The Greatest Master Muhyiddin Ibn al-Arabi

The chosen Messenger, upon him be peace, once received this revelation concerning the Day of Resurrection:

A certain soul will remain with its face toward the Fire. It will be the last among those to enter Paradise. This soul will cry out: "O Lord, turn my face away from the Fire, for its acrid odor tortures me and its heat consumes me." The soul will continue supplicating Allah in this way as long as the One Reality wishes.

Then Allah, may He be exalted, will inquire: If I respond to your supplication, will you request anything more of Me?

"No, Lord, I will not ask for anything more." Thereupon the soul will make whatever promises and vows Allah Most High desires. Allah will then turn its face away from the Fire. Upon beholding the light of Paradise, the soul will remain silent for as long as the One Reality wishes and then cry out: "O Lord, please allow me to advance to the Gates of Paradise."

Allah, may He be exalted, will reply: Did you not promise that you would ask for nothing more? Alas for you, O child of Adam, how easily you break your vow.

The soul will plead, "O Lord, " continuing to supplicate Allah, exalted and glorified is He, until He responds.

And will you request anything more of Me if I grant you this?

"No, O Lord. By Your Loving Power, I will ask for nothing more." Acting as the Divine Will ordains, this soul will swear and promise. Allah will then permit it to advance to the Gates of Paradise. Clearly observing Paradise overflowing with goodness and delight stretched out before its gaze, the soul will remain silent as long as Allah will and then will supplicate: "O Lord, please permit me to enter Your Paradise."

Did you not swear and promise that you would ask nothing further of Me? Alas for you, O child of Adam, how easily you break your vow.

"O Lord, please do not make me the most miserable of Your Creatures."

The soul will not cease pleading in this way until Allah is filled with Good Pleasure.

When Allah manifests this Divine Good Pleasure, He will intimately address the soul: Now enter My Paradise.

Thereupon Allah, may He be glorified, will address the soul in Paradise: Make further supplication to Me.

The soul will then ask for many sublime gifts, which Allah Most High will inspire it fervently to desire, reminding the soul of this or that aspiration, until all its longing is fulfulled.

Allah the Exalted will then declare: You will have all this and infinitely more.

*This hadith comes from the transmission of the intimate companion Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him.