Shouq-e-Watan (Desire for the Aakhirah) – Part 2

Chapter No: 2 – The Reward for Illness and Hardships

1. Sayyidina Abii Sa’iid Radiyallahu ‘Anhu narrates from Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam: “Any Muslim who experiences any hardship, discomfort, worry, sorrow, grief, and distress, even n thorn prick, but Allah will make it an atonement (or his sins.” – Bukhaarii, Muslim, Mishkaat.
2. Sayyidina Jaabir Radiyallahu ‘Anhu reports, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said to Sayyiditina Ummi Saa-ib Radiyallahu ‘Anhaa: “Do not curse fever, for it removes the sins of Bani Aadam (offspring of Aadam ‘Alayhis Salaam) in the manner that a furnace removes rust from iron.” – Muslim, Mishkaat.
3. Sayyidina Anas Radiyallahu ‘Anhu narrates that I heard Nabi Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam say: “When I afflict my bondsman with his two beloved possessions, he then exercises patience, I will grant him Jannah in lieu of it. His two eyes are meant (here).” – Bukhaari, Mishkaat.
4. Sayyidina Anas Radiyallahu ‘Anhu reports, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said: “If a Muslim is afflicted with a bodily affliction (illness etc.), it is said to the angel (who records his pious deeds), continue recording the pious deeds he committed in his state of good health. If Allah grants him recuperation, He will cleanse him. If Allah grants him death, He will forgive and have mercy on him.” – Sharhus Sunnah, Mishkaat.
5. Muhammad bin Khaalid As-Salamii narrates from his father, who narrated from his grandfather that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said: “When a bondsman is going to be granted a certain status from Allah, which he cannot reach through his own deed. Allah Ta‘aala afflicts him with some calamity in his body, or to his wealth, or children, then grants him sabr (patience), until he reaches that status which has been determined for him.” – Ahmed, Abu Daawud, Mishkaat.
6. Sayyidina Jaabir Radiyallahu ‘Anhu says, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Ally hi Wasallam said: “When the afflicted ones are given reward on the day of qiyaamah (judgement), the healthy ones will wish that their skins were cut with scissors in the world (so they may also attain the same rewards).” – Tirmithi, Mishkaat.
7. Ummul Mu-miniin, Sayyiditina ‘Aa-i-shah Radiyallahu ‘Anhaa says, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said: “When the sins of a bondsman increases, and he does not possess deeds which will atone for it, Allah Ta’aala will afflict him with sorrow to expiate for those sins.” – Ahmed, Mishkaat.

Hadith

The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.
(Bukhari 1:1)

Chapter No 3: The Virtues of plague

1. Sayyidina Anas Radiyallahu ‘Anhu reports, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said: “Plague is a (means of) martyrdom for a Muslim.” – Bukhaari, Muslim, Mishkaat.
2. Sayyidina Abii Hurairah Radiyallahu ‘Anhu says, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said: “Five (categories of) people are martyrs: The plagued, the one who has disease in the stomach, the one who drowns, the one on whom a building falls, and a martyr in the Path at Allah.” – Bukhaari, Muslim, Mishkaat.
3. Ummul Mu-miniin, Sayyiditina ‘Aa-i-shah Radiyallahu ‘Anhaa said: “I asked Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam regarding, plague. He informed me that it is (a type of) punishment (k>r some) which Allah Ta’aala sends on whom he wishes (‘ for some’ here means the kaafirs). And Allah has made it a mercy for the Mu-miniin (believers). The one who remains with patience in his plague affected settlement, with the hope of gaining reward, and knowing that only what Allah has decreed fhim will happen. He will receive the reward of a shahiid (martyr).” – Bukhaarii, Mishkaat.

Commentary:

This reward is only attained if one remains in the affected place and does not run away. The reward for dying in a plagued area will be additional to this reward.

4. Sayyidina Jaabir Radiyallahu ‘Anhu reports, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said: “The one running away from plague is like the one running away from jihad. The one who stays steadfast with patience therein (affected place) will receive the reward of a shaheed (martyr).” Ahmed, Mishkaat.

Commentary:

From the previous two hadith it becomes clear that those affected by plague attain the reward of jihad while remaining in their homes. The reward for jihad is the best amongst all deeds.

5. ‘Aliim Alkindii said: “I was with Abii ‘Abas Al-Ghifaarii on a rooftop. He saw a group of people leaving the settlement because of plague. And said: ‘O plague take me (because I am desirous) towards you.’” – Reported by Ibn ‘Abdulbarr, Almarwazii, Ahmed, and Tabraanii. Sharhus Sudur.