On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

"A man sinned greatly against himself, and when death came to him he charged his sons, saying: 'When I have died, burn me, then crush me and scatter [my ashes] into the sea, for, by Allah, if my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one [else].'

So they did that to him.

Then He (Allah) said to the earth: {Produce what you have taken -and there he was!}

He said to him: {What induced you to do what you did?}

He said: 'Being afraid of You, O my Lord (or he said: Being frightened of You).'

And because of that He forgave him.

Related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhaari, an-Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah).