In short: The Prophet ﷺ said he knew the last person to come out of the Fire and enter Paradise. Allah tells him to enter Paradise; he thinks it is full and comes back twice. Allah tells him he has the like of the world and ten times more. He says, “Are You mocking me, though You are the King?” and the Prophet ﷺ smiled (Sahih al-Bukhari 6571).
The story
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud reported that the Prophet ﷺ said he knew the last man to come out of the Fire, crawling out of it. Allah tells him: go and enter Paradise. He goes, imagines it is full, and returns: “O Lord, I found it full.” This happens again.
Then Allah tells him: go and enter Paradise, for you have the like of the world and ten times as much. The man says: “Are You mocking me, or laughing at me, though You are the King?” ‘Abdullah said he saw the Prophet ﷺ laugh until his teeth showed. It was said that this is the lowest rank among the people of Paradise (Bukhari 6571).
What we can take from it
- The lowest rank is beyond imagination. Ten times this whole world, for the last one in. Imagine the highest.
- Allah’s generosity surprises even the one receiving it.
- Aim high. Learn what Jannah means, and the daily deed that builds you a house in it.