Compiled by Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْخَطَّابِ، زِيَادُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْحَسَّانِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَادَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَدْ خَفَتَ فَصَارَ مِثْلَ الْفَرْخِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلْ كُنْتَ تَدْعُو بِشَىْءٍ أَوْ تَسْأَلُهُ إِيَّاهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ كُنْتُ أَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ مَا كُنْتَ مُعَاقِبِي بِهِ فِي الآخِرَةِ فَعَجِّلْهُ لِي فِي الدُّنْيَا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ لاَ تُطِيقُهُ - أَوْ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُهُ - أَفَلاَ قُلْتَ اللَّهُمَّ آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ " . قَالَ فَدَعَا اللَّهَ لَهُ فَشَفَاهُ .
Did you supplicate for anything or beg of Him about that? He said: Yes. I used to utter (these words): Impose punishment upon me earlier in this world, what Thou art going to impose upon me in the Hereafter. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Exalted is Allah (He is free from imperfection), you have neither the power nor forbearance to take upon yourself (the burden of His Punishment). Why did you not say this: O Allah, grant us good in the world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of Fire. He (the Prophet) made this supplication (for him) and he was all right.