Two women who stood up to Firown

Ibn Kathir commented on the verse: {“And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir’awn, when she said: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’awn and his work, and save me from the wrong-doers.””} [at-Tahrim; 11]:

Qatadah said: “Fir’awn was the most tyrannical and disbelieving person on Earth, and by Allah, his disbelief did not affect his wife when she decided to obey her Lord.”

Abu ‘Uthman an-Nahdi reported that Sulayman said: “Fir’awn’s wife was tortured in the heat of the Sun. When her torturers would take a break and walk away, the Angels would shade her with their wings, and she would see her home in Paradise.”

al-Qasim bin Abi Bazzah said:
“Fir’awn’s wife asked who won, and it was said to her: “Musa and Harun won.” So, she would say: “I believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun.” Fir’awn said to those around him: “Look for the largest rock you can find. If she sticks to what she said, throw it on her. If she retracts what she said, she will remain my wife.” When they came to her, she looked towards the sky and saw her home in Paradise. So, she stuck to what she said and her soul was taken, and the rock was thrown on her lifeless body after her soul had been taken.” The scholars say regarding her statement: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise” that she chose her neighbor (Allah) before mentioning where she wanted to live (a home in Paradise).

Abu al-’Aliyah said:
“Fir’awn’s wife believed because of the wife of Fir’awn’s treasurer. What happened was that this woman was sitting and combing the hair of Fir’awn’s daughter one day, and the comb fell from her hand. So, she said: “May whoever disbelieves in Allah be destroyed!” Fir’awn’s daughter said to her: “You have a lord besides my father?” She replied: “The Lord of me, your father, and everything is Allah.” So, Fir’awn’s daughter hit her and went to tell her father.

Fir’awn sent to her, saying: “You worship a lord besides me?” She said: “Yes. The Lord of you, I, and everything is Allah, and I worship Him.” So, Fir’awn tortured her by putting her on a stake and stretching out her arms and legs and setting loose snakes on her body. One day, when she was in such a state, he came to her and said: “Will you give up?” She replied: “The Lord of you, I, and everything is Allah.” He said to her: “I will kill your son if you do not do not go back from what you said.” She said: “Do whatever you want,” and he killed her son, and she could hear his soul calm her down by saying to her: “Be happy, my mother! You have such and such reward with Allah!”

She remained patient until Fir’awn came to her another day, and she said the same to him as she had before. So, he killed another of her sons, and she could hear his soul calming her down as well. Fir’awn’s wife heard all of this, and this caused her to become a believer. Allah took away the soul of the wife of Fir’awn’s treasurer, and Fir’awn’s wife suddenly realized the reward, status, and honor that this woman had in Paradise.

So, she increased in her faith and certainty until Allah caused Fir’awn to discover her faith, and he said to his followers: “What do you know about Asyah bint Muzahim?” They replied by praising her, and he said to them: “She worships someone besides me!” They said: “Kill her,” and he placed her on a device that stretched her arms and legs away from her body. So, Asyah called upon her Lord, saying: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise!” Fir’awn happened to walk by when she said this, and she smiled because she saw her home in Paradise, and Fir’awn said to those watching: “Aren’t you amazed by her insanity? She smiles while we are torturing her?!”

So, Allah took her soul away to Paradise, and may Allah be Pleased with her…”

['Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Adhim'; 4/504-505]

Regarding the story of the woman who was combing the hair of Fir’awn’s daugher, there is a supporting narration in the ‘Musnad’ (1/309 and 4/295) that was declared authentic by Ahmad Shakir from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “ًWhen it was the night of my Isra‘, I sensed a beautiful, sweet scent. So, I said: “Jibril, what is this beautiful scent?” He replied: “This is the scent of the woman who combed the hair of Fir’awn’s daughter, and her children.” I said: “And what is her story?”” And he then related a story similar to what was mentioned by Ibn Kathir, with the difference of a few details.

Source

Time Management

Time Management | Muhammad al-Shareef

In this lecture Muhammad al-Shareef shows you how to implement such things as: – How to focus – What Islam teaches us about Time – Get what you want from your Time – Understanding the analogy of your life as a traveller

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Shiekh Ali Jaber

Shiekh Ali Jaber

Surat at-Toor

باب إكرام أهل بيت رسول الله وبيان فضلهم

قال الله تعالى: (إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ويطهركم  تطهيرا) (الأحزار: 33). وقال تعالى: (ومن يعظم شعائر الله فإنها من تقوى القلوب) ( الحخ: 32)

الشرح:

قال المؤلف – رحمه الله- (باب إكرام أهل بيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وبينا فضلهم). وأهل بيت الرسول صلى الله عليع و سلم: ينقسمون إلى قسمبن:

قسم كفار: فهؤلاء ليسوا من أهل بيته وإن كانوا أقارب له في النسب، لكنهم ليسوا من أهل بيته؛ لأن الله قال لنوع عليه الصلاة والسلام حين قال: (رب إن ابني من أهلي)، وكان ابنه كافرا قال: ( إنه ليس من أهلك) (هود: 46).

