Riyad as-Salihin

Chapter 2: Repentance

- التوبة

وعن أبي سعيد سعد بن مالك بن سنان الخدري رضي الله عنه أن نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ كان فيمن كان قبلكم رجل قتل تسعة وتسعين نفساً، فسأل عن أعلم أهل الأرض، فدل على راهب، فأتاه فقال‏:‏ إنه قتل تسعه وتسعين نفساً، فهل له من توبة‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ لا، فقتله فكمل به مائةً، ثم سأل عن أعلم أهل الأرض، فدل على رجل عالم فقال‏:‏ إنه قتل مائة نفس فهل له من توبة‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ نعم، ومن يحول بينه وبين التوبة‏؟‏ انطلق إلى أرض كذا وكذا، فإن بها أناساً يعبدون الله تعالى فاعبد الله معهم، ولا ترجع إلى أرضك فإنها أرض سوءٍ، فانطلق حتى إذا نصف الطريق أتاه الموت، فاختصمت فيه ملائكة الرحمة وملائكة العذاب‏.‏ فقالت ملائكة الرحمة‏:‏ جاء تائبا مقبلا بقلبه إلى الله تعالى، وقالت ملائكة العذاب‏:‏ إنه لم يعمل خيرا قط، فأتاهم ملك في صورة آدمي فجعلوه بينهم- أي حكماً- فقال‏:‏ قيسوا ما بين الأرضين فإلى أيتهما كان أدنى فهو له، فقاسوا فوجدوه أدنى إلى الأرض التي أراد، فقبضته ملائكة الرحمة‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There was a man from among a nation before you who killed ninety-nine people and then made an inquiry about the most learned person on the earth. He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the negative and the man killed him also completing one hundred. He then asked about the most learned man in the earth. He was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the affirmative and asked, 'Who stands between you and repentance? Go to such and such land; there (you will find) people devoted to prayer and worship of Allah, join them in worship, and do not come back to your land because it is an evil place.' So he went away and hardly had he covered half the distance when death overtook him; and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of torment. The angels of mercy pleaded, 'This man has come with a repenting heart to Allah,' and the angels of punishment argued, 'He never did a virtuous deed in his life.' Then there appeared another angel in the form of a human being and the contending angels agreed to make him arbiter between them. He said, 'Measure the distance between the two lands. He will be considered belonging to the land to which he is nearer.' They measured and found him closer to the land (land of piety) where he intended to go, and so the angels of mercy collected his soul".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن عبد الله بن كعب بن مالك، وكان قائد كعب رضي الله عنه من بنيه حين عمي قال‏:‏ سمعت كعب بن مالك رضي الله عنه يحدث بحديثه حين تخلف عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في غزوة تبوك‏.‏ قال كعب‏:‏ لم اتخلف عن رسول الله، صلى الله عليه وسلم ، في غزوة غزاها قط إلا في غزوة تبوك، غير أني قد تخلفت في غزوة بدر، ولم يعاتب أحد تخلف عنه، إنما خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم والمسلمون يريدون عير قريش حتى جمع الله تعالى بينهم وبين عدوهم على غير ميعاد‏.‏ ولقد شهدت مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ليلة العقبة حين تواثقنا على الإسلام، وما أحب أن لي بها مشهد بدرٍ، وإن كانت بدر أذكر في الناس منها‏.‏ وكان من خبري حين تخلف عن رسول الله، صلى الله عليه وسلم، في غزوة تبوك أني لم أكن قط أقوى ولا أيسر مني حين تخلفت عنه في تلك الغزوة، والله ما جمعت قبلها راحلتين قط حتى جمعتهما في تلك الغزوة، ولم يكن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يريد غزوة إلا ورى بغيرها حتى كانت تلك الغزوة، فغزاها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في حر شديد، واستقبل سفراً بعيداً ومفازاً، واستقبل عدداً كثيراً، فجلى للمسلمين أمرهم ليتأهبوا أهبة غزوهم فأخبرهم بوجههم الذي يريد، والمسلمون مع رسول الله كثير ولا يجمعهم كتاب حافظ ‏"‏يريد بذلك الديوان‏"‏ قال كعب‏:‏ فقل رجل يريد أن يتغيب إلا ظن أن ذلك سيخفى به مالم ينزل فيه وحي من الله، وغزا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تلك الغزوة حين طابت الثمار والظلال فأنا إليها أصعر فتجهز رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم والمسلمون معه، وطفقت أغدو لكي أتجهز معه، فأرجع ولم أقض شيئاً، وأقول في نفسي‏:‏ أنا قادر على ذلك إذا أردت، فلم يزل يتمادى بي حتى استمر بالناس الجد، فأصبح رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم غادياً والمسلمون معه، ولم أقض من جهازي شيئاً، ثم غدوت فرجعت ولم أقض شيئاً، فلم يزل يتمادى بي حتى أسرعوا وتفارط الغرو، فهممت أن أرتحل فأدركهم، فياليتني فعلت، ثم لم يقدر ذلك لي، فطفقت إذا خرجت في الناس بعد خروج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يحزنني أني أرى لي أسوة، إلا رجلاً مغموصاً عليه في النفاق، أو رجلاً ممن عذر الله تعالى من أسوة، إلا رجلاً مغموصاً عليه في النفاق، أو رجلاً ممن عذر الله تعالى من الضعفاء، ولم يذكرني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى بلغ تبوك، فقال وهو جالس في القوم بتبوك‏:‏ ما فعل كعب بن مالك‏؟‏ قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِي عِطْفَيْهِ.فقال له معاذ بن جبل رضي الله عنه بئس ما قلت‏!‏ والله يارسول الله ما علمنا عليه إلا خيراً ، فسكت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فبينا هو على ذلك رأى رجلا مبيضا يزول به السراب فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ كن أبا خيثمة، فإذا أبو خيثمة الأنصاري وهو الذي تصدق بصاع التمر حين لمزه المنافقون، قال كعب‏:‏ فلما بلغني أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد توجه قافلاً من تبوك حضرني بثي، فطفقت أتذكر الكذب وأقول‏:‏ بم أخرج من سخطه غداً وأستعين على ذلك بكل ذي رأى من أهلي، فلما قيل‏:‏ إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد أظل قادماً زاح عني الباطل حتى عرفت أني لم أنج منه بشيء أبداً، فأجمعت صدقه، وأصبح رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قادماً، وكان إذا قدم من سفر بدأ بالمسجد فركع فيه ركعتين ثم جلس للناس، فلما فعل فعل ذلك جاءه المخلفون يعتذرون إليه ويحلفون له، وكانوا بضعا وثمانين رجلاً فقبل منهم علانيتهم وبايعهم واستغفر لهم ووكل سرائرهم إلى الله تعالى حتى جئت‏.‏ فلما سلمت تبسم تبسم المغضب ثم قال‏:‏ تعال، فجئت أمشي حتى جلست بين يديه، فقال لي‏:‏ ما خلفك‏؟‏ ألم تكن قد ابتعت ظهرك‏!‏ قال قلت‏:‏ يارسول الله إني والله لو جلست عند غيرك من أهل الدنيا لرأيت أني سأخرج من سخطه بعذر، لقد أعطيت جدلاً، ولكنني والله لقد علمت لئن حدثتك اليوم حديث كذب ترضي به ليوشكن الله يسخطك علي، وإن حدثتك حديث صدق تجد علي فيه إني لأرجو فيه عقبى الله عز وجل، والله ما كان لي من عذر، والله ما كنت قط أقوى ولا أيسر مني حين تخلفت عنك‏.‏ قال‏:‏ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أما هذا فقد صدق، فقم حتى يقضي الله فيك‏"‏ وسار رجال من بني سلمة فاتبعوني، فقالوا لي‏:‏ والله ما علمناك أذنبت ذنبا قبل هذا، لقد عجزت في أن لا يكون اعتذرت إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بما اعتذر إليه المخلفون فقد كان كافيك ذنبك استغفار رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لك‏.‏ قال‏:‏ فوالله ما زالوا يؤنبونني حتى أردت أن أرجع إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأكذب نفسي، ثم قلت لهم‏:‏ هل لقي هذا معي من أحد‏؟‏ قالوا‏:‏ نعم لقيه معك رجلان قالا مثل ما قلت، وقيل لهما مثل ما قيل لك، قال قلت‏:‏ من هما‏؟‏ قالوا‏:‏ مرارة بن الربيع العمري، وهلال بن أمية الواقفي‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ فذكروا لي رجلين صالحين قد شهدا بدراً فيهما أسوة‏.‏ قال‏:‏ فمضيت حين ذكروهما لي‏.‏ ونهى رسول صلى الله عليه وسلم عن كلامنا أيها الثلاثة من بين من تخلف عنه، قال‏:‏ فاجتنبنا الناس- أو قال‏:‏ تغيروا لنا- حتى تنكرت لي في نفس الأرض، فما هي بالأرض التي أعرف، فلبثنا على ذلك خمسين ليلة‏.‏ فأما صاحباي فاستكانا وقعدا في بيوتهما يبكيان، وأما أنا فكنت أشب القوم وأجلدهم، فكنت أخرج فأشهد الصلاة مع المسلمين، وأطوف في الأسواق ولا يكلمني أحد، وآتي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأسلم عليه، وهو في مجلسه بعد الصلاة، فأقول في نفسي ‏:‏ هل حرك شفتيه برد السلام أم ‏؟‏ ثم أصلي قريباً منه وأسارقه النظر، فإذا أقبلت على صلاتي نظر إلي، وإذا التفت نحوه أعرض عني، حتى إذا طال ذلك علي من جفوة المسلمين مشيت حتى تسورت جدار حائط أبي قتادة وهو ابن عمي وأحب الناس إلي، فسلمت عليه فوالله ما ردّ علي السلام، فقلت له‏:‏ يا أبا قتادة أنشدك بالله هل تعلمني أُحب الله ورسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏؟‏ فسكت، فعدت فناشدته فسكت، فعدت فناشدته فقال‏:‏ الله ورسوله أعلم‏.‏ ففاضت عيناي، وتوليت حتى تسورت الجدار، فبينما أنا أمشى في سوق المدينة إذا نبطى من نبط أهل الشام ممن قدم بالطعام ببيعه بالمدينة يقول‏:‏ من يدل على كعب بن مالك‏؟‏ فطفق الناس يشيرون له إلي حتى جاءنى فدفع إلي كتاب من ملك غسان، وكنت كاتباً‏.‏ فقرأته فإذا فيه‏:‏ أما بعد فإنه قد بلغنا أن صاحبك قد جفاك، ولم يجعلك الله بدار هوان ولا مضيعة، فالحق بنا نواسك، فقلت حين قرأتها، وهذه أيضاً من البلاء فتيممت بها التنور فسجرتها، حتى إذا مضت أربعون من الخمسين واستلبث الوحى إذا رسول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يأتينى، فقال‏:‏ إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يأمرك أن تعتزل امرأتك، فقلت‏:‏ أطلقها، أم ماذا أفعل‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ لا، بل اعتزلها فلا تقربنها، وأرسل إلى صاحبي بمثل ذلك‏.‏ فقلت لامرأتي‏:‏ ألحقي بأهلك فكوني عندهم حتى يقضي الله في هذا الأمر، فجاءت امرأة هلال بن أمية رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت له ‏:‏ يا رسول الله إن هلال بن أمية شيخ ضائع ليس له خادم، فهل تكره أن أخدمه‏؟‏ قال ‏:‏ لا، ولكن لا يقربنك‏.‏ فقالت‏:‏ إنه والله ما به من حركة إلى شيء، ووالله ما زال يبكي منذ كان من أمره ما كان إلى يومه هذا‏.‏ فقال لي بعض أهلي‏:‏ لو استأذنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في امرأتك، فقد أذن لامرأة هلال بن أمية أن تخدمه‏؟‏ فقلت‏:‏ لا أستأذن فيها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وما يدريني ماذا يقول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، إذا استأذنته فيها وأنا رجل شاب‏!‏ فلبثت بذلك عشر ليالٍ، فكمل لنا خمسون ليلة من حين نهى عن كلامنا‏.‏ ثم صليت صلاة الفجر صباح خمسين ليلة على ظهر بيت من بيوتنا، فبينما أنا جالس على الحال التى ذكر الله تعالى منا، قد ضافت علي نفسي وضاقت علي الأرض بما رحبت، سمعت صوت صارخ أوفى على سلع يقول بأعلى صوته‏:‏ يا كعب بن مالك أبشر فخررت ساجداً، وعرفت أنه قد جاء فرج‏.‏ فآذن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الناس بتوبة الله عز وجل علينا حين صلى صلاة الفجر فذهب الناس يبشروننا، فذهب قبل صاحبي مبشرون، وركض رجل إلي فرساً وسعى ساع من أسلم قبلي وأوفى على الجبل، فكان الصوت أسرع من الفرس، فلما جاءني الذى سمعت صوته يبشرني نزعت له ثوبي فكسوتهما إياه ببشراه، والله ما أملك غيرهما يومئذ، واستعرت ثوبين فلبستهما وانطلقت أتأمم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتلقانى الناس فوجاً فوجاً يهنئوني بالتوبة ويقولون لي‏:‏ لتهنك توبة الله عليك، حتى دخلت المسجد فإذا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جالس حوله الناس، فقام طلحة بن عبيد الله رضي الله عنه يهرول حتى صافحني وهنأني، والله ما قام رجل من المهاجرين غيره، فكان كعب لا ينساها لطلحة‏.‏ قال كعب‏:‏ فلما سلمت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ وهو يبرق وجهه من السرور ‏:‏ أبشر بخير يوم مرّ عليك مذ ولدتك أمك، فقلت‏:‏ أمن عندك يا رسول الله أم من عند الله‏؟‏ قال ‏:‏ لا ، بل من عند الله عز وجل، وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا سر استنار وجهه حتى كأن وجهه قطعة قمر، وكنا نعرف ذلك منه، فلما جلست بين يديه قلت‏:‏ يا رسول الله إن من توبتي أن أنخلع من مالي صدقة‎ إلى الله وإلى رسوله‏.‏ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ أمسك عليك بعض مالك فهو خير لك، فقلت‏:‏ إني أمسك سهمي الذى بخيبر‏.‏ وقلت‏:‏ يا رسول الله إن الله تعالى إنما أنجاني بالصدق، وإن من توبتي أن لا أحدثَ إلا صدقاً ما بقيت ، فو الله ما علمت أحداً من المسلمين أبلاه الله في صدق الحديث منذ ذكرت ذلك لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أحسن مما أبلاني الله تعالى ، والله ما تعمدت كذبة منذ قلت ذلك لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى يومي هذا، وإني لأرجو أن يحفظني الله تعالى فيما بقي، قال‏:‏ فأنزل الله تعالى‏:‏ ‏{‏لقد تاب الله على النبي والمهاجرين والأنصار الذين اتبعوه في ساعة العسرة‏)‏ حتى بلغ‏:‏ ‏{‏إنه بهم رؤوف رحيم ‏.‏ وعلى الثلاثة الذين خلفوا حتى إذا ضاقت عليهم الأرض بما رحبت‏}‏ حتى بلغ ‏:‏ ‏{‏اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين‏}‏ ‏(‏‏(‏التوبة 117، 119‏)‏‏)‏ قال كعب ‏:‏ والله ما أنعم الله علي من نعمة قط بعد إذ هداني الله للإسلام أعظم في نفسي من صدقي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن لا أكون كذبته، فأهلك كما هلك الذين كذبوا، إن الله تعالى قال للذين كذبوا حين أنزل الوحي شر ما قال لأحد، فقال الله تعالى ‏:‏ ‏{‏سيحلفون بالله لكم إذا انقلبتم إليهم لتعرضوا عنهم فأعرضوا عنهم إنهم رجس ومأواهم جهنم جزاء بما كانوا يكسبون يحلفون لكم لترضوا عنهم فإن ترضوا عنهم فإن الله لا يرضى عن القوم الفاسقين‏}‏ ‏(‏‏(‏التوبة‏:‏ 95،96‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏ قال كعب ‏:‏ كنا خلفنا أيها الثلاثة عن أمر أولئك الذين قبل منهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حين حلفوا له ، فبايعهم واستغفر لهم، وأرجأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أمرنا حتى قضى الله تعالى فيه بذلك، قال الله تعالى ‏:‏ ‏{‏وعلى الثلاثة الذين خلفوا‏}‏ وليس الذي ذكر مما خلفنا تخلفنا عن الغزو، وإنما هو تخليفه إيانا وإرجاؤه أمرنا عمن حلف له واعتذر إليه فقبل منه‏.‏ متفق عليه‏.‏ وفى رواية ‏"‏أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج في غزوة تبوك يوم الخميس، وكان يحب أن يخرج يوم الخميس‏"‏ وفى رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏وكان لا يقدم من سفر إلا نهاراً في الضحى، فإذا قدم بدأ بالمسجد فصلى فيه ركعتين ثم جلس فيه‏"‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Abdullah bin Ka'b, who served as the guide of Ka'b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) when he became blind, narrated

I heard Ka'b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) narrating the story of his remaining behind instead of joining Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he left for the battle of Tabuk. Ka'b said: "I accompanied Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in every expedition which he undertook excepting the battle of Tabuk and the battle of Badr. As for the battle of Badr, nobody was blamed for remaining behind as Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the Muslims, when they set out, had in mind only to intercept the caravan of the Quraish. Allah made them confront their enemies unexpectedly. I had the honour of being with Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the night of 'Aqabah when we pledged our allegiance to Islam and it was dearer to me than participating in the battle of Badr, although Badr was more well-known among the people than that. And this is the account of my staying behind from the battle of Tabuk. I never had better means and more favourable circumstances than at the time of this expedition. And by Allah, I had never before possessed two riding-camels as I did during the time of this expedition. Whenever Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) decided to go on a campaign, he would not disclose his real destination till the last moment (of departure). But on this expedition, he set out in extremely hot weather; the journey was long and the terrain was waterless desert; and he had to face a strong army, so he informed the Muslims about the actual position so that they should make full preparation for the campaign. And the Muslims who accompanied Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at that time were in large number but no proper record of them was maintained." Ka'b (further) said: "Few were the persons who chose to remain absent believing that they could easily hide themselves (and thus remain undetected) unless Revelation from Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious (revealed relating to them). And Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out on this expedition when the fruit were ripe and their shade was sought. I had a weakness for them and it was during this season that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the Muslims made preparations. I also would set out in the morning to make preparations along with them but would come back having done nothing and said to myself: 'I have means enough (to make preparations) as soon as I like'. And I went on doing this (postponing my preparations) till the time of departure came and it was in the morning that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out along with the Muslims, but I had made no preparations. I would go early in the morning and come back, but with no decision. I went on doing so until they (the Muslims) hastened and covered a good deal of distance. Then I wished to march on and join them. Would that I had done that! But perhaps it was not destined for me. After the departure of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) whenever I went out, I was grieved to find no good example to follow but confirmed hypocrites or weak people whom Allah had exempted (from marching forth for Jihad). Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made no mention of me until he reached Tabuk. While he was sitting with the people in Tabuk, he said, 'What happened to Ka'b bin Malik?' A person from Banu Salimah said: "O Messenger of Allah, the (beauty) of his cloak and an appreciation of his finery have detained him.' Upon this Mu'adh bin Jabal (MatAllah be pleased with him) admonished him and said to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "By Allah, we know nothing about him but good.' Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), however, kept quiet. At that time he (the Prophet (ﷺ)) saw a person dressed in white and said, 'Be Abu Khaithamah.' And was Abu Khaithamah Al- Ansari was the person who had contributed a Sa' of dates and was ridiculed by the hypocrites." Ka'b bin Malik further said: "When the news reached me that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was on his way back from Tabuk, I was greatly distressed. I thought of fabricating an excuse and asked myself how I would save myself from his anger the next day. In this connection, I sought the counsels of every prudent member of my family. When I was told that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was about to arrive, all the wicked ideas vanished (from my mind) and I came to the conclusion that nothing but the truth could save me. So I decided to tell him the truth. It was in the morning that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived in Al-Madinah. It was his habit that whenever he came back from a journey, he would first go to the mosque and perform two Rak'ah (of optional prayer) and would then sit with the people. When he sat, those who had remained behind him began to put forward their excuses and take an oath before him. They were more than eighty in number. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) accepted their excuses on the very face of them and accepted their allegiance and sought forgiveness for them and left their insights to Allah, until I appeared before him. I greeted him and he smiled and there was a tinge of anger in that. He then said to me, 'Come forward'. I went forward and I sat in front of him. He said to me, 'What kept you back? Could you not afford to go in for a ride?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I were to sit before anybody else, a man of the world, I would have definitely saved myself from his anger on one pretext or the other and I have a gifted skill in argumentation, but, by Allah, I am fully aware that if I were to put forward before you a lame excuse to please you, Allah would definitely provoke your wrath upon me. In case, I speak the truth, you may be angry with me, but I hope that Allah would be pleased with me (and accept my repentance). By Allah, there is no valid excuse for me. By Allah, I never possessed so good means, and I never had such favourable conditions for me as I had when I stayed behind.' Thereupon, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'This man spoke the truth, so get up (and wait) until Allah gives a decision about you.' I left and some people of Banu Salimah followed me. They said to me, 'By Allah, we do not know that you committed a sin before. You, however, showed inability to put forward an excuse before Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) like those who stayed behind him. It would have been enough for the forgiveness of your sin that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would have sought forgiveness for you.' By Allah, they kept on reproaching me until I thought of going back to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and retract my confession. Then I said to them, 'Has anyone else met the same fate?' They said, 'Yes, two persons have met the same fate. They made the same statement as you did and the same verdict was delivered in their case.' I asked, 'Who are they?' They said, 'Murarah bin Ar-Rabi' Al-'Amri and Hilal bin Umaiyyah Al- Waqifi.' They mentioned these two pious men who had taken part in the battle of Badr and there was an example for me in them. I was confirmed in my original resolve. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited the Muslims to talk to the three of us from amongst those who had stayed behind. The people began to avoid us and their attitude towards us changed and it seemed as if the whole atmosphere had turned against us, and it was in fact the same atmosphere of which I was fully aware and in which I had lived (for a fairly long time). We spent fifty nights in this very state and my two friends confined themselves within their houses and spent (most of their) time weeping. As I was the youngest and the strongest, I would leave my house, attend the congregational Salat, move about in the bazaars, but none would speak to me. I would come to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as he sat amongst (people) after the Salat, greet him and would ask myself whether or not his lips moved in response to my greetings. Then I would perform Salat near him and look at him stealthily. When I finish my Salat, he would look at me and when I would cast a glance at him he would turn away his eyes from me. When the harsh treatment of the Muslims to me continued for a (considerable) length of time, I walked and I climbed upon the wall of the garden of Abu Qatadah, who was my cousin, and I had a great love for him. I greeted him but, by Allah, he did not answer to my greeting. I said to him, 'O Abu Qatadah, I adjure you in the Name of Allah, are you not aware that I love Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ)?' I asked him the same question again but he remained silent. I again adjured him, whereupon he said, 'Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) know better.' My eyes were filled with tears, and I came back climbing down the wall.As I was walking in the bazaars of Al-Madinah, a man from the Syrian peasants, who had come to sell food grains in Al-Madinah, asked people to direct him to Ka'b bin Malik. People pointed towards me. He came to me and delivered a letter from the King of Ghassan, and as I was a scribe, I read that letter whose purport was: 'It has been conveyed to us that your friend (the Prophet (ﷺ)) was treating you harshly. Allah has not created you for a place where you are to be degraded and where you cannot find your right place; so come to us and we shall receive you graciously.' As I read that letter I said: 'This is too a trial,' so I put it to fire in an oven. When forty days had elapsed and Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) received no Revelation, there came to me a messenger of the Messenger of Allah and said, 'Verily, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has commanded you to keep away from your wife.' I said, 'Should I divorce her or what else should I do?' He said, 'No, but only keep away from her and don't have sexual contact with her.' The same message was sent to my companions. So, I said to my wife: 'You better go to your parents and stay there with them until Allah gives the decision in my case.' The wife of Hilal bin Umaiyyah came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Hilal bin Umaiyyah is a senile person and has no servant. Do you disapprove if I serve him?' He said, 'No, but don't let him have any sexual contact with you.' She said, 'By Allah, he has no such desire left in him. By Allah, he has been in tears since (this calamity) struck him.' Members of my family said to me, 'You should have sought permission from Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in regard to your wife. He has allowed the wife of Hilal bin Umaiyyah to serve him.' I said, 'I would not seek permission from Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for I do not know what Messenger of Allah might say in response to that, as I am a young man'. It was in this state that I spent ten more nights and thus fifty days had passed since people boycotted us and gave up talking to us. After I had offered my Fajr prayer on the early morning of the fiftieth day of this boycott on the roof of one of our houses, and had sat in the very state which Allah described as: 'The earth seemed constrained for me despite its vastness', I heard the voice of a proclaimer from the peak of the hill Sal' shouting at the top of his voice: 'O Ka'b bin Malik, rejoice.' I fell down in prostration and came to know that there was (a message of) relief for me. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had informed the people about the acceptance of our repentance by Allah after he had offered the Fajr prayer. So the people went on to give us glad tidings and some of them went to my companions in order to give them the glad tidings. A man spurred his horse towards me (to give the good news), and another one from the tribe of Aslam came running for the same purpose and, as he approached the mount, I received the good news which reached me before the rider did. When the one whose voice I had heard came to me to congratulate me, I took off my garments and gave them to him for the good news he brought to me. By Allah, I possessed nothing else (in the form of clothes) except these garments, at that time. Then I borrowed two garments, dressed myself and came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) On my way, I met groups of people who greeted me for (the acceptance of) repentance and they said: 'Congratulations for acceptance of your repentance.' I reached the mosque where Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sitting amidst people. Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah got up and rushed towards me, shook hands with me and greeted me. By Allah, no person stood up (to greet me) from amongst the Muhajirun besides him." Ka'b said that he never forgot (this good gesture of) Talhah. Ka'b further said: "I greeted Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with 'As-salamu 'alaikum' and his face was beaming with pleasure. He (ﷺ) said, 'Rejoice with the best day you have ever seen since your mother gave you birth. 'I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Is this (good news) from you or from Allah?' He said, 'No, it is from Allah.' And it was common with Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that when ever he was happy, his face would glow as if it were a part of the moon and it was from this that we recognized it (his delight). As I sat before him, I said, I have placed a condition upon myself that if Allah accepts my Taubah, I would give up all of my property in charity for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ)!' Thereupon Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'Keep some property with you, as it is better for you.' I said, 'I shall keep with me that portion which is in Khaibar'. I added: 'O Messenger of Allah! Verily, Allah has granted me salvation because of my truthfulness, and therefore, repentance obliges me to speak nothing but the truth as long as I am alive." Ka'b added: "By Allah, I do not know anyone among the Muslims who has been granted truthfulness better than me since I said this to the Prophet (ﷺ). By Allah! Since the time I made a pledge of this to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I have never intended to tell a lie, and I hope that Allah would protect me (against telling lies) for the rest of my life. Allah, the Exalted, the Glorious, revealed these Verses:'Allah has forgiven the Prophet (ﷺ), the Muhajirun (Muslim Emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al- Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad (ﷺ)) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful. And (He did forgive also) the three who did not join [the Tabuk expedition and whose case was deferred (by the Prophet (ﷺ)) for Allah's Decision] till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them (accepted their repentance), that they might beg for His Pardon [repent (unto Him)]. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in word and deeds)." (9:117,118).Ka'b said: "By Allah, since Allah guided me to Islam, there has been no blessing more significant for me than this truth of mine which I spoke to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and if I were to tell a lie I would have been ruined as were ruined those who had told lies, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else, as He sent down the Revelation:They will swear by Allah to you (Muslims) when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijsun [i.e., Najasun (impure) because of their evil deeds], and Hell is their dwelling place - a recompense for that which they used to earn. They (the hypocrites) swear to you (Muslims) that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are Al- Fa'siqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)". (9:95,96)Ka'b further added: "The matter of the three of us remained pending for decision apart from the case of those who had made excuses on oath before Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he accepted those, took fresh oaths of allegiance from them and supplicated for their forgiveness. The Prophet (ﷺ) kept our matter pending till Allah decided it. The three whose matter was deferred have been shown mercy. The reference here is not to our staying back from the expedition but to his delaying our matter and keeping it pending beyond the matter of those who made their excuses on oath which he accepted".[Al- Bukhari and Muslim]Another version adds: "Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out for Tabuk on Thursday. He used to prefer to set out on journey on Thursday." Another version says: "Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to come back from a journey in the early forenoon and went straight to the mosque where he would perform two Rak'ah prayer. Afterwards he would seat himself there".

وعن أبي نجيد- ضم النون وفتح الجيم - عمران بن الحصين الخزاعى رضي الله عنهما أن امرأة من جهينة أتت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهى حبلى من الزنى، فقالت‏:‏ يا رسول الله أصبت حداً فأقمه علي، فدعا نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وليها فقال‏:‏ أحسن إليها، فإذا وضعت فأتني، ففعل فأمر بها نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فشدت عليها ثيابها، ثم أمر بها فرجمت، ثم صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم عليها‏.‏ فقال له عمر‏:‏ تصلى عليها يا رسول الله وقد زنت، قال‏:‏ لقد تابت توبة لو قمست بين سبعين من أهل المدينة لوستعتهم، وهل وجدت أفضل من أن جادت بنفسها لله عز وجل ‏؟‏‏!‏ ‏"‏ رواه مسلم‏.‏
Translation
Imran bin Al-Husain Al-Khuza'i (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

A woman from the tribe Juhainah came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while she was pregnant from (Zina) adultery and said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! I have committed an offense liable to Hadd (prescribed punishment), so exact the execution of the sentence." Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called her guardian and said to him, "Treat her kindly. Bring her to me after the delivery of the child." That man complied with the orders. At last the Prophet (ﷺ) commanded to carry out the sentence. Her clothes were secured around her and she was stoned to death. The Prophet (ﷺ) led her funeral prayers. 'Umar submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! She committed Zina and you have performed funeral prayer for her?" He replied, "Verily, she made repentance which would suffice for seventy of the people of Al-Madinah if it is divided among them. Can there be any higher degree of repentance than that she sacrificed her life voluntarily to win the Pleasure of Allah, the Exalted?".[Muslim].

وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ لو أن لابن آدم وادياً من ذهب أحب أن يكون له واديان، ولن يملأ فاه إلا التراب، ويتوب الله على من تاب‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Ibn 'Abbas and Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If a son of Adam were to own a valley full of gold, he would desire to have two. Nothing can fill his mouth except the earth (of the grave). Allah turns with mercy to him who turns to Him in repentance".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏يضحك الله سبحانه وتعالى إلى رجلين يقتل أحدهما الآخر يدخلان الجنة، يقاتل هذا في سبيل الله فيقتل، ثم يتوب الله على القاتل فيسلم فيستشهد‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah, the Exalted, smiles at two men, one of them killed the other and both will enter Jannah. The first is killed by the other while he is fighting in the Cause of Allah, and thereafter Allah will turn in mercy to the second and guide him to accept Islam and then he dies as a Shaheed (martyr) fighting in the Cause of Allah."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Chapter 3: Patience and Perseverance

- الصبر

وعن أبي مالك الحارث بن عاصم الأشعري رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏الطهور شطر الإيمان، والحمد لله تملأ الميزان، وسبحان الله والحمد لله تملآن -أو تملأ- ما بين السماوات والأرض، والصلاة نور، والصدقة برهان، والصبر ضياء، والقرآن حجة لك أو عليك‏.‏ كل الناس يغدو، فبائع نفسه فمعتقها، أو موبقها‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Abu Malik Al-Harith bin Asim Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Purity is half of faith, and the praise of Allah fills the scale. Glorification and praise fill up what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is a light, charity is proof, and patience is illumination. The Quran is a proof for you or against you. All people go out early in the morning and sell themselves, either setting themselves free or ruining themselves.".[Muslim].

وعن أبي سعيد سعد بن مالك بن سنان الخدري رضي الله عنهما‏:‏ ‏"‏أن ناساً من الأنصار سألوا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأعطاهم، ثم سألوه فأعطاهم ، حتى نفد ما عنده، فقال لهم حين أنفق كل شيء بيده ‏:‏ ‏"‏ما يكن عندي من خير فلن أدخره عنكم ، ومن يستعفف يعفه الله، ومن يستغن يغنه الله، ومن يتصبر يصبره الله‏.‏ وما أعطي أحد عطاءً خيراً وأوسع من الصبر‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that

Certain people of the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he gave them; then they again asked him and he gave them until all what he possessed was exhausted. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whatever wealth I have, I will not withhold from you. Whosoever would be chaste and modest; Allah will keep him chaste and modest and whosoever would seek self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient; and whosoever would be patient, Allah will give him patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي يحيى صهيب بن سنان رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏عجبا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله له خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن ‏:‏ إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيراً له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيراً له‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him".[Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ لما ثقل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم جعل يتغشاه الكرب فقالت فاطمة رضي الله عنها‏:‏ واكرب أبتاه‏.‏ فقال ‏:‏ ‏"‏ليس على أبيك كرب بعد اليوم‏"‏ فلما مات قالت ‏:‏ يا أبتاه أجاب رباً دعاه، يا أبتاه جنة الفردوس مأواه، يا أبتاه إلى جبريل ننعاه، فلما دفن قالت ‏:‏ فاطمة رضي الله عنها‏:‏ أطابت أنفسكم أن تحثوا على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم التراب‏؟‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

When the last illness of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made him unconscious, Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) exclaimed: "Ah, the distress of my dear father." He (ﷺ) said, "There will be no distress for your father after today". When he died she said: "My father, Allah has called you back and you have responded to His Call. O father! Garden of Firdaus is your abode. O father! We announce to Jibril your death." When he was buried, she said: "Are you satisfied now that you put earth over (the grave of) Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?"[Al- Bukhari]

وعن أبي زيد أسامة بن زيد بن حارثة مولى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وحبه وابن حبه، رضي الله عنهما، قال‏:‏ أرسلت بنت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ إن ابني قد احتضر فاشهدنا، فأرسل يقرئ السلام ويقول‏:‏ ‏"‏إن لله ما أخذ، وله ما أعطى، وكل شيء عنده بأجل مسمى، فلتصبر ولتحتسب‏"‏ فأرسلت إليه تقسم عليه ليأتينها‏.‏ فقام ومعه سعد بن عبادة، ومعاذ بن جبل، وأبي بن كعب، وزيد بن ثابت، ورجال رضي الله عنهم، فرفع إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الصبي فأقعده في حجره ونفسه تقعقع، ففاضت عيناه، فقال سعد‏:‏ يا رسول الله ماهذا‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏هذه رحمة جعلها الله تعالى في قلوب عباده‏"‏ وفى رواية ‏:‏ ‏"‏في قلوب من شاء من عباده وإنما يرحم الله من عباده الرحماء‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated

The daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ) sent for him as her child was dying, but the Prophet (ﷺ) returned the messenger and sent her good wishes saying, "Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world), and so she should be patient and anticipate Allah's reward." She again sent for him adjuring him for the sake of Allah to come. The Messenger of Allah, accompanied with Sa'd bin 'Ubadah, Mu'adh bin Jabal, Ubayy bin Ka'b, Zaid bin Thabit and some other men went to see her. The child was lifted up to the Messenger of Allah while his breath was disturbed in his chest. On seeing that, the eyes of the Prophet (ﷺ) streamed with tears. Sa'd said, "O Messenger of Allah! What is this?" He replied, "It is compassion which Allah has placed in the hearts of His slaves, Allah is Compassionate only to those among His slaves who are compassionate (to others)".Another version says: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah shows compassion only to those among His slaves who are compassionate".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن صهيب رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ كان ملك فيمن كان قبلكم، وكان له ساحرٌ، فلما كبر قال للملك ‏:‏ إني قد كبرت فابعث إلى غلاماً أعلمه السحر؛ فبعث إليه غلاماً يعلمه، وكان في طريقه إذا سلك راهبٌ، فقعد إليه وسمع كلامه فأعجبه، وكان إذا أتى الساحر مر بالراهب وقعد إليه، فإذا أتى الساحر ضربه، فشكا ذلك إلى الراهب فقال‏:‏ إذا خشيت الساحر فقال‏:‏ حبسني أهلي، وإذا خشيت أهلك فقل‏:‏ حبسني الساحر‏.‏ فبينما هو على ذلك إذ أتى على دابةٍ عظيمةٍ قد حبست الناس فقال‏:‏ اليوم أعلم آلساحر أفضل أم الراهب أفضل‏؟‏ فآخذ حجراً فقال‏:‏ اللهم إن كان أمر الراهب أحب إليك من أمر الساحر فاقتل هذه الدابة حتى يمضي الناس، فرماها فقتلها ومضى الناس، فأتى الراهب فأخبره‏.‏ فقال له الراهب‏:‏ أي بني أنت اليوم أفضل مني، قد بلغ أمرك ما أرى، وإنك ستبتلى، فإن ابتليت فلا تدل علي؛ وكان الغلام يبرئ الأكمه والأبرص، ويداوي الناس من سائر الأدواء‏.‏ فسمع جليس للملك كان قد عمي، فأتاه بهدايا كثيرةٍ فقال‏:‏ ما هاهُنا لك أجمع إن أنت شفيتنى، فقال‏:‏ إني لا أشفي أحداً إنما يشفى الله تعالى، فإن آمنت بالله دعوت الله فشفاك، فآمن بالله تعالى فشفاه الله تعالى، فأتى الملك فجلس إليه كما كان يجلس فقال له الملك‏:‏ من ردّ عليك بصرك‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ ربي قال‏:‏ ولك رب غيري ‏؟‏‏(‏ قال‏:‏ ربي وربك الله، فأخذه فلم يزل يعذبه حتى دل على الغلام، فجئ بالغلام فقال له الملك‏:‏ أى بني قد بلغ من سحرك ما تبرئ الأكمه والأبرص وتفعل وتفعل فقال‏:‏ إني لا أشفي أحداً، إنما يشفي الله تعالى، فأخذه فلم يزل يعذبه حتى دل على الراهب؛ فجيء بالراهب فقيل له‏:‏ ارجع عن دينك، فأبى ، فدعا بالمنشار فوضع المنشار في مفرق رأسه، فشقه حتى وقع شقاه، ثم جيء بجليس الملك فقيل له‏:‏ ارجع عن دينك فأبى، فوضع المنشار في مفرق رأسه، فشقه به حتى وقع شقاه، ثم جيء بالغلام فقيل له ارجع عن دينك فأبى، فدفعه إلى نفر من أصحابه فقال‏:‏ اذهبوا به إلى جبل كذا وكذا فاصعدوا به الجبل فقال‏:‏ اللهم اكفنيهم بما شئت، فرجف بهم الجبل فسقطوا، وجاء يمشي إلى الملك، فقال له الملك‏:‏ ما فعل أصحابك‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ كفانيهم الله تعالى، فدفعه إلى نفر من أصحابه فقال ‏:‏ اذهبوا به فاحملوه في قرقور وتوسطوا به البحر، فإن رجع عن دينه وإلا فاقذفوه، فذهبوا به فقال‏:‏ اللهم اكفنيهم بما شئت، فانكفأت بهم السفينة فغرقوا، وجاء يمشي إلى الملك‏.‏ فقال له الملك ‏:‏ ما فعل أصحابك‏؟‏ فقال‏:‏ كفانيهم الله تعالى‏.‏ فقال الملك إنك لست بقاتلي حتى تفعل ما آمرك به‏.‏ قال ‏:‏ ما هو‏؟‏ قال ‏:‏ تجمع الناس في صعيد واحد، وتصلبني على جذع ، ثم خذ سهماً من كنانتي، ثم ضع السهم في كبد القوس ثم قل‏:‏ بسم الله رب الغلام ثم ارمني، فإنك إن فعلت ذلك قتلتني ‏.‏ فجمع الناس في صعيد واحد، وصلبه على جذع، ثم أخذ سهما من كنانته، ثم وضع السهم في كبد القوس، ثم قال‏:‏ بسم الله رب الغلام، ثم رماه فوقع السهم في صدغه، فوضع يده في صدغه فمات‏.‏ فقال الناس آمنا برب الغلام، فأتى الملك فقيل له‏:‏ أرأيت ما كنت تحذر قد والله نزل بك حذرك‏.‏ قد آمن الناس‏.‏ فأمر بالأخدود بأفواه السكك فخدت وأضرم فيها النيران وقال‏:‏ من لم يرجع عن دينه فأقحموه فيها أو قيل له ‏:‏ اقتحم ، ففعلوا حتى جاءت امرأة ومعها صبى لها، فتقاعست ان تقع فيها، فقال لها الغلام‏:‏ يا أماه اصبري فإنك على الحق‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There lived a king before you and he had a court magician. As he (the magician) grew old, he said to the king

