11111 - Abu Bakr (ibn Abi Shaybah) (1) narrated to us, he said: Abu Mu'awiyah narrated to us from al-A'mash from Ibrahim al-Taymi from al-Harith (ibn Suwayd) (2) from Abdullah who said: I entered upon the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم while he was suffering from fever. He said: I touched him and said: O Messenger of Allah, you are suffering from a severe fever. He said: "(Yes) (3) (indeed) (4) I suffer as two men among you suffer." (I said) (5): Then for you (is the reward twice) (6). He said: (Yes, by Him in Whose hand is my soul, there is no (Muslim on earth who is afflicted with harm or anything else) (7) except that Allah (by it) (8) (removes) (9) his sins as a tree sheds its leaves." (10)

It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: No thorn or anything greater afflicts a Muslim, except that Allah, because of it, raises his rank by one degree or forgives one of his sins due to it.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) visited a sick person. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) was also with him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Glad tidings to you! Indeed, Allah the Exalted says: This (fever) is My fire which I impose upon My believing servant in this world so that it may become his share in place of the fire of the Hereafter."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah that when the verse of the Holy Qur'an { مَنْ یَعْمَلْ سُوئًا یُجْزَ بِہِ } was revealed, it was very hard on the Muslims and some of them were even afflicted (with hardship). They came to the service of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and complained. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Remain between excess and deficiency, and stay on the right (path). Every hardship is an expiation for a Muslim, even a thorn that pricks him is also an expiation.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whenever any Muslim is afflicted with any hardship, Allah Almighty commands the angels. Then Allah Almighty says: Write for My servant the deeds which he used to do when he was in a state of health (and now cannot do because of illness), as long as he is bound in My chain.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Musa that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When a person falls ill or goes on a journey, Allah Almighty records for him the deeds that he used to do when he was healthy or residing (which he is now unable to perform due to illness or travel).

Hazrat Abu Saeed and Hazrat Abu Hurairah state that we heard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Whatever illness, hardship, prolonged sickness, distress, or sorrow befalls a Muslim, Allah the Exalted makes it an expiation for his sins.

Hazrat Iyad bin Ghatif narrates that we went to visit Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah during his illness, and his face was turned towards the wall and his wife was sitting by his head. I asked, "How did Hazrat Abu Ubaidah spend the night?" His wife replied, "He spent the night in a state of reward." Hazrat Abu Ubaidah turned towards us and said, "I did not spend the night earning reward. When Allah Almighty tests someone by giving him some hardship, then that hardship becomes a cause for his sins to fall away."

It is also narrated in a marfu’ form from Hazrat Iyad bin Atif in a similar manner.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muawiyah that he said: I heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say: Whatever afflicts a Muslim and causes pain to his body, Allah the Exalted expiates his sins because of it.