This powerful narrative, shared by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) through Abu Hurairah, vividly illustrates the profound importance of appreciating Allah's blessings. It's a timeless lesson on gratitude, humility, and how wealth and well-being can reveal the true nature of the human heart.

The story begins with three men from ancient Israel, each afflicted with a severe condition: one with vitiligo (a skin disease causing discoloration), one bald, and one blind. To test their faith and character, Allah sent an angel to them, disguised as a human.

The angel first approached the man with vitiligo, asking, "What do you desire most?" The man yearned for a healthy complexion and good skin, desperate to be rid of the condition that caused people to shun him. The angel touched him, and instantly, his skin became clear and radiant. "And what else do you wish for?" the angel asked. The man replied, "Camels!" He was then given a she-camel in her tenth month of pregnancy, with the angel's blessing for its abundance.

Next, the angel visited the bald man, posing the same question. He wished for beautiful hair, to escape the social stigma associated with his baldness. The angel passed a hand over his head, and his hair grew back, thick and full. "And what else would you like to have?" the angel inquired. "Cattle!" he responded, and was given a pregnant cow, again with a blessing for its prosperity.

Finally, the angel came to the blind man. "What do you desire most?" he asked. The blind man's deepest wish was for Allah to restore his vision so he could see the world and its people. The angel touched his eyes, and miraculously, his sight was restored. "And what else would you like?" the angel questioned. "Sheep!" the man declared, and he received a pregnant ewe.

Time passed, and the initial animals multiplied prolifically. The man who had vitiligo now owned a valley overflowing with camels. The formerly bald man possessed a valley teeming with cattle. And the once-blind man had a valley filled with sheep. They had all become incredibly wealthy.

Then, the angel returned, once again disguised, this time as a poor, weary traveler. He approached the man who had been cured of vitiligo, saying, "I am a destitute traveler, with nothing left for my journey except what I seek from Allah and from you. I implore you, by the One who gave you good skin, a fine complexion, and all this wealth, to give me a camel so I can complete my journey."

But the man, now consumed by his riches, coldly replied, "I have many obligations," effectively refusing to help. The angel pressed him, "I seem to know you. Weren't you once a man with vitiligo, shunned and poor, until Allah blessed you?" The man arrogantly dismissed him, claiming, "This wealth is simply inherited, passed down through generations." The angel's response was ominous: "If you are a liar, may Allah return you to your former state."

The angel then visited the formerly bald man, posing the same request and receiving the same uncharitable response. The angel repeated his warning: "If you are a liar, may Allah return you to your former state."

Finally, the angel approached the man who had been blind, repeating his plea. This man, however, responded with overwhelming generosity and humility: "I used to be blind, but Allah restored my eyesight. Take whatever you wish, and leave whatever you desire. By Allah, I will not hinder you from taking anything today for the sake of Allah."

At this, the angel revealed his true identity. "Keep what you have," he said. "For you were only being tested. Allah is pleased with you, and displeased with the other two."

This profound story emphasizes that true thankfulness to Allah for His boundless blessings is not merely a verbal expression but is demonstrated through our actions, especially our charity and compassion towards others. It reminds us that everything we possess is a gift from Allah, not something we inherently deserve, which helps cultivate humility and eradicates arrogance. The narrative powerfully reinforces the Islamic principle articulated by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "None of you truly believes (in Allah and in His religion) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself" (Bukhari and Muslim). This story prompts us to reflect: how do we use the blessings we've been given?