حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمَلِيحِ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ، وَكَانَتْ لَهُ صُحْبَةٌ، قَالَ‏:‏ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ قَبْضَ عَبْدٍ بِأَرْضٍ جَعَلَ لَهُ بِهَا حَاجَةً‏.‏

Abu'l-Malih reported from one of his people (who was a Companion) that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When Allah wants one of His slaves to die in some land, he makes him have a reason for going there."