Ahadith

Anas relates that the Holy Prophet passed by a woman who was crying over a grave. He said to her: Be mindful of thy duty to Allah and be steadfast. She retorted: Leave me alone; you have not been afflicted as I have been. She" had not known who he was. Someone told her: That was the Holy Prophet. She proceeded to the door of the Holy Prophet and not finding any doorman went in and said to him: I had not recognised you. He said: Steadfastness means to be resigned at the time of the first shock of grief (Bokhari and Muslim). Muslim's version adds: She had been crying over the grave of her son. (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: Allah, the Exalted, says: I have no reward other than Paradise for a believing servant of mine who is steadfast when I take away a beloved one of his from among the denizens of the world (Bokhari). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Ayesha relates that she asked the Holy Prophet about the plague and he told her that the plague is a torment with which Allah afflicts those He determines; but that He has made it a source of mercy for the believers. If a servant of Allah is afflicted with the plague and stays in his town in a spirit of steadfastness hoping for his due from Allah, realising that only that will happen to him which Allah has determined for him, he will surely have a reward equal to that of a martyr (Bokhari). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Anas relates that he heard the Holy Prophet say that Allah, the Lord of honour and glory, says: When I afflict a servant of Mine in respect of two of his beloved organs (meaning his eyes) and he proves steadfast under- the affliction, I bestow Paradise on him in their stead (Bokhari). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Ataibn Abi Rabah relates that ibn Abbas said to him: Shall I show you a woman from among the dwellers of Paradise? He said: Certainly. Ibn Abbas then pointed to an ebony coloured woman and said: This woman came to the Holy Prophet and said: Messenger of Allah, I suffer from epilepsy and when I have a fit my body is exposed. Please pray to Allah for me. He said: If you choose to be steadfast under this affliction, you will gain Paradise, but if you so wish I shall pray that Allah may heal you. She said: I shall be steadfast, but please pray that my body may not be exposed. He prayed accordingly (Bokhari and Muslim). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud relates that he recalls as if he is looking at the Holy Prophet when he mentioned the case of a Prophet who was beaten and injured so severely by his people that he wiped away the blood from his face while supplicating: Allah, forgive my people, for they know not (Bokhari and Muslim). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Abu Sa‘id and Abu Hurairah relate that the Holy Prophet said: Whatever trouble, illness, anxiety, grief, hurt or sorrow afflicts a Muslim, even the pricking of a thorn, but Allah removes in its stead some of his defaults (Bokhari and Muslim). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud relates: I visited the Holy Prophet and he had fever. I said to him: Messenger of Allah, you have very high fever. He said: Indeed. My fever is as high as that of two of you. I said: That is because you have twice the reward. He said: That is so. No Muslim suffers anything, the prick of a thorn or more, but Allah wipes out in its stead some of his defaults and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall away from a tree. (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: When Allah decrees good for a person He afflicts him (Bokhari). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)

Anas relates that the Holy Prophet said: No one of you should wish for death because of any misfortune that befalls him. Should anyone be sore afflicted, he should say: Allah, keep me alive so long as life is the better for me, and cause me to die when death is the better for me (Bokhari and Muslim). (Aal-e-`Imran 202, Al-Baqarah 157, Az-Zumar 12, Ash-Shura 45, Al-Baqarah 155, Muhammad 33)