Among the collection of hadith, the remembered sayings of Prophet Mohammed, the following one will make many readers think of the gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, in which Jesus speaks of the sorting of souls, separating the ‘sheep’ from the ‘goats.’

The Messenger of God said, ‘On the Day of Resurrection, God most high will say, “O Son of Adam, I was sick and you did not visit me.’

He will reply, ‘My Lord, how could I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds?’

He willl say, ‘Did you not know that my servant so-and-so was ill, and yet you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him, you would have found Me with him? O Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you gave me none.’

He will reply, ‘My Lord, how could I feed You when You are the Lord of the Worlds?’

He will say, ‘Did you not know that my servant so-and-so asked you for food and yet you gave him none? Did you not know that if you had fed him, you would have found the same with Me? O Son of Adam, I asked you for drink but you gave me none.’

He will reply, ‘My Lord, how could I give You to drink when You are the Lord of the worlds?’

He will say, ‘Did you not know that my servant so-and-so asked you for drink and yet you gave him none? Did you not know that if you had given him water, you would have found the same with Me?’