The Trial of the Muslim and the Expiation of His Sins

The Shaykh : The evil deeds for which a person is tested—even if this person feels that they are numerous—should not cause him to despair of the mercy of Allah. For Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has been generous to His servants and has made good deeds and trials expiate for our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) the sins of this person. He says in this hadith that everything a Muslim is afflicted with is an expiation, even a stumble or a thorn prick. That is to say, whatever calamity befalls a person, whether small or large, to the point of being pricked by a thorn or stuck by a needle and saying “Ouch,” our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) considers this and records it for him as an expiation for one sin or many sins. Undoubtedly, a person, especially a Muslim in this life, is always and forever tested, as we mentioned in previous hadiths from his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . The believer is tested according to the measure of his intention. Therefore, whatever calamities befall the Muslim are expiations for his sins. This is why the impact of this verse is lightened: ; because he is not punished for every wrong he has done, for these evil deeds, as in these hadiths, are expiated by illnesses and calamities. These evil deeds are expiated by prayers, expiated by purity and ablution. The expiations are many, and very many indeed, and we have passed through, if Allah wills, many texts regarding this.
In the meaning of the previous hadith is the following hadith, with which we conclude the lesson. It is his report from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that a man recited this verse: , and he said, “Are we to be punished for everything we have done? We are ruined, we are ruined indeed.” That reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he said: . This is in the meaning of the previous hadith. I must also recite the following hadith, because it is in the meaning of what came before it, so that we do not repeat the topic to you. It is his report from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “O Messenger of Allah, how can there be well-being after this verse: , and we are punished for everything we have done?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . He said: “I said: Yes.” He said: .
Thus, this hadith clarified for us the meaning of the verse in the most complete way: . But you must know that this ruling is specific to the believer. As for the open sinner who is immersed in disobedience and sins, and who is always strong, severe, and robust in build, always caring for himself and his material, worldly health, and never thinking about his Hereafter at all; this person is not covered by such a noble Qur’anic text. Therefore, it came in some authentic hadiths that a man entered upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a gathering where I think the fever was mentioned. That man asked: “What is this fever?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: . He said: “No.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
This indicates to you the importance of what a person is tested with, not only from illnesses, but anything that harms him, as the hadith of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) explained this matter to us with complete clarity. Thus, the believer, for every sin he commits in this world, is punished for it by what he is tested with from illnesses and calamities, and anything that saddens him.
So praise be to Allah who has made us Muslims, and we hope that He will make us among the patient if He tests us with something. We ask Allah for well-being and safety. And what you have learned from our sitting in this book is that the best thing a person asks his Lord for is well-being. But the matter is not as we wish; we may be tested. If we are tested, that is better for us. This is the whole topic, revolving entirely around this gate, around this issue.
That is to say, if a Muslim is afflicted with an illness or any calamity, he must praise Allah and be content, and remember the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) at the end: . And this is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.