An angel appears to Abou Ben Adhem, bringing a list of those who love God. When Abou Ben Adhem asks if his name is on the list he is surprised to find that it is not. He thinks for a moment and tells the angel to write his name on the list of those who love their fellow men. The angel does so.
The following night, the angel reappears holding another list. Abou Ben Adhem asks the angel what this list shows and the angel replies that it is a list of those who are blessed by God. Abou Ben Adhem's name appears at the top of this list. From this, Abou Ben Adhem can see that the way to show that one loves God is to love one's fellow human.
