40 Prophetic narrations of

tribulation, affliction and

patience
Compiled by Arfan shah

Abu Hurayra narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) said, “Whoever Allah desires good for; he afflicts him.” Bukhari

Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of God (may Allah bestow
on him peace and blessings) said, “Whoever Allah desires good for, he afflicted him.” Bukhari

Anis Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of God (may Allah
bestow on him peace and blessings) said, “If Allah desires good for his slave then affliction hastens to
him, in the world; if Allah desires evil for a servant then his sins are withheld until he passes away
and pending the Day of Judgement.” The Prophet (May Allah bestow on him peace and blessings)
said, “Great reward is attained by great afflictions. If Allah loves a people then he afflict s them.
Whoever is content by it has contentment and whoever is angered by it is angry.” Hadith Hassan.

Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of God (may Allah bestow
on him peace and blessings) said, “A Muslim continues to be afflicted in himself, his children, his
wealth until he meets Allah, the exalted, without any sins.” Hassan Sahih.

Abu Yahya Suhayb ibn Sinan (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah
(may Allah bestow on him peace and blessings) said, “Astonishing is the affair of the Believer! All of it
is good for him, this is not for anyone except the believer, if he is given good he is grateful and that is
good for him; if he is afflicted by harm he is patient and this is good for him!” (Muslim 2999)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "My nation has Allah's
mercy and will not be punished in the afterlife. However, they will face trails, mischief, killings and
corruption upon the Earth." (Abu Dawood)

Umm Salama reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon
him) said, “If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says, what Allah has commanded him, "We
belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me
something better than it in exchange for it," Allah will give him something better than it in exchange.
When Abu Salama died she said, “What Muslim is better than Abu Salama whose family was the first
to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)?” Then I said the words and Allah
gave me the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) in exchange. She said, “The Messenger of
Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessing upon him) sent Hatib ibn Abu Balta'a to deliver me a
marriage proposal. I said to him, “I have a daughter (as my dependant) and I am of jealous
temperament.” He (the Holy Prophet) said, “So far as her daughter is concerned, we would
supplicate Allah, that He may free her and I would also supplicate Allah to remove her jealousy.”
(Muslim 1999)

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace
and blessings upon him) said, "The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until (religious) knowledge
will be taken away, earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear,
murders will increase and money will overflow amongst you." (Bukhari 146)

Shaqiq narrates, “I heard Hudhayfa saying, "While we were sitting with 'Umar, he asked, “Who
among you remembers the statement of the Prophet about the afflictions?” Hudhayfa said, "The
affliction of a man in his family, his property, his children and his neighbours are expiated by his
prayers, and enjoining good and forbidding evil." 'Umar said, "I do not ask you about these
afflictions, but about those afflictions which will move like the waves of the sea." Hudhayfa said, "Do
not be concerned, O’ commander of the believers, for there is a closed door between you and
them." 'Umar said, "Will that door be broken or opened?" I said, "No, it will be broken." 'Umar said,
"Then it will never be closed," I said, "Yes." We asked Hudhayfa, "Did 'Umar know what that door
meant?" He replied, "Yes, as I know that there will be night before tomorrow morning, which is
because I narrated to him a true narration free from errors." We dared not ask Hudhayfa as to
whom the door represented so we ordered Masruq to ask him what does the door stand for? He
replied, "'Umar." (Bukhari 261)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “Not one of the Muslim is
afflicted by an affliction; seeks return during the affliction and says, “O’ Allah reward me by the
calamity and compensate me with goodness from it;” except that this is done.” (Imam Ahmed)

Said ibn Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Ibn 'Umar came to us and a man said
(to him), "What do you think about 'Qit-alal-Fitnah' (fighting caused by afflictions)." Ibn 'Umar said,
"And do you understand what an affliction is? Muhammad used to fight against the pagans, and his
fighting with them was an affliction, not like your fighting which is carried on for the sake of ruling."
(Bukhari)

Aban ibn Uthman reports, “I heard Uthman ibn Affan say, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (may
Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) say, “If anyone says three times: "In the name of Allah,
when Whose name is mentioned nothing on Earth or in Heaven can cause harm, and He is the
Hearer, the Knower" he will not suffer sudden affliction till the morning, and if anyone says this in the
morning, he will not suffer sudden affliction till the evening. Aban was afflicted by some paralysis and
when a man who heard the tradition began to look at him, he said to him, “Why are you looking at
me? I swear by Allah, I did not tell a lie about Uthman, nor did Uthman tell a lie about the Prophet
(May Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him), but that day when I was afflicted by it, I became
angry and forgot to say them.” (Abu Dawood)
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah used to invoke
thus, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from miserliness, laziness, from old age, the punishment in the
grave; from the affliction of Ad-Dajjal; and from the afflictions of life and death.” Bukhari

‘Ata ibn Abi Rabi’a narrates that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said to him,
“Would you like to see a woman from the people of paradise?” I said, “Of course.” He said, “This
dark woman came to the Prophet (May Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) and said, “I
have epilepsy and it causes me to uncover; pray to Allah, the exalted, for me.” He replied. “If you are
patient then paradise is yours or I can pray to Allah ,the exalted, to cure you.” He replied, “I’ll show
patience.” “I uncover could you pray to Allah that I do not uncover.” Then he prayed for her.
(Bukhari and Muslim)

Al-Zubayr ibn Adi narrated; we went to Anas ibn Malik and complained about the wrong we were
suffering at the hands of al-Hajjaj. Anas ibn Malik said, “Be patient, for no time will come but that the
time following it will be worse, until you meet your Lord. I heard the Prophet (may Allah bestow upon
him peace and blessings) say that.” (Bukhari.)

Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him
peace and blessings) said, “There will come a time of afflictions when one who sits will be better than
one who stands; one who stands will be better than one who walks; and one who walks will be better
than one who runs. Whoever exposes himself to these afflictions, they will destroy him. So whoever
can find a place of protection or refuge from them, should take shelter in it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and
blessing upon him) passed by a woman crying at a grave he said, “Fear Allah and be patient.” She
replied, “Leave me. You have not been afflicted with what I have. Someone said, “Did you not know
him? That was the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him). She came to the door
of the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) and she did not find any doormen.
She said, “I did not know it was you.” He replied, “Patience is when the calamity strikes.” (Bukhari
1223 and Muslim 926) In the narration of Muslim it states, “She wept over her child.”

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow
peace and blessings upon him) said, “Whoever is afflicted with a calamity in his wealth or himself
then hides it and does not complain to anyone; has a right that Allah forgives him.” (Tabarani in Al-
Awsat 741)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, “The silent is victorious.” (Imam
Ahmed and At-Tirmidhi)

Abi Hind Ad-Dari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah
bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “Allah, the exalted, stated, “Whoever is not content with
my decree; not patient with my calamities then let him search for a lord other than me.” (Tabarani in
Al-Kabir 22/320)

Abbas ibn Muttalib narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings
upon him) said, “Realisation of faith is by being content with Allah as your Lord.” (Muslim 57 and
Imam Ahmed 1/208)
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, “I ask you for
contentment after decree.” (An-Nas’ai 62 and Imam Ahmed 5/191)

Sa'ad ibn Abu Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace
and blessings be upon him), “Which people are afflicted with sever calamities?” He replied, “The
severest calamities befall the Prophets; then those similar; the person is tested according to the
extent of their religion; if his religion is firm then he is tested more; if his religion is weak then he
tested according to his religion.” (At-Tirmidhi 2398 and Ibn Majah 4023)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “If Allah loves a people then
sends them tribulation.” (At-Tirmidhi 2396 and Ibn Majah 4031)

Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah
bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “When Allah created Paradise and Hell; he sent Jibreal
to Paradise and said, “Gaze upon it and to what I have prepared for its inhabitants.” So Jibreal went
to it and gazed into then to what Allah had prepared for its inhabitants. He said, “He returned. Then
said, “By your Might, no one who hears about it except entering it.” So I ordered it to be surrounded
various hardship. Then said, “Return to it and gave upon what I have prepared for its inhabitants. He
said, “He returned to it when it had been surrounded by hardship.” He came back and said, “By your
Might, I fear no one will enter it!” He said, “Go towards the fire and gaze upon what I have prepared
for its inhabitants.” When he went there he found layers upon layers. He came back and said, “By
your Might, Anyone who hears of it would not want to enter it.” Then He ordered to be surrounded
by desires then ordered him to return to it and he came back then said, “By your Might, I fear that no
one will escape from it after entering it!” (At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa’i)

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessing upon him) said, “There is no Muslim
who consuls his brother upon a calamity except Allah will cloth him garments of honour on the day of
judgement.” (Ibn Majah)

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “Do not gloat at your
brothers afflictions as Allah may show him mercy and afflict you.” (Tabarani)

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him
peace and blessings) said, “Worship Allah by contentment and if you are unable then upon patience;
on what you dislike is great good.” (At-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, “Allah, mighty and majestic,
stated, “If I send a tribulation to my servant then he is patient and does not complain. Then I change
his flesh for better flesh and his blood for better blood. When he is healthy there is no sin upon him
and if he dies then he passes into my mercy.” (Imam Malik)

Ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow
upon him peace and blessings) said, “The most superior worship is anticipating relief.” (At-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, “Allah, mighty and majestic,
states, “If I send a tribulation to my servant through his beloved and he is patient; I replace it with
Paradise for them.” (Bukhari)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, “I ask you from certainty to
make the calamities of the world easy upon me.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him
peace and blessings) said, “Patience is half of faith.” (Abu Na’im)

Muhammad ibn Khalid ibn As-Sulami narrates from his father who narrates from his grandfather, he
accompanied him, who heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon
him) say, “If a servant arrives at a station from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that was not attained by
his actions; Allah sends him a tribulation in his body, his offspring, his wealth; then is patient until he
reaches the station which Allah (mighty and majestic) preceded him by.” (Ibn Abi Dunya in his book
illness and expiations)

‘Urwa ibn Ruwim heard, mentioning from Al-Qasim that Muadh said, “If Allah tries a servant with
sickness; the angel on the left side says to the angel on the right, “Pause. Write down for the servant
the best of what he would do.” (Al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab Al-Iman)

Abi Layla narrates from Suhayb that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings)
said, “How wondrous is the decree of Allah for his believing servant; all of it is good and that is for no
one except the believer; if he is happy and grateful he gets two rewards; if he is afflicted by harm and
is patient; he is given a reward. All of Allahs decree for his servant is good.” (Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab Al-
Iman and Muslim narrates from Hadab ibn Khalid.)

Al-‘Araj narrates from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and
blessings upon him) said, “Allah causes support to descent according to the aid (needed) and causes
patience to descend with tribulation.” (Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab Al-Iman)

Abu Zalall narrates that he was with Anas who asked, “When did your eyesight go?” He replied, “It
went when I was young.” Anas said, “Jibreal (upon him peace) came to the Messenger of Allah (may
Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) whislt he was with a son of Umm Khathum and asked,
“When did his eyesight go?” He replied, “When I was small.” Jibreal replied, “Allah, the Exalted, said,
“I took the dearest thing of my slave and there is no reward for him except Paradise.” (Al-Bayhaqi)

Mu’awiyyah narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings
upon him) said, “There is nothing that afflicts the body of the believer except that it is an absolution
of their sins.” (Imam Ahmed, At-Tabarani in al-Kabir and Al-Awsat)

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him
peace and blessings) said, “On the day of judgement there will be a call made for the praisers; a
group will be given a banner and then admitted into paradise.” It was asked, “Who are the praisers?”
He replied, “Those who are grateful to Allah, the exalted, for all states.” Or in another narration,
“Those who are grateful for sorrow and joy.” (Tabarani)

Dhu-Noon Al-Misri said, “Perseverance is distancing yourself from all wrongs and transgressions, and
remaining calm when you are engulfed by impossible afflictions, and appearing to have enough
when poverty is in permanent residence in your home.” (Purification of the soul various P.88)

“Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for
many (of them) He grants forgiveness.” Ash-Shura 42:30

In his comment on this verse, Imam Al-Qurtubi reports that `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
“This verse is the most hopeful one in the Qur’an; if my sins are to be expiated through afflictions
and calamities, and in addition to that, Allah forgives many other sins, then what will remain after
such expiation and forgiveness?”