In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Glad tidings for those are afflicted with sickness

By Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhali may Allah have mercy on him

494. On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

مَا يَزَالُ الْبَلاَءُ بِالْمُؤْمِنِ وَالْمُؤْمِنَةِ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَمَالِهِ حَتَّى يَلْقَى اللَّهَ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ

“Trials will not cease afflicting the believing man and the believing woman in their self, children, and wealth, until they meet Allah without having any sin.”

The Shaykh commented on this narration in his explanation of al-Adab al-Mufrad by Imaam Bukhari on page 79 Vol 2. He said,

This short hadith contains glad tidings for every male and female Muslim. Sickness is an expiation for the sins of every male and female believer, and whenever the sickness is intensified the reward is magnified. For this, you find some the Prophets (upon them all be peace) who went through the most severe trials but they were all patient (seeking reward from Allah). From the most severe trials was the sickness of Ayyub (upon him be peace); he faced a type of sickness that no one ever felt. Then (because of his patience) Allah rewarded him in this life and the next. Allah returned his health back to him, returned his wealth that he lost, his wife and his son that died. Allah returned all of those things to him in this worldly life and with what was similar – this was his reward in this life. And in the hereafter, Allah will give Ayyub (upon him be peace) a high exalted station on the Day of Judgement.

It has been affirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked,

“O Messenger of Allah, which people are most severely tested?”

He said:

الأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الأَمْثَلُ فَالأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الْعَبْدُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صُلْبًا اشْتَدَّ بَلاَؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلاَءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَطِيئَةٍ

“The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A person is tested according to his religious commitment. If he is steadfast in his religious commitment, he will be tested more severely, and if he is frail in his religious commitment, his test will be according to his commitment. Trials will continue to afflict a person until they leave him walking on the earth with no sin on him.” (Ibn Maajah)

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله