CHAPTER 3: THOSE UNDERGOING DISASTERS AND AFFLICTIONS : PART 2
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, clarified that calamities expiate sins:
`Aa’ishah, the wife of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘There is no calamity that befalls a Muslim except that through it, Allah expiates some of that person’s sins, even if one is pricked by a thorn.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5640) and Muslim (2572).)
Umm `Alaa’ (a woman Companion) said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited me while I was sick, and said: ‘Receive glad tidings, O Umm `Alaa, because through the sickness of a Muslim, Allah does away with their sins, just as fire does away with the impurities of gold and silver.’” (Reported by Abu Dawood (2688).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed that a Muslim will be rewarded for every calamity, even if it is small and insignificant:
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “For every hardship, disease, worry, distress, harm, and grief that a Muslim faces, and even for every thorn that pricks them, Allah will expiate some of their sins through it.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5642) and Muslim (2573).)
`Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood said: “I entered where the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was, and found him suffering pains of a fever, and I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you are suffering severe pains of your fever,’ and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Yes, I am suffering as much as two men among you would suffer.’ I said to him, ‘For that reason, will you have two rewards?’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Yes, it will be as you said; there is not a Muslim that is afflicted with the harm of a thorn, or anything above that, except that because of it, Allah will expiate their sins, and his sins will fall like leaves fall off a tree.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5648) and Muslim (2571).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, urged them to be patient and promised them Paradise if they were patient:
Jaabir ibn `Abdullaah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed by `Ammaar (a Companion) and his family when they were being tortured (in Makkah), and said: “Be patient, O family of `Ammaar and family of Yaasir [in another narration, O family of Yaasir] because your promised final abode is Paradise.” (Reported by Al-Hakim (5666).)
`Ataa’ ibn Abu Rabaah (a Companion) said: “Ibn `Abbas said to me, ‘Should I not show you a woman from the people of Paradise?’ I said: ‘Yes, show me.’ He said: ‘This woman went to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: ‘I am epileptic, and when I have episodes, my body becomes uncovered so supplicate to Allah for me.’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her: ‘If you wish, you can be patient and be guaranteed Paradise, and if you wish, I can supplicate to Allah to cure you.’ She said: ‘I will be patient; however, my body becomes uncovered. So supplicate to Allah that my body does not become uncovered.’ And so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated for her.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5652) and Muslim (2576).)
This narration teaches that being patient with afflictions in the worldly life makes one deserving of Paradise. (Fat-h Al-Baari (10/115).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, consoled someone who was stricken with a calamity by giving them glad tidings of Paradise and great rewards:
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said:
“A woman came to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, only men have taken a share and benefitted from your speech, so appoint us a day to be able to benefit from you, where you come and teach us from what Allah has taught you.’
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Gather on such-and-such day.’
So they gathered on that day, and the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to them and taught them from what Allah taught him, then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘There is not a woman who is preceded in death by three of her children except that they will be a veil from the Fire for her.’
One of the women said: ‘And two…?
So the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘And two, and two, and two.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (102) and Muslim (2634).)
Abu Hassaan (a Follower belonging to the generation succeeding the Companions) said:
“I said to Abu Hurayrah ‘Two of my sons passed away, so can you mention a narration to us from the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, which would soothe our hearts in the face of those that die among us?’
He said: ‘Yes, small children are the Da’aamees (little creatures who enter wherever they please) of Paradise. One of them will meet their father (or he said parents) and will take hold of his garment (or he said by his hand) just as I am holding to the edge of your garment, and would not let go of it (or he said will not stop) until Allah The Almighty enters that child and his father into Paradise.’” (Reported by Muslim (2635).)
