Angels Being Sent to Test Mankind
Al-Bukhari and Muslim report that Abu Hurayra heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace say:
"Three of the Tribe of Isra'il were respectively leprous, bald and blind. Allah wanted to put them to the test and so he sent an angel to them. He came to the leper and said, "What is the thing you would like best?" He said, "A good complexion and clear skin and for the thing that I have which makes people find me unclean to be taken from me. He wiped him and his impurity left him and he gave him a good complexion. He said, "What form of wealth do you like best?" He said, "Camels," and he gave him a preg- nant she-camel, saying, 'May Allah bless you in it."
"Then he came to the bald man and said, "What is the thing you would like best?" He said, "A good head of hair and to have what people consider distasteful about me removed from me. So he touched him and removed what he had and gave him a thick head of hair. He said, 'What form of wealth do you like best?" He said, "Cattle. So he gave him a pregnant cow and said, 'May Allah bless you in it."
"Then he went to the blind man and said, 'What is the thing you would like best?" He said, 'For Allah to return my sight to me so that I can see people. He touched him and Allah returned his sight to him. He said, "What form of wealth do you like best?" He said, "Sheep. So he gave him a pregnant sheep.
"These animals all gave birth and produced offspring. In time one had a valley full of camels, the other a valley full of cattle and the third a valley full of sheep.
"Then he (the angel) went to the leper, taking on the form that he himself had previously had, and said, "I am a poor man who has lost his means on his journey. Today I can seek help from none but Allah and then you. I ask you, by the One who gave you a good complexion and good skin and wealth, for a camel so that I can complete my journey. He said, "I have many obligations. He said, "I seem to recognise you. Were you not a leper, that people found unclean, and poor and then Allah was generous to you?" He said, "I inherited this property, elder son from elder son. He said, 'If you are a liar in your claim, may Allah return you to your original state'
"He then went to the bald man, taking on the form that he himself had previously had, and said to him the same as he had said to the other and he replied to him in the same way. He said, 'If you are a liar, may Allah return you to your original state!"
"Finally he went to the blind man and said, "I am a poor man who has lost his means on his journey. Today I can seek help from no one but Allah and then you. I ask you by the One who returned your sight to you for a sheep so I can complete my journey. He said, "I was blind and Allah restored my sight to me, so take what you want and leave what you want. By Allah, I will not be hard on you about anything which you take for Allah, the Mighty and Exalted (i.e. I will not be hard on you by refusing anything you ask of me or take)." He said, 'Keep your wealth. You have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and angry with your companions.""