Sayyidah Aishah Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a servant's sins become many and he has no deed that could serve as expiation for those sins, Allah Almighty afflicts that person with grief so that the grief becomes an expiation for his sins."
Ahmad and al-Bazzar recorded it, and its chain is hasan (good).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب التوبة / 17474
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ حسن۔
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه البزار فى المسند (3260) اخرجه احمد فى المسند (157/6) ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 24708»