Abu Moosa Al-Ash`ari (a Companion) narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “If the son of a slave of Allah dies, Allah Says to the angels, ‘Have you taken the soul of the son of My slave?’ They say, ‘Yes.’ Then Allah Says, ‘Have you taken the fruit of his heart (his offspring)?’ They say, ‘Yes.’ Allah Says, ‘What did My slave say (when you did so)?’ They say, ‘He thanked you, and said: ‘To Allah we belong, and unto Him we shall return.’ Then Allah will Say, ‘Build my slave a house in Paradise, and call it, the house of thankfulness (Hamd).’” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi (1021).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, urged those who have been afflicted with trials to console themselves by remembering the biggest of calamities, and that is, losing him, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
`Aa’ishah said:
“The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, opened a door that was between him and the people, or he uncovered a curtain between himself and the people, and found that the people were praying behind Abu Bakr. He thanked Allah for the good state that he saw them in, and hoped that Allah would succeed him with the one that he saw them with (or with the situation that he saw them in).
Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘O people, whoever among the people or among the believers is stricken with a calamity, then let them console themselves with the loss of me during the calamity one faces with anyone else, because none from my nation will face a calamity worse than the calamity of my death.’” (Reported by ibn Maajah (1599).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prohibited becoming angry and hateful and wailing:
Jaabir ibn `Ateek (a Companion) reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to visit `Abdullaah ibn Thabit (another Companion) and found him in so much pain, to the point that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called him, but he did not answer. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said “To Allah we belong, and unto Him we shall return”, then said: “We are helpless in
your situation, O Abu Ar-Rabee`.” (Al-`Atheem Aabaadi says, “Meaning, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, wanted him to live, but the decree of Allah overpowers everything.” Refer to his book `Awn Al-Ma`bood, explanation of narration number (2704).)
Then, the women cried out loud and wept, and Jaabir began to quieten them, so the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Leave them be; if he dies, however, then let no woman weep.” (Meaning, she should not cry in the specific manner that is common [they used to wail and scream and raise their voices].)
His daughter then said: “By Allah, I hoped that you would die as a martyr, for you have prepared yourself to travel and go out to fight in Allah’s Cause.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allah has written his reward in accordance with his intention; however, what do you reckon is martyrdom?”
They said: “Dying (while fighting) in Allah’s path.” So the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are seven types of people that are counted as martyrs besides the one who is killed in the battle: the one who dies from the plague is a martyr; the one who dies from drowning is a martyr; the one who dies from a stomach disease is a martyr; the one who dies from intestinal pain dies a martyr; whoever dies in a fire dies a martyr; whoever dies under a collapsed building [or wall] dies a martyr; and a woman who dies while she is pregnant [or while giving birth] dies a martyr.” (Reported by Malik in his book Al-Muwatta’ (552), An-Nasa’i (1846) and Abu Dawood (3111).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “Those who hit their own cheeks, tear their clothes, and call with slogans of the pre-Islamic days of ignorance are not among us.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1297) and Muslim (103) on the narration of `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood.)
Abu Maalik Al-Ash`ari (a Companion) reported that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Four things in my Nation are from the pre-Islamic times of ignorance, and they will [mostly] not abandon these four things: boasting about one’s ancestry, disparaging other people’s [or your own] lineage, seeking rain through the stars, and wailing.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “If the wailing woman does not repent before she dies, she is resurrected on the Day of Resurrection wearing garments made of pitch and a coat of scabies.” (Reported by Muslim (934).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prohibited them from losing patience with sickness, as well as cursing and swearing:
Jabir ibn `Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited Umm As-Saa’ib (a woman Companion) and said to her: “What is the matter with you, O Umm As-Saa’id, why are you shivering so violently?” She said: “I have a fever, may Allah not bless it!” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Do not curse fevers, because they do away with the sins of the children of Adam just as a furnace does away with the impurities of iron.” (Reported by Muslim (2575).)
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbas (the Prophet’s cousin) said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited a Bedouin who was sick. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to say when he visited a sick person, ‘Laa Ba’s, Tahoor In shaa’ Allah [No harm, it will be a purification (of sins) if Allah wills].’ So he said that, and the Bedouin man said: ‘A purification! Rather, it is a fever that boils in an old man and takes him to the grave.’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Then yes, so it shall be.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3616).) In another narration the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The man did not live until the next evening.”
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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