way to be saved is to ask Allah for help by mentioning a good deed we did sincerely for His sake."

One of the men stepped forward and prayed, "O Lord, my parents were very old, and I always made sure they had their nightly drink of milk before anyone else in my family. One evening, I went far in search of fresh grazing land and returned late to find them already asleep. I milked the animals as usual but did not wake them, nor did I give any milk to my children, even as they cried from hunger. Instead, I waited, holding the vessel, until dawn when my parents awoke and drank. O Allah, if I did this only to please You, then relieve us from this hardship."

At that moment, the rock moved slightly, but not enough for them to escape.

Then, the second man prayed, "O Lord, I had a cousin whom I loved more than any man could love a woman. I tried to be with her, but she always refused. Then, during a time of great famine, she was in desperate need and came to me for help. I gave her one hundred and twenty Dinars on the condition that she would be with me. She agreed, but just as I was about to commit the act, she pleaded, ‘Fear Allah, and do not break the seal unlawfully.’ At that moment, I stepped away from her, despite my deep desire, and let her keep the money. O Allah, if I did this only to please You, then ease our suffering."

Again, the rock shifted a little, but still not enough for them to escape.

Then, the third man prayed, "O Lord, I once hired workers and paid them all their wages, except for one who left without collecting his due. I invested his wages in business, and over time, the wealth multiplied greatly. After a long time, the worker returned and asked for his payment. I pointed to the wealth and said, ‘Everything you see—camels, cattle, goats, and slaves—is yours.’ He thought I was joking, but I assured him I was not. Without hesitation, he took everything and left nothing behind. O Allah, if I did this sincerely to please You, then grant us relief from this trial."

At that moment, the rock moved completely, clearing the entrance. The three men stepped out of the cave, safe and free.

Moral of the Story

This story shows the power of sincerity in good deeds. When done purely for Allah’s sake, righteous actions can bring unexpected blessings and divine help in times of difficulty.