The Holy Qur'an: The Opportunity Of A Lifetime (Session 2)

"Some angels came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) while he was sleeping. Some of them said, "He is sleeping."  

Others said, "His eyes are sleeping but his heart is awake." Then they said, "There is an example for this companion of yours."  One of them said, "Then set forth an example for him." Some of them said, "He is sleeping."  The others said, "His eyes are sleeping but his heart is awake."   Then they said, "His example is that of a man who has built a house and then offered therein a banquet and sent a messenger to invite the people. So whoever accepted the invitation of the messenger, entered the house and ate of the banquet, and whoever did not accept the invitation of the messenger, did not enter the house, nor did he eat of the banquet."  

Then the angels said, "Interpret this example to him so that he may understand it."  Some of them said, "He is sleeping."   The others said, "His eyes are sleeping but his heart is awake."  And then they said, "The house stands for Paradiseand the messenger is Muhammad (peace_be_upon_him) and whoever obeys Muhammad, obeys Allah; and whoever disobeys Muhammad, disobeys Allah. Muhammad separated the people (i.e. through his message, the good is distinguished from the bad, and the believers from the disbelievers)." Bukhari 9. 385