فلاكافر من أقارب الرسول صلى الله عليه و سلم ليسوا من أهل بيته، وإن كانوا أقارب له نسبا.

لكن المؤمنون من قرابته هم إها بيته، ومنهم أيضا زوجانه، فإن زوحاته صلى الله عليه وسلم من آل بيته، كما قال الله تعالى في سياق نساء أمهات المؤمنين: (يا نساء النبي لستن كأحد من النساء إن اتقين فلا تخضعن لاقول فيطمع الذي في قلبه مرض وقلن قولا معروفا (32) وقرن في بيوتكن تبرجن تبرج الحاهلية الأولى وأقمن الصلاة وآتين الزكاة وأطعن الله ورسوله إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ويطهركم تطهيرا) (الأحزاب: 32-33).

وهذا نص واضح جدا بإن زوجات الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم من آل بيته، خلافا للرافضة الذين قالوا: إن زوجات الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم ليسوا من أهل بيته، وهذا غير صحيح، فزوجاته من أهل بيته بلا شك.

ولأهل بيت الرسول صلى الله عليه و سلم المؤمنين، كما قال تعالى في كتابه: (النبي أولى بامؤمنين من أنفسهم وأزواجه أمهاتهم) (الأحزاب: 6).

فأزواج الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم امهات للمؤمنين، وهذا باإجماع، فمن قال: إن عائسة رضي الله عنها ليست إما لي فليس من المؤمنين؛ لأن الله قال: (النبي أولى بامؤمنين من أفسهم وأزواجه أمهاتهم) فمن قال إن عائشة – رضي الله عنها – ليست أما للمؤمنين، فهو ليس بمؤمن، لا مؤمن باقرآن ولا بالرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم.

وعجبا لهؤلاء؛ يقدحون في عائشة ويسبونها ويبغضونها وهي أحب زوجات الرسول صلى عليه وسلم إلى الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، لا يحب أحدا من نسائه مثل ما يحبها، كما صح ذلك عنه في (البخاري) أنه قيل: يا رسول الله، من أحب الناس إليك؟ قال: (علئشة). قالوا: فمن الرحال؟ قال: (أبوها) أبوا بكر رضي الله عنه.

وهؤلاء القول يكرهون عائشة ويسبونها ويلعنونها، وهي أقرب نساء الرسول إليه، فكيف يقال أن هؤلاء يحبون الرسول؟ وكيف يقال إن هؤلاء يحبون آل الرسول؟ ولكنها دعاوى كاذبة لا أساس لها من الصحة.

فالواخب علينا احترام آل بيت الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم من قرابته المؤمنين، ومن زوجاته أمهات المؤمنين، كلهم آل بيته ولهم حق.

ثم ذكر المؤلف الآية التي سقناها الآن: (إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس إهل البيت ويطهركم تطهيرا)

وهذ مصدر مؤكد لما سبق، يدل على أنها طهارة كاملة.

ولهذا من رمي واحدة من نساء الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم بالزنى – والعياذ بالله – فإنه كافر حتى لو كانت غير عائشة.

الذي يرمي عائشة – رضي الله عنها – بما برأها الله منه فهو كافر مكذب لله، يحل دمه وماله، وأما الذي يرمي سواها بازنى فالصحيح من اقوال أه العلم أنه كافر أيضا؛ لأن هذا أعظم قدح برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، أن يكون فراشه ممن يزنين والعياذ بالله، وقد قال الله تعالى: (الخبيثات للخبيثين والخبيثون للخبيثات) (النور: 26).

فمن رمي واحدة من زوجات الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم بالزني فقد جعل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وحاشاه من ذلك- جعله خبيثا نعوذ بالله؛ لأن الله يقول (الخبيثات للخبيثين) وبهذا يعرف أن المسألة خطيرة وعظيمة، وأن الواجب علينا أن نكون المحبة الصادقة لجميع آل بيت الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم؛ نسائه كلهن والمؤمنين من قرابته.

وعن يزيد بن حبان قال: اطلقت أنا وحصين سبرة، وعمر وبن مسلم إلى زيد بن أرقم رضي الله عنهم، فلما جلسنا إليه قال له حصين: لقد لقيت يازيد خيرا كثيرا، رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وسمعت حديثت، وغزوت معه، وصليت خلفه: لقد يازيد خيرا كثيرا، حدثنا يازيد ما سمعت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم.

قال: يا ابن زيد أخي والله لقد كبرت سني، وقد عهدي، ونيست بعض الذي كنت أعلى من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فما حدثتكم، فاقبلوا، وما لا فلا تكلفونيه ثم قتا: قام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوما فينا خطيبا بماء يدعى خماء بين مكة والمدينة، فحمد الله وأثنى عليه، ووعظ، وذكر، ثم قال: (أما بعد: ألا أيها الناس، فإنما أنا بشر يوشك أن يأتي رسول ربي فأجيب، وأنا تارك فيكم ثقلين: أولها كتاب الله، فيه الهدى والنور، فخذوا بكتاب الله، واستمسكوا به) فحث على كتاب الله رغب فيه. ثم قال (وأهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي) فقال له حصين: ومن أهل بيته يازيد؟ أليس نساؤه من أهل بيته؟ قال: نساؤه من أهل بيته ولكن أهل بيته من حرم الصدقة بعده، قال: ومن هو؟ قال: هم آل على، وآل عقيل، وآل جعفر، وآل عباس، قال: كل هولاء حرم الصدقة؟ قال: نعم. رواه مسلم.

وفي رواية: (ألا وإني تارك فيكم ثقلين: أحدهما كتاب الله وهو حبل الله، من اتبعه كان على الهدى، ومن تركه مان على ضلالة). (مسلم: 2408)

وعن ابنعمر رضي الله عنهما، عن أبي بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه موقوفا عليه أنه قال: ارقبوا محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم في أهل بيته. رواه البخاري. (البخاري: 3713).

معنى (ارقبوا): راعوه واحترموه وأكرموه، والله أعلم.

الشرح: هذا الحديث وهذا الأثر في بيان حق آل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقد سبق أن آل بيته هم زوجاته ومن كان مؤمنا قرابته، من آل علي وآل عقيل وآل جعفر وآل العباس، وهم الذين تحرم عليهم الصدقة؛ لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لعمه العباس وقد سأله من الصدقة، قال: (إن هذه أوساخ الناس وإنهما لا تحل لآل مجمد).

وآل محمد لهم خصائص ليست لغيرهو، ففي باب الفيء لهم حق يحتصون به، كما قال تعالى (واعلموا أنما غنمتم من شيء فأن لله خمسه وللرسول ولذي القربى) (الأنفال: 41) يعنى قرابة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم.

ولهم مرامة وشرف وسيادة، فلا تحل لهم الصدقة ولا الزكاة الواجبة؛ لأنهما أوساخ الناس، كما قال تعالى: (خذ من أموالهم ضدقة تطهرهم) (التوبة: 103) فلا يحل لهم الصدقة؛ فهم أشرف وأعلى من أن تحل لهم الصدقة، لكن بعطون بدلها من الخمس.

ثم بين في حديث زيد بن أرقم أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال يوم غدير خم؛ وهو غادر بين مكة المدينة، نزل فيه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ووعد وذكر، وحث علي القرآن، وبين أن فيه الشفاء والنون، ثم حث على أهل بيته، فقال: (أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي، أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي).

ولم يقل إن أهل بيته معصومون، وإن أقوالهم كالقرآن يجب أن يعمل بها، كما تدعيه الرافضة، فإنهم ليسوا معصمين، بل هم يخطئون كما يخطئ غيرهم، ويصيبون كما يصيب غيرهم، ولكن لهم حق قرابة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كما سبق.

وقوله: (أذكركم الله في أهل بيتي): يعني اعرفوا لهم حقهم، ولا تظلموهم، ولا تعتدوا عليهم، هذا من باب التوكيد، وإلا فكل إنسان مؤمن له حق على أخيه، لا يحق أنيعتدي عليه، ولا أن تظلمه، لكن  لآل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حق زائد على حقوق غيرهم من المسلمين.

وإذا كان هذا في حق آل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فما بالك بحق الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم؟

حق الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم أعظم الحقوق بعد حق الله؛ يجب أن يقدم على النفس والولد والأهل وعلي جميع الناس، في المجبة والتعظيم وقبول هديه وسنته صلى الله عليه وسلم، فهو مقدم على كل أحد صلى الله عليه وسلم. نسأل الله أن يحعلنا والمسلمين من أتباعه ظاهرا وباطنا

شرح ریاض الصالحين. للشيخ صالح ابن محمد العثيمين

“A Race Against Fate”

“A Race Against Fate”

By Tarek Mehenna

In a race against fate, they struggle to contain
The light of truth from making gain after gain
Sitting in this cell, I can never complain
While countless other victims are sharing my pain

Victims of a regime that stands confused
Of what will befall it after all it has abused
Despite its claimed virtues over those it has accused
It nullifies its claim with the tactics it has used

They tortured one brother into a painful mess
Until his torture forced him to falsely confess
Life in Supermax for what he said under duress
Seems to be acceptable in the present-day U.S.

And our sister, our pearl, a cover-up gone wrong
Imprisoned by her captors for six years too long
Shot twice in the stomach and still remaining strong
Sleeps in a prison cell where pearls don’t belong

And the scientist, the doctor, the scholar with a plight
They claimed they got him because he urged others to fight
The truth is that he never spoke out of fright
And his persecutors wanted to extinguish his light

The examples are many, but this is just a taste
Of those whose suffering should not go to waste
To helping the oppressed, let us run in haste
It is towards this goal that true men have raced

And remove from yourself the shackles of fear
And make their agenda abundantly clear
With honor, let us defend what we hold dear
Our beliefs, and our brethren—we must start from here

Until when will our sons be dragged from their beds
To be handcuffed and kidnapped by invading Feds
Before our mothers can even cover their heads
It’s the new McCarthyism, and we are the Reds

If you speak out against this, you’re a ‘terrorist’
The black label reserved for those who resist
It doesn’t really matter how much you insist
That you’re no monster, they will always persist

In the deception they have managed to master so well
That only the fair-minded are able to tell
That this plan that could’ve only been hatched in Hell
Is for all who speak up to be thrown in a cell

They think they are ‘free,’ but they are truly constrained
The thirst for oppression leaves their humanity restrained
In the end, they will see that all they have gained
Is the attention of He who defense those they have chained…

Taken from here

Concerning the knowledge of Aesha, radhiallahu anha

It is reported from Abû Mûsâ Al-Ash’arî – Allah be pleased with him – that he said:

We the Companions of Allah’s Messenger – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – never had difficulty in understanding a hadîth except that when we asked ‘Â`ishah we found she had some knowledge about it.
It is reported from Masrûq – Allah have mercy on him – that he said:
We swear by Allah, we have seen senior Companions of Allah’s Messenger – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – asking ‘Â`ishah about inheritance laws.

Ibn Al-Jawzî, Sifah Al-Safwah Vol.1 p319.

Shiekh Fawaaz al-Ka’bi

Shiekh Fawaaz al-Ka’bi

Surat al-Fuqaan, 61-77

Islamic Quiz

Question: Which Sura ends with teh names of two Prophets?
Answer: Surat al-Ala. Allah says:

صحف إبراهيم وموسى

The Scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa.

Question: How many times is “Hamaan,” the minister of Pharaoh mentioned in the Holy Quran?
Answer: Hamaan is mentioned 6 times in the Quran

Question: Who was the companion whom the Prophet changed his name from AbdusShams to AbdulRahmaan?
Answer: Abu Hurairah AbdulRahman bin Sakhr al-Dawsy, Radhiallahu anhu.

Rasoolullah

Rasoolullah, By Abu Ali

Click Here

Tests for the Believers: Fluctuations of Life

Tests for the Believers: Fluctuations of Life

By Shiekh Saleem al-Hilali A Scholar of Hadith

A person’s 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 faith 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 (peace and blessings be upon him), 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 said:

[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.] (Al-Baqarah 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 Paradise. 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 Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet said, ”Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah burdened with no sins” (At-Tirmidhi).

Sign of Allah’s Love

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity” (Al-Bukhari and others).

Sign of Faith

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Ka`b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Sign of Righteousness

The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their rewards are the highest. Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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 faith. If his faith is firm, his affliction is hard, and if his faith 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 and At-Tirmidhi)

Early Punishment

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Multiplication of Rewards

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The amount of reward is in accordance with the amount of suffering. When Allah 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).” (At-Tirmidhi)

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 tests His 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 Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Sa`id said, “I was with Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) when he visited a sick man in Kindah (in Persia), and he said to him, “Expect good because Allah makes a believer’s 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.” (Al-Bukhari)

`A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that once some pain afflicted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) causing him to suffer and turn about in his bed. She said, “Had one of us done this, you would have blamed him.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) 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 Paradise).” (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 Musa Al-Ash`ari narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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.” (Al-Bukhari)

`Abdullah ibn `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.” (Al-Bukhari)

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“No Muslim body is afflicted by Allah, but He will record (his deeds) for 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).” (Al-Bukhari)

Reason for the Reward

`Atta ibn Rabaah reported that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) told him, “Do you want to see a woman from the people of Paradise?” He said, “Yes.” He said, “It is this black woman. She came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, ‘I have (epileptic) seizures, and I get exposed, so supplicate to Allah for me.’ He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘If you wish, be patient and you will attain Paradise; 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 (peace and blessings be upon him) did.” (Al-Bukhari 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 hadith, 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-`Asqalani’s words: “The authentic hadiths 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 ibn `Amr reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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 Judgment.” (Al-Bukhari)