The Excellence of Prayer

8. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah from ‘Abdillah ibn Sinan who said: “Abu ’Abdillah عليه السلام has said that once a man passed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم while he was doing some work around one of his rooms. He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, can I help you?’ He replied, ‘As you wish.’ When the work finished, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم asked, ’Can I do anything for you?’ The man pleaded, ’(I want) Paradise!’ The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم looked into the sky then said, ‘Yes, (paradise is your reward).’ When he (the man) was leaving, he (the Prophet) said to him, ‘O servant of Allah, you must assist us by prolonging your Sajdah (prostration).’