Assalamu'alaikum,
A persons life in this world is not stable. One passes through alternating
periods of happiness and dismay, strength and weakness. wealth and poverty,
health and sickness etc. A true believer is one who maintains a clear
level of Eemaan throughout the worldly fluctuations. He continues to
remember Allah and ascribe the bounties to Him; and he turns to Him in
submission, asking for relief from his affliction. This is described
by the Messenger (SAW) who said: " Indeed amazing are
the affairs of a believer ! They are all for his benefit; If he is granted
ease of living he is thankful; and this is best for him. And if he is
afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres; and this is best or him." [
Muslim ]
And Allah (S) said (which means); " Certainly, We shall test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient - those who, when afflicted with calamity say, "Truly to Allah we belong, and truly to Him shall we return." it is those who will be awarded blessings and mercy from their Lord; and it is those who are the guided ones." [ 2:155-157 ]
Thus, a believer shows gratitude and thankfulness for all the wonderful blessings that Allah grants him. And he displays patience and submission during sickness and hardships, hunger, or other afflictions.
Hardships Benefit the Believer
Allah has decreed that, in this life, hardships and disasters strike both believers and non-believers. For a non-believer, they are inconveniences that hinder him from proceeding with his normal involvement in the worldly life. For a believer, on the other hand, they are instances of rest and remembrance, tests that promise great rewards, and indications of atonement and expiation of sins. Regardless of how little is the harm that strikes a believer, it carries with it good news of forgiveness and elevated rank ( in Jannah ). The Righteous Predecessors used to be pleased when a hardship afflicted them, seeing it as a token of Allah's forgiveness and benevolence.
Expiations of Sins
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet said: " Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah (S) burdened with no sins. " [Tirmithee ]
Sign of Allah's Love
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity" [Bukharee and others ]
Sign of Eeman
Abu Hurayrah (RA) and Ka'b Bin Maalik (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake - until it is uprooted all at once." [Bukharee and Muslim ]
Sign of Righteousness
The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their rewards
are the highest. Sa'd (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The
most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best,
then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with his deen (faith).
If his deen is firm his affliction is hard, and if his deen is weak,
his affliction is light. Indeed, one would be so much subjected to adversity
until he walks among the people without any sins. " [Ahmad, Tirmithee
]
Early Punishment
Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " When
Allah wills good for a servant of His, He expedites his punishment in
this life; and when He wills retribution for a servant of His, He holds
his sins for Him to judge him by them on the Day of Resurrection. " [Tirmithee
]
Multiplication of Rewards
Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The
amount of reward is in accordance with the amount of suffering. When
Allah (SWT) loves some people, He tries them (with affliction). He who
then is content (with Allah's decree) has achieved the acceptance (of
Allah), and he who is dissatisfied (with Allah's decree) will attain
the anger (of Allah)." [ Tirmithee ]
Rewards for Sickness
One should not look to sickness as a gloomy episode, but should remember
the great good in it. It is one form of affliction with which Allah (SWT)
tests His 'ibaad (servants), giving them a chance to acquire rewards,
as was explained above, as is further emphasized below.
Removal of Sins and Elevation in Ranks
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Whenever
a Muslim is afflicted by harm from sickness or other matters, Allah will
drop his sins because of that, like a tree drops its leaves." [Bukharee
and Muslim ]
Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " A
Muslim is not afflicted by hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm,
or depression - even if pricked by a thorn, but Allah expiates his sins
because of that. " [ Bukharee and Muslim ]
Sa'eed said, " I was with Salmaan (RA) when he visited a sick man
in Kindah ( in Persia ), and he said to him: " Expect good
because Allah (SWT) makes a believers sickness an expiation (for his
sins) and a period of rest. However, when a disbeliever falls sick, he
is like a camel whose owner ties it then lets it loose - it does not
understand why it was tied nor why it was freed."" [ Bukharee
]
'Aishah (RA) narrated that once some pain afflicted the Prophet (SAW)
causing him to suffer and turn about in his bed. she said: " Had
one of us done this, you would have blamed him." He (SAW) replied: " An
ailment is intensified for the righteous. whenever a believer is afflicted
by a hardship, whether it is a thorn or more, a sin is taken off from
him because of it, and he is elevated by one rank (in Jannah). " [Ahmad
]
Retaining Rewards for Deeds Before Sickness
Usually, when a believer falls sick, he would not be able to do the same
amount of good (prayer, fasting, helping Muslims etc) that he used to
do when he was well. But Allah out of His great mercy, continues to record
for him the good deeds that he was forced to stop because of his sickness.
Abu Moosa Al-Ash'aree narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: " For
a traveling or sick person, his deeds will be recorded in accordance
with what he used to do when he was resident or well." [Bukharee
]
'Abdullah Bin 'Amr reported that the Prophet said: " No
(believing) person gets sick, but (his deeds) will be recorded for him
in accordance with what he used to do when he was well." [ Bukharee
]
Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " No
Muslims body is afflicted by Allah, but He will record (his deeds) foe
him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well - as long
as he is sick. Thus, if He takes his life, He forgives him; and if He
cures him, He washes him (from sins)." [ Bukharee ]
'Uqbah Bin 'Aamir reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Each
days deeds are sealed with it. thus, when a believer gets sick, the angels
say, " Our lord! Your servant such and such, You have restrained
him (from doing good this day)." And the lord replies, " Seal
his day in accordance with his (usual) deeds, until he is cured or dies".
[Ahmad]
Reason for the Reward
'Atta Bin Rabaah reported that Ibn 'Abbaas (RA) told him, "Do
you want to see a woman from the people of Jannah (paradise)?" He
said "Yes". He said: " It is this black woman. She came
to the Prophet (SAW) saying, " I have (epileptic) seizures, and
I get exposed, so supplicate to Allah for me." He (SAW) said: " If
you wish, be patient and you will attain Jannah; or if you wish, I will
ask Allah to cure you."
She replied, " I will be patient ! But my body gets exposed (because
of the fall), so supplicate to Allah for me that I do not become exposed." and
he (SAW) did." [ Bukharee and Muslim ]
The scholars have differed in opinion as to whether a sick person will
be rewarded for the sickness itself or for being patient during it. the
correct opinion is that if he is patient and submits to Allah's will,
as in the above hadeeth, he would be rewarded for both the submission
and the sickness, otherwise, he would not be rewarded at all; because
he resented Allah's decree. This is what should be understood from Ibn
hajar al -'Asqalaanees words:
" The authentic hadeeths are clear in that the rewards are recorded
once affliction strikes a Muslim. As for patience and acceptance, they
are virtues for which a person may get additional rewards over those
for the affliction."
'Abdullah Bin 'Amr reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " If
a Muslim is pricked by (as little as) a thorn in the worldly life, and
he seeks its reward from Allah, some of his sins will be removed, because
of it, on the Day of Judgement." [ Bukharee ]