Narrated to us Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, Zuhayr ibn Harb, and Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj, they said: narrated to us Waki'. (Another chain:) And narrated to us Ibn Numayr: narrated to us my father: narrated to us al-A'mash. (Another chain:) And narrated to us Abu Kurayb — and the wording is his — narrated to us Abu Mu'awiyah: narrated to us al-A'mash, from Sa'd ibn 'Ubaydah, from Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami, from 'Ali, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting one day with a stick in his hand with which he was scratching the ground. He raised his head and said: "There is not one of you but that his place in Paradise and in the Fire has already been determined." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, then why should we strive? Should we not rely upon that?" He said: "No. Strive, for everyone is facilitated toward that for which he was created." Then he recited: "As for he who gives and fears Allah, and believes in the best [reward]..." up to His saying: "...We will ease him toward hardship."