W.P.S: Mohammad bin Qasem Al-Astaraabadi, from Abdul Malik bin Ahmad bin Harun, from Hammad bin Rajaa, from Yazid bin Harun, from Mohammad bin Omar, from Abi Salaamah, from Abi Huraira, who said:
A man came to the PROPHET (SAWW) and said, “O MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SWT) ! Someone sailed to China for trading and came back quickly, making so much money that his friends envy him, and he has become very wealthy.”
The MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SAWW) said, “In this life the more wealth you have, the more troubles you will have. So do not envy the wealthy, except those who spend their wealth in ALLAH’s (SWT) way. But should I tell you about a person who, with less investment and less time, has made more profit, and moreover, his wealth is kept safe under the Throne of ALLAH (SWT) ?”
The people replied, “Yes, O MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SWT) !”
The PROPHET (SAWW): said, “He is the person who is coming toward us.”
So we looked and we saw one of the Ansar who looked rather shabby (approaching us).
The MESSENGER of ALLAH (SAWW) said, “This man has earned a reward and blessing today, and if you were to divide it among all of the inhabitants of the skies and the earths, the least they would deserve would be forgiveness for their sins and entrance to Paradise.”
So the people asked, “What did he do today to deserve such a reward?” The PROPHET (SAWW) replied, “Go and ask him.”
The people went to the man and said, “Congratulations for the glad tidings that the PROPHETs (SAWW) has given you. Tell us what you have done today.”
The man replied:
I did not do anything. When I left my house this morning, I had a business affair that I had to take care of but I was late. I was worried that it was too late to attend to it, so I thought to myself, ‘Let me go and look at the face of ALI BIN ABI TALEB (ASWS) instead because I had heard the Messenger of ALLAH (SAWW) say, ‘Looking at the face of ALI BIN ABI TALEB (ASWS) is worshipping ALLAH (SWT) .’
The Messenger of ALLAH (SAWW) said:
Yes! I swear to ALLAH (SWT) that this is worshipping ALLAH (SWT) , and this is the best way of worshipping ALLAH (SWT) ! O Slave of ALLAH (SWT) ! You left your house this morning trying to make some money to bring back for your family, but instead you went to look at ALI BIN ABI TALEB’s (ASWS) face while you love him and believe in his status. What you did is better than having the entire world. You gave up the money in the way of ALLAH (SWT) . ALLAH (SWT) will release one thousand men from Hell with your intercession for every breath you took as you walked toward ALI (ASWS) .
(Amaali of Sadouq 296. Bihar Al Anwar 38:197. Taawil Al-Ayaat 2:568.)