الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتابBook of Expiation for the Sick
بَابُ يُكْتَبُ لِلْمَرِيضِ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ وَهُوَ صَحِيحٌChapter: The Sick Person Is Rewarded for What He Used to Do When Healthy
Hadith 500
حَدَّثَنَا قَبِيصَةُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُخَيْمِرَةَ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ : ”مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَمْرَضُ ، إِلا كُتِبَ لَهُ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ وَهُوَ صَحِيحٌ.“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a person falls ill, he is given the reward for every deed that he used to do while he was healthy."
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ It has been mentioned in previous chapters that illness becomes an expiation for sins and a means of raising ranks. In this hadith, it is explained that if a person used to perform good deeds but is unable to do so due to illness, he will still receive the full reward for those deeds. Therefore, one should consider good health as a blessing and strive to perform as many good deeds as possible during it.
➋ Both the one who performs good deeds and the one who, due to a valid excuse, is unable to perform them receive equal reward for those deeds. However, the one who actually performs the good deed is deserving of additional reward. For example, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said that reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an. Now, the one who actually recites one-third of the Qur’an will certainly be entitled to extra reward, in which ten good deeds are written for every letter.
➌ The reward for this is dependent upon intention. Similarly, if a person firmly resolves to commit an evil deed but is unable to do so due to some obstacle, he will also receive a share of the sin, even if he did not actually commit it.
➊ It has been mentioned in previous chapters that illness becomes an expiation for sins and a means of raising ranks. In this hadith, it is explained that if a person used to perform good deeds but is unable to do so due to illness, he will still receive the full reward for those deeds. Therefore, one should consider good health as a blessing and strive to perform as many good deeds as possible during it.
➋ Both the one who performs good deeds and the one who, due to a valid excuse, is unable to perform them receive equal reward for those deeds. However, the one who actually performs the good deed is deserving of additional reward. For example, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said that reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an. Now, the one who actually recites one-third of the Qur’an will certainly be entitled to extra reward, in which ten good deeds are written for every letter.
➌ The reward for this is dependent upon intention. Similarly, if a person firmly resolves to commit an evil deed but is unable to do so due to some obstacle, he will also receive a share of the sin, even if he did not actually commit it.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 500
