the power of supplication | three men trapped in a cave

While three persons were walking, rain began to fall, and they had to enter a cave in a mountain.
A big rock rolled over and blocked the mouth of the cave. They said to each other, 'Invoke ALLAH with the best deed you have performed (so ALLAH might remove the rock)'.

The first man supplicated:

One of them said, 'O ALLAH! My parents were old, and I used to go out for grazing (by animals). On my return I would milk (the animals) and take the milk in a vessel to my parents to drink. After they had drunk from it, I would give it to my children, family and wife. One day I was delayed and on my return I found my parents sleeping, and I disliked waking them up. The children were crying at my feet (because of hunger). That state of affairs continued till it was dawn. O Allah! If You regard that I did it for Your sake, then please remove this rock so that we may see the sky.'

So, the rock was moved a bit.

Then the second man supplicated:

The second said, 'O ALLAH! You know that I was in love with a cousin of mine, like the deepest love a man may have for a woman, and she told me that I would not get my desire fulfilled unless I paid her one-hundred Dinars (gold pieces). So, I struggled for it till I gathered the desired amount, and when I sat in between her legs, she told me to be afraid of ALLAH, and asked me not to deflower her except rightfully (by marriage). So, I got up and left her. O ALLAH! If You regard that I did if for Your sake, kindly remove this rock.'

So, two-thirds of the rock was removed.

Then the third man supplicated:

Then the third man said, 'O ALLAH! No doubt You know that once I employed a worker for one Faraq (three Sa's) of millet, and when I wanted to pay him, he refused to take it, so I sowed it and from its yield I bought cows and a shepherd. After a time that man came and demanded his money. I said to him: Go to those cows and the shepherd and take them for they are for you. He asked me whether I was joking with him. I told him that I was not joking with him, and all that belonged to him. O Allah! If You regard that I did it sincerely for Your sake, then please remove the rock.'

So, the rock was removed completely from the mouth of the cave.

Narrated Ibn Umar
Sahih Al-Bukhari: 2215
Book 34, Hadith 162
Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 418

Moral of the Story:

• ALLAH is very merciful and gracious. He forgives your greatest sins with a single Repentance.
• None of your good deeds ever be useless even if it is done for your own people or with others because ALLAH Almighty reward you for every good deed.
• If there is any sin, even if it is like a mountain, if you repent to it sincerely, then ALLAH will accept your repentance.
• Returning someone's trust is also a good deed and ALLAH loves you to return someone's trust as it is told in this story that this man did not pay his wages on his own wish, but he did give him in return for his wages what he earned. This is also a good deed. If He forgave him, it would have been his.