Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

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.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that fever was mentioned in the presence of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and a person spoke ill of it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Do not speak ill of fever, for surely it cleanses sins just as fire removes the impurities of iron.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If any Muslim man or Muslim woman continues to suffer from any affliction, Allah Almighty causes his (or her) sins (mistakes) to fall away.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ata bin Yasar that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When a believing servant falls ill, Allah Almighty commands the noble scribes (angels): Write for My servant the same (good deeds) that he used to do when he was healthy, until I either call him to Myself or grant him relief from that affliction.

Hazrat Saeed bin Muhab narrates that I went with Hazrat Salman to visit his friend who was ill in Kinda. He said: When Allah afflicts a Muslim with some hardship and then removes it, it becomes an expiation for his sins, and he is pleased with whatever remains. And when Allah afflicts a sinner and a wicked person with some hardship and then grants him well-being, he becomes like that camel whose owner ties its thigh and foreleg so that it cannot walk; it does not know why it was tied, and when it is released, it does not know why it was released.

It is narrated from Hazrat Salman that when any (believing) servant falls ill, an angel submits, "O Lord! Your such-and-such servant is afflicted with illness." Allah Almighty says: "As long as he remains in My covenant, keep recording for him the like of those deeds which he used to do (when he was healthy)."

It is narrated from Hazrat Mu'adh that when Allah Almighty tests His servant with illness, He says to the angel on the left shoulder, "Lift your pen and stop writing," and He commands the angel on the right shoulder, "Write down for My servant the deeds which he used to do (when he was healthy)."

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: There is no believer who is pricked by a thorn or anything greater than that, except that Allah Almighty raises his rank by one degree in return and forgives his sin (mistake).

Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I do not prefer any discomfort more than fever, (because) indeed it enters every joint of the son of Adam, and Allah Almighty grants a share of reward to each of his joints.

It is narrated from Hazrat Salim that one day Hazrat Abu Darda saw a man and was amazed at his health and strength. He asked him, "Have you ever had a fever? Have you ever suffered any pain (such as a headache, etc.)?" He replied, "No." Hazrat Abu Darda said, "It is bad for him; he will die with his sins."

It is narrated from Hazrat Rabee’ bin Ameelah that there was a Bedouin with Hazrat Ammar. In his presence, people mentioned hardship and illness. Hazrat Ammar said: Have you ever suffered from illness? He replied: No. Hazrat Ammar said: Then you are not one of us. There is no believer who is afflicted with hardship except that his sins fall away like the leaves of a tree. And indeed, when a disbeliever is afflicted with hardship, his example is like that of a camel: when it is tied, it does not know why it has been tied, and when it is released, it does not know why it has been released.

It is narrated from Hazrat Asim that Hazrat Abu Al-Aliyah visited Hazrat Nazar bin Anas to inquire about his health. He said, "For fifty years we have been narrating the hadith that no believing servant falls ill except that when he rises healthy, he rises as if it were the day he was born. And for fifty years we have been narrating that no believing servant falls ill except that Allah, the Exalted, commands the noble scribes: Write for My servant the deeds which he used to do when he was healthy."

It is narrated from Hazrat Amr bin Shurahbil that Hazrat Abdullah said: Due to hardship, reward is not recorded, but it becomes an expiation for sins.

Hazrat Abu Darda said: "The night I fall ill, I feel as happy as if I had received red camels."

Hazrat Abu Qalabah says that when a person falls ill while performing a good deed, he is given the reward of that deed which he used to do in good health.

Hazrat Ikrimah says that when a person becomes ill, only those deeds are raised to Allah which he used to do when he was healthy.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muslim bin Yasar that when a servant falls ill, the best deeds that he used to do in good health are written for him.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) bin Hussain says that when the body is not ill, it is ungrateful for the blessing, and there is no good in that body which is ungrateful.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that no woman is pricked by a thorn except that, because of it, Allah Almighty removes her sins.

Hazrat Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrates from his father, who says: I asked, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Who among the people faces the most hardships?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "The Prophets, then those who are like them, and a servant continues to be afflicted with trials until he meets Allah in such a state that he has no sin left upon him."

Hazrat Mujahid says that everything of a sick person is written (in the book of deeds). Even the sound of his groaning during illness is also written.

Hazrat Abu Rabi’ah narrates that I heard Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) say that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When Allah Almighty afflicts a Muslim’s body with pain (and trial), He commands the angel to write for him the good deeds which he used to do in a state of health. Then, if Allah grants him recovery, He purifies him from sins, and if Allah takes his soul, He deals with him with mercy and forgiveness, and if his soul is taken, Allah forgives his sins and has mercy on him.