Abu Huraira related: We were seated around the Messenger of Allah (SAW), and with us among those gathered was Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. And the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got up from among us. He tarried a while away from us, and we feared that he might have been captured from us without us, and we panicked and got up. I was the first one who panicked, and I went out to search for the Messenger of Allah (SAW) until I came to a garden of the Ansar which belonged to the Banu Al-Najjar. I walked around it to see if I could find a door, but I found none, but I did find a small stream that flowed into the garden from a well outside. So I girded myself up like a fox and went up to the Messenger of Allah (SAW). He said: “Is that Abu Huraira?” I said: “Yes, oh Messenger of Allah.” He said: “What’s the deal with you?” I said: “You were among us, then you got up and tarried a while away from us, and we feared that you might have been captured from us without us, and we panicked, and I was the first to panic. Then I came to this garden, girded myself up like a fox, and these people are following me.” And He said: “Oh Abu Huraira!”, and He gave me his two sandals, then said: “Take these two sandals of mine, and whoever you meet outside of this garden who testifies that there is no god but Allah, being assured of it in his heart – tell them the good news of Jannah.” Then the first person that I met was ‘Umar. He asked: “What are these two sandals, oh Abu Huraira?” I said: “These are the Messenger of Allah’s (SAW) two sandals with which he has sent me out, that whoever I meet who testifies that there is no god but Allah, being assured of it in his heart, I might give him the good news of Jannah.” Then ‘Umar hit me between my breasts and I fell back on my ass. And he said: “Go back, Abu Huraira!” So I went back to the Messenger of Allah (SAW), on the verge of crying. And ‘Umar was close on my tail [rakibaniy], having followed me. And the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to me: “What’s with you, oh Abu Huraira?!” I said: “I met up with ‘Umar and told him about what you had sent me out to do, and he hit me hard between my breasts and I fell down on my ass, and he said ‘Go back!’” Then the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to him: “Oh ‘Umar! What made you do this?” He said: “Oh Messenger of Allah, I would give my father and mother for you, did you really send Abu Huraira out with your two sandals, and anyone he met who testified that there is no god but Allah, assured of it in his heart – he should give them the good news of Jannah?” He said: “Yes I did.” He said: “Don’t do that, for indeed I fear that people will put their trust in that – let them continue in their deeds.” The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Ok, let them.”