that he heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "Allah willed to test three Israelites who were a leper, a blind man and a bald-headed man. So, he sent them an angel

who came to the leper and said, 'What thing do you like most?' He replied, 'Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me.' The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin. The angel asked him, 'What kind of property do you like best?' He replied, 'Camels (or cows).' (The narrator is in doubt, for either the leper or the bald-headed man demanded camels and the other demanded cows). So he was given a pregnant she-camel, and the angel said (to him), 'May Allah bless you in it.'

The angel then went to the bald-headed man and said, 'What thing do you like most?' He said, 'I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsion for me.' The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked (him), 'What kind of property do you like best?' He replied, 'Cows,' The angel gave him a pregnant cow and said, 'May Allah bless you in it.'

The angel went to the blind man and asked, 'What thing do you like best?' He said, '(I like) that Allah may restore my eye-sight to me so that I may see the people.' The angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his eyesight. The angel asked him, 'What kind of property do you like best?' He replied, 'Sheep.' The angel gave him a pregnant sheep.

Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the (three) men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley.

Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, went to the leper and said, I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none will satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given you such nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination. The man replied, 'I have many obligations (so I cannot give you).' The angel said, 'I think I know you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren't you a poor man, and then Allah gave you (all this property).' He replied, '(This is all wrong), I got this property through inheritance from my forefathers.' The angel said, 'If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.'

Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did. The angel said, 'If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.'

The angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said, 'I am a poor man and a traveler, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you yourself. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eyesight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey.' The man said, 'No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my eyesight; I was poor and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you for taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allah's sake.' The angel replied, 'Keep your property with you. You (i.e the three men) have been tested, and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions."  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ ثَلاَثَةً فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَبْرَصَ وَأَقْرَعَ وَأَعْمَى۔ بَدَا لِلَّهِ أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَهُمْ، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ مَلَكًا۔»

«فَأَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ: لَوْنٌ حَسَنٌ، وَجِلْدٌ حَسَنٌ، قَدْ قَذِرَنِي النَّاسُ۔ قَالَ: فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ عَنْهُ فَأُعْطِيَ لَوْنًا حَسَنًا وَجِلْدًا حَسَنًا فَقَالَ أَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الإِبِلُ أَوْ قَالَ الْبَقَرُ هُوَ شَكَّ فِي ذَلِكَ إِنَّ الأَبْرَصَ وَالأَقْرَعَ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا الإِبِلُ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ الْبَقَرُ فَأُعْطِيَ نَاقَةً عُشَرَاءَ فَقَالَ يُبَارَكُ لَكَ فِيهَا

وَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ شَعَرٌ حَسَنٌ وَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّي هَذَا قَدْ قَذِرَنِي النَّاسُ قَالَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ وَأُعْطِيَ شَعَرًا حَسَنًا قَالَ فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الْبَقَرُ قَالَ فَأَعْطَاهُ بَقَرَةً حَامِلاً وَقَالَ يُبَارَكُ لَكَ فِيهَا

وَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ يَرُدُّ اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ بَصَرِي فَأُبْصِرُ بِهِ النَّاسَ قَالَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ بَصَرَهُ قَالَ فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الْغَنَمُ فَأَعْطَاهُ شَاةً وَالِدًا

فَأُنْتِجَ هَذَانِ وَوَلَّدَ هَذَا فَكَانَ لِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنْ إِبِلٍ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنْ بَقَرٍ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ

ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فِي صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ تَقَطَّعَتْ بِيَ الْحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِي فَلاَ بَلاَغَ الْيَوْمَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِي أَعْطَاكَ اللَّوْنَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْجِلْدَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْمَالَ بَعِيرًا أَتَبَلَّغُ عَلَيْهِ فِي سَفَرِي فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ الْحُقُوقَ كَثِيرَةٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَأَنِّي أَعْرِفُكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَبْرَصَ يَقْذَرُكَ النَّاسُ فَقِيرًا فَأَعْطَاكَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ وَرِثْتُ لِكَابِرٍ عَنْ كَابِرٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ

وَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فِي صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لِهَذَا فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ مَا رَدَّ عَلَيْهِ هَذَا فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ

وَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فِي صُورَتِهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ وَابْنُ سَبِيلٍ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِيَ الْحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِي فَلاَ بَلاَغَ الْيَوْمَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِي رَدَّ عَلَيْكَ بَصَرَكَ شَاةً أَتَبَلَّغُ بِهَا فِي سَفَرِي فَقَالَ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْمَى فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ بَصَرِي وَفَقِيرًا فَقَدْ أَغْنَانِي فَخُذْ مَا شِئْتَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ أَجْهَدُكَ الْيَوْمَ بِشَىْءٍ أَخَذْتَهُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ أَمْسِكْ مَالَكَ فَإِنَّمَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ فَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ وَسَخِطَ عَلَى صَاحِبَيْكَ  

There were three persons in Bani Isra'il, one suffering from leprosy, the other bald-headed and the third one blind. Allah decided to test them. So He sent an angel who came to the one who was suffering from leprosy and said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Beautiful colour and fine skin and removal of that which makes me detestable in the eye of people. He wiped him and his illness was no more and he was conferred upon beautiful colour and beautiful skin. He (the angel) again said: Which property do you like most? He said: Camels, or he said: The cow the narrator is, however, doubtful about it, but (out of the persons) suffering from leprosy or baldness one of them definitely said: The camel. And the other one said: Cow. And he (one who demanded camel) was bestowed upon a she-camel, in an advanced stage of pregnancy, and while giving he said: May Allah bless you in this. Then he came to the bald-headed person and said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Beautiful hair and that (this baldness) may be removed from me because of which people hate me. He wiped his body and his illness was removed and he was bestowed upon beautiful hair, and the angel said: Which wealth do you like most? He said: The cow. And he was given a pregnant cow and while handing it over to him he (the angel) said: May Allah bless you in this. Then he came to the blind man and he said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Allah should restore my eyesight so that I should be able to see people with the help of that. He wiped his body and Allah restored to him his eyesight, and he (the angel) also said: Which wealth do you like most? He said: The flock of sheep. And he was given a pregnant goat and that gave birth to young ones and it so happened that one valley abounded in camels and the other one in cows and the third one in sheep. He then came to the one who had suffered from leprosy in his (old) form and shape and he said: I am a poor person and my provision has run short in my journey and there is none to take me to my destination except with the help of Allah and your favour. I beg of you in His name Who gave you fine colour and fine skin, and the camel in the shape of wealth (to confer upon me) a camel which should carry me in my journey. He said: I have many responsibilities to discharge. Thereupon he said: I perceive as if I recognise you. Were you not suffering from leprosy whom people hated and you were a destitute and Allah conferred upon you (wealth)? He said: I have inherited this property from my forefathers. Thereupon he said: If you are a liar may Allah change you to that very position in which you had been. He then came to the one who was bald-headed in his (old) form and said to him the same what he had said to him (one suffering from leprosy) and he gave him the same reply as he had given him and he said: If you are a liar, may Allah turn you to your previous position in which you had been. And then he came to the blind man in his (old) form and shape and he said: I am a destitute person and a wayfarer. My provision have ran short and today there is no way to reach the destination but with the help of Allah and then with your help and I beg of you in the (name) of One Who restored your eyesight and gave you the flock of sheep to give me a sheep by which I should be able to make my provisions for the journey. He said: I was blind and Allah restored to me my eyesight; you take whatever you like and leave whatever you like. By Allah, I shall not stand in your way today for what you take in the name of God. Thereupon, he said: You keep with you what you have (in your possession). The fact is that you three were put to test and Allah is well pleased with you and He is annoyed with your companions. (Using translation from Muslim 2964)  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ «إِنَّ ثَلَاثَةً فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَبْرَصَ وَأَقْرَعَ وَأَعْمَى فَأَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَهُمْ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ مَلَكًا فَأَتَى الْأَبْرَصَ فقَالَ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ لَوْنٌ حَسَنٌ وَجِلْدٌ حَسَنٌ قَالَ فَأَيُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ الْإِبِلُ فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ عَنْهُ قَالَ وَأُعْطِيَ نَاقَةً عُشَرَاءَ فقَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِيهَا قَالَ وَأَتَى الْأَقْرَعَ فقَالَ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ شَعْرٌ حَسَنٌ وَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّي هَذَا الَّذِي قَدْ قَذِرَنِي النَّاسُ قَالَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ عَنْهُ وَأُعْطِيَ شَعْرًا حَسَنًا قَالَ فَأَيُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ الْبَقَرُ قَالَ فَأُعْطِيَ بَقَرَةً حَافِلَةً قَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِيهَا قَالَ وَأَتَى الْأَعْمَى فقَالَ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ أَنْ يَرُدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيَّ بَصَرِي فَأُبْصِرَ بِهِ النَّاسَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ بَصَرَهُ قَالَ فَأَيُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ الْغَنَمُ قَالَ فَأُعْطِيَ شَاةً وَالِدًا وَأُنْتِجَ هَذَانِ وَوَلَّدَ هَذَا فَكَانَ لِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْبَقَرِ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْأَبْرَصَ فِي صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ وَابْنُ سَبِيلٍ انْقَطَعَتْ بِيَ الْحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِي فَلَا بَلَاغَ بِيَ الْيَوْمَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِي أَعْطَاكَ اللَّوْنَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْجِلْدَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْمَالَ بَعِيرًا أَتَبَلَّغُ بِهِ فِي سَفَرِي فقَالَ الْحُقُوقُ كَثِيرَةٌ فقَالَ كَأَنِّي أَعْرِفُكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَبْرَصَ يَقْذَرُكَ النَّاسُ فَقِيرًا فَأَعْطَاكَ اللَّهُ الْمَالَ؟ فقَالَ إِنَّمَا وَرِثْتُ هَذَا الْمَالَ كَابِرًا عَنْ كَابِرٍ فقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْأَقْرَعَ فِي صُورَتِهِ فقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لِهَذَا فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ مَا رَدَّ هَذَا فقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ وَأَتَى الْأَعْمَى فِي صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ وَابْنُ سَبِيلٍ انْقَطَعَتْ بِيَ الْحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِي ‍ فقَالَ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْمَى فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ بَصَرِي فَخُذْ مَا شِئْتَ وَدَعْ مَا شِئْتَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَا أَجْهَدُكَ الْيَوْمَ شَيْئًا أَخَذْتَهُ لِلَّهِ فقَالَ أَمْسِكْ مَالَكَ فَإِنَّمَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ فَقَدْ رُضِيَ عَنْكَ وَسُخِطَ عَلَى صَاحِبَيْكَ»  

[Machine] Once upon a time, there were three men from the Children of Israel: a leper, a bald man, and a blind man. It was God's will to test them, so He sent an angel to them. The angel came to the leper and asked, "What is the thing you desire most?" The leper replied, "A good complexion and good skin, for people find me repulsive." The angel touched him, and his ailment was cured, granting him a good complexion and beautiful skin. Then the angel asked, "What kind of wealth do you prefer?" He responded, "Camels," so he was given a pregnant she-camel and was blessed with it.

The angel then approached the bald man and asked, "What is the thing you desire most?" The bald man said, "Beautiful hair, and for this to go away, as people find me repulsive." The angel touched him, his ailment was cured, and he was given beautiful hair. The angel then asked, "What kind of wealth do you prefer?" He replied, "Cattle," and so he was given a pregnant cow and was blessed with it.

Then the angel visited the blind man and asked, "What is the thing you desire most?" The blind man said, "That God restores my sight so I can see people." The angel touched him, and God restored his sight. The angel asked, "What kind of wealth do you prefer?" The man replied, "Sheep," and was given a pregnant sheep.

Both the camel and cow multiplied, and the sheep increased, so the leper now had a valley full of camels, the bald man had a valley full of cattle, and the blind man had a valley full of sheep.

Later, the angel came to the leper, appearing as he once was, and said, "I am a poor man who has lost all means of help in his travels. My only recourse today is to God and then you. I ask you by the One who gave you your good complexion, beautiful skin, and wealth for a camel that I may use for my travels." The leper replied, "I have many obligations." The angel said, "I seem to recognize you. Weren't you once a leper, whom people found repulsive and poor, and then God enriched you?" The man said, "I inherited all this from my forefathers." The angel responded, "If you are lying, may God return you to what you were."

The angel then visited the bald man in his original appearance and said the same thing as before, to which the bald man replied similarly. The angel said, "If you are lying, may God return you to what you were."

Lastly, the angel visited the blind man in his original appearance and said, "I am a poor man and a traveler who has lost all means. My only recourse is to God and then you. I ask you by the One who restored your sight for a sheep that I may use in my travels." The blind man said, "I was once blind, and God restored my sight; I was poor, and He enriched me. Take whatever you wish, for by God, I will not begrudge you for anything you take for the sake of God." The angel said, "Keep your wealth; you have all been tested. God is pleased with you but is displeased with your companions."  

"أَنَّ ثَلاثَة نَفَرٍ مِنْ بَنِي إسْرَائِيل: أَبْرَصَ، وَأَقْرعَ، وَأَعْمَى، بَدا للهِ ﷻ- أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَهُمْ، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهم مَلَكًا، فَأَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فَقَالَ: أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ: لَوْنٌ حَسَنٌ، وجِلْدٌ حَسَنٌ، قَدْ (قَذِرَنِي) الناسُ، فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ وَأُعْطِيَ لَوْنًا حَسَنًا، وَجِلْدًا حَسَنًا، فَقَالَ: أَيُّ المَالِ أَحَبُّ إلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ: الإبِلُ، فَأُعْطِيَ نَاقَةً عُشْرَاءَ، فَقَالَ: يُبَارَك لَكَ فِيهَا، وَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فَقَالَ: أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ فَقالَ: شَعْرٌ حَسَنٌ، وَيَذْهَبُ هَذَا عني قَدْ قذرني النَّاسُ، فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ وأُعْطِيَ شَعْرًا حَسَنًا فَقَالَ: أَيُّ المَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكِ؟ قَالَ: البَقرُ، فأَعْطَاهُ بَقَرَةً حَامِلًا وَقَالَ: يُبَارَكُ لَكَ فِيهَا، وَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فَقَالَ: أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ: يَرُدُّ اللهُ بَصَري فَأُبْصِرُ بِهِ النَّاسَ، فَمَسَحَهُ فَرَدَّ الله - تَعَالَى- إلَيْهِ بَصَرَهُ فَقَالَ: أَيُّ المَالِ أَحَبُّ إلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ: الغَنَمُ، فأَعْطَاهُ شَاةً والِدًا فَأَنْتَجَ هَذَانِ وَوَلَّد هَذَا فَكَانَ لِهذَا وَادٍ مِن الإِبِلِ، وَلِهذَا وَادٍ مِن البَقَرِ، ولِهذَا وَادٍ مِن الغَنَمِ، ثُمَّ إنَّهُ أَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فِي صُورَتِهِ وَحُسْنِهِ فَقَالَ: رَجُلٌ مِسْكينٌ تَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِ الحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِهِ فَلَا بَلاغَ اليَوْم إلَّا بِاللهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِي أَعْطَاكَ اللَّوْنَ الحَسَنَ وَالجِلْدَ الحَسَنَ وَالمَالَ بَعِيرًا أَتَبَلَّغُ عَلَيْهِ فِي سَفَرِي، فَقَالَ: إنَّ الحُقُوقَ كثِيرَةٌ، فَقَالَ: أَمَا لَمْ أَكُنْ أعرفك، أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَبْرصَ يَتَقَذَّرُكَ النَّاسُ، فَقِيرًا فَأَعْطَاكَ اللهُ، فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ وَرِثْتُ لِكَابِرٍ عَنْ كَابِرٍ، فَقَالَ: إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصيَّرَك اللهُ إِلى مَا كُنْتَ، وَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فِي صُورتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لِهذَا، وَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ مَا رَدَّ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ الله إِلى مَا كُنْتَ، وَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فِي صُورَتِهِ فَقَالَ: رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ وَابْن سَبِيلٍ، وَتَقَطَّعَتْ الحِبَالُ فِي سَفَرِي، فَلَا بَلاغَ لِي اليَوْمَ إِلا بِاللهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذي رَدَّ عَلَيْكَ بَصَرَكَ شَاةً أَتَبَلَّغُ بِهَا فِي سَفَرِي، فَقَالَ لا قَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْمَى فَرَدَّ اللهُ - تَعَالَى- بَصَري وَفَقِيرًا فَخُذْ مَا شِئْتَ، فَواللهِ مَا أحمدك (*) لِشَيْءٍ أَخَذْتَهُ للهِ - تَعَالَى- فَقَالَ: أَمْسِكْ مَالَكَ، فَإنَّمَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ، فَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللهُ - تَعَالَى- عَنْكَ وَسَخِطَ عَلَى صَاحِبَيْكَ".