Chapter: The Reward Of The Believer For Whatever Befalls Him Of Sickness, Grief And The Like, Even A Thorn That Pricks Him

'A'isha reported, I did not see anyone else being afflicted with more severe illness than Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). In the narration transmitted by 'Uthman there is a slight variation of wording.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of A'mash through other chains of transmitters.

I visited Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as he was running a high temperature. I touched his body with my hand and said to him: Allah's Messenger, you are running a high temperature, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Yes, it is so. I comparatively have a more severe fever than any one of you. I said: Is it because there is a double reward in store for you? Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Yes, it is so. And Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) again said: When a Muslim falls ill, his compensation is that his minor sins are obliterated just as leaves fall (in autumn). In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Zubair there is (no mention of these words):" I touched his body with my hands."

He said: Yes, by Him in Whose Hand is my life, there is no Muslim upon the earth." The rest of the hadith is the same.

What makes you laugh? They said: Such and such person stumbled against the rope of the tent and he was about to break his neck or lose his eyes. She said: Don't laugh for I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: If a Muslim runs a thorn or (gets into trouble) severe than this, there is assured for him (a higher) rank and his sins are obliterated.

A believer does not receive (the trouble) of running a thorn or more than that but Allah elevates him in rank or effaces his sins because of that.

A believer does not undergo (the trouble) of running a thorn or more than that when Allah effaces his sins.

The above hadith has been transmitted by Hisham with the same chain.

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: There is no trouble that comes to a believer except that it obliterates from his sins, even if it is the pricking of a thorn

No trouble comes to a believer even if it is the pricking of a thorn that it becomes (the means) whereby his sins are effaced or his sins are obliterated. Yazid says: He does not know which word 'Urwa said (whether he said Qussa or Kuffira).

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There is nothing (in the form of trouble) that comes to a believer even if it is the pricking of a thorn that there is decreed for him by Allah good or his sins are obliterated.

Never a believer is stricken with discomfort, hardship or illness, grief or even with mental worry that his sins are not expiated for him.

"Whoever does evil will be requited for it", and when this was conveyed to the Muslims they were greatly perturbed. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Be moderate and stand firm in trouble that falls to the lot of a Muslim (as that) is an expiation for him; even stumbling on the path or the pricking of a thorn (are an expiation for him). Muslim said that 'Umar b. Abd al-Rahman Muhaisin was from amongst the people of Mecca.

Umm Sa'ib or Umm Musayyib. why is it that you are shivering ? She said : " It is fever and may it not be blessed by Allah , whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said : Don't curse fever for it expiates the sin of the children of Adam just as furnace removes the alloy of iron.

Ibn Abbas said to me: May I show you a woman of Paradise? I said: Yes. He said: Here is this dark-complexioned woman. She came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and said: I am suffering from falling sickness and I become naked; supplicate Allah for me, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Show endurance as you can do and there would be Paradise for you and, if you desire, I supplicate Allah that He may cure you. She said: I am prepared to show endurance (but the unbearable trouble is) that I become naked, so supplicate Allah that He should not let me become naked, so he supplicated for her.