'I have grown old, so send me a young boy in order to teach him magic.' The king sent him a young boy to serve the purpose. And on his way (to the magician) the young boy met a monk to whom he listened to and liked it. It became his habit that on his way to the magician, he would meet the monk and sit there and would come to the magician (late). The magician used to beat him because of this delay. He complained about this to the monk who said to him: 'When you feel afraid of the magician, say: Members of my family detained me. And when you fear your family, say: The magician detained me.' It so happened that there came a huge beast and it blocked the way of the people, and the young boy said: 'I will know today whether the magician or the monk is better.' He picked up a stone and said: 'O Allah, if the way of the monk is dearer to You than the way of the magician, bring about death to the animal so that the people be able to move about freely.' He threw that stone at it and killed it and the people began to move about freely. He then came to the monk and told him the story. The monk said: 'Son, today you are superior to me. You have come to a stage where I feel that you would be soon put to a trial, and in case you are put to a trial, do not reveal me.' That young boy began to heal those born blind and the lepers and he, in fact, began to cure people from all kinds of illnesses. When a courtier of the king who had gone blind heard about him, he came to him with numerous gifts and said, 'If you cure me, all these things will be yours.' He said, 'I myself do not cure anyone. It is Allah, the Exalted, Alone Who cures; and if you affirm faith in Allah, I shall also supplicate to Allah to cure you.' This courtier affirmed his faith in Allah and Allah cured him. He came to the king and sat by his side as he used to sit before. The king said to him, 'Who restored your eyesight?' He said, 'My Rubb.' Thereupon he said, 'Do you have another lord besides me?' He said, 'My Rubb and your Rubb is Allah.' So the king kept torturing him untill he revealed the young boy. The young boy was thus summoned and the king said to him, 'O boy, it has been conveyed to me that you have become so much proficient in your magic that you cure the blind and the lepers and you do such and such.' Thereupon he said, 'I do not cure anyone; it is Allah Alone Who cures,' and the king took hold of him and began to torture him until he revealed of the monk. The monk was summoned and it was said to him: 'You should turn back from your religion.' But he refused. The king sent for a saw, placed it in the middle of his head and cut him into two parts that fell down. Then the courtier of the king was brought forward and it was said to him: 'Turn back from your religion.' He, too, refused, and the saw was placed in the midst of his head and he was torn into two parts. Then the boy was sent for and it was said to him: 'Turn back from your religion.' He refused. The king then handed him over to a group of his courtiers, and said to them: 'Take him to such and such mountain; make him climb up that mountain and when you reach its peak ask him to renounce his Faith. If he refuses to do so, push him to his death.' So they took him and made him climb up the mountain and he said: 'O Allah, save me from them in any way you like,' and the mountain began to shake and they all fell down (dead) and that young boy came walking to the king. The king said to him, 'What happened to your companions?' He said, 'Allah has saved me from them.' He again handed him to some of his courtiers and said: 'Take him and carry him in a boat and when you reach the middle of the sea, ask him to renounce his religion. If he does not renounce his religion throw him (into the water).' So they took him and he said: 'O Allah, save me from them.' The boat turned upside down and they all drowned except the young boy who came walking to the king. The king said to him, 'What happened to your companions?' He said, 'Allah has saved me from them,' and he said to the king: 'You cannot kill me until you do what I command you to do.' The king asked, 'What is that?' He said, 'Gather all people in one place and tie me up to the trunk of a tree, then take an arrow from my quiver and say: With the Name of Allah, the Rubb of the boy; then shoot me. If you do that you will be able to kill me.' 'The king called the people in an open field and tied the young boy to the trunk of a tree. He took out an arrow from his quiver, fixed in the bow and said, 'With the Name of Allah, the Rubb of the young boy,' he then shot the arrow and it hit the boy's temple. The young boy placed his hand upon the temple where the arrow had hit him and died. The people then said: 'We believe in the Rubb of this young boy.' The king was told: 'Do you see what you were afraid of, by Allah it has taken place; all people have believed.' The king then commanded that trenches be dug and fire lit in them, and said: 'He who would not turn back from his (the young boy's) religion, throw him in the fire' or 'he would be ordered to jump into it.' They did so till a woman came with her child. She felt hesitant in jumping into the fire. The child said to her: 'O mother! Endure (this ordeal) for you are on the Right Path".[Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ مر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بامرأة تبكي عند قبر فقال ‏:‏ ‏"‏اتقي الله واصبري‏"‏ فقالت ‏:‏ إليك عني ، فإنك لم تصب بمصيبتي ‍‍‍‏(‏ ولم تعرفه، فقيل لها ‏:‏ إنه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فأتت باب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلم تجد عنده بوابين، فقالت‏:‏ لم أعرفك، فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏إنما الصبر عند الصدمة الأولى‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a woman who was crying over a grave and said, "Fear Allah and be patient." She said, "Away from me! My calamity has not befallen you and you are not aware of it." The woman was later told that it was the Prophet (ﷺ) (who had advised her). She came to his door where she found no doorkeeper. She said, "(I am sorry) I did not know you." Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Patience is (becoming) only at the first (stroke) of grief".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ‏:‏ ‏"‏ يقول الله تعالى ‏:‏ ما لعبدي المؤمن عندي جزاء إذا قبضت صفيه من أهل الدنيا ثم احتسبه إلا الجنة‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah, the Exalted, says: 'I have no reward other than Jannah for a believing slave of Mine who remains patient for My sake when I take away his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world".[Al- Bukhari].

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الطاعون، فأخبرها أنه كان عذاباً يبعثه الله تعالى على من يشاء، فجعله الله تعالى رحمة للمؤمنين، فليس من عبد يقع في الطاعون فيمكث في بلده صابراً محتسباً يعلم أنه لا يصيبه إلا ما كتب الله له إلا كان له مثل أجر الشهيد‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about pestilence and he said, "It is a punishment which Allah sends upon whomsoever He wills, but Allah has made it as a mercy to the believers. Anyone who remains in a town which is plagued with pestilence maintaining patience expecting the reward from Allah, and knowing that nothing will befall him other than what Allah has foreordained for him, he would receive a reward of Shaheed".[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول ‏:‏ ‏"‏إن لله عزوجل قال‏:‏ إذا ابتليت عبدي بحبيبتيه فصبر عوضته منهما الجنة‏"‏ (‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "Allah, the Glorious and Exalted said: 'When I afflict my slave in his two dear things (i.e., his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for them with Jannah.".[Al-Bukhari].

وعن عطاء بن أبي رباح قال‏:‏ قال لي ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما‏:‏ ألا أريك امرأة من أهل الجنة ‏"‏ فقلت‏:‏ بلى، قال‏:‏ هذه المرأة السوداء أتتت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت ‏:‏ إني أصرع، و إني أتكشف، فادع الله تعالى لي قال‏:‏ ‏"‏إن شئت صبرت ولك الجنة، وإن شئت دعوت الله تعالى أن يعافيك‏"‏ فقالت‏:‏ أصبر، فقالت‏:‏ إني أتكشف ، فادع الله أن لا أتشكف ، فدعا لها‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
'Ata' bin Abu Rabah reported

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) asked him whether he would like that he should show him a woman who is from the people Jannah. When he replied that he certainly would, he said, "This black woman, who came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, 'I suffer from epilepsy and during fits my body is exposed, so make supplication to Allah for me.' He (ﷺ) replied: 'If you wish you endure it patiently and you be rewarded with Jannah, or if you wish, I shall make supplication to Allah to cure you?' She said, 'I shall endure it.' Then she added: 'But my body is exposed, so pray to Allah that it may not happen.' He (Prophet (ﷺ)) then supplicated for her".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي عبد الرحمن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ كأني انظر إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يحكي نبياً من الأنبياء، صلوات الله وسلامه عليهم، ضربه قومه فأدموه وهو يمسح الدم عن وجهه، يقول ‏:‏ ‏"‏اللهم اغفر لقومى فإنهم لا يعلمون‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I can still recall as if I am seeing the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) resembling one of the Prophets whose people scourged him and shed his blood, while he wiped blood from his face, he said: "O Allah! Forgive my people, because they certainly do not know".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي سعيد وأبي هريرة رضي الله عنهما عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ما يصيب المسلم من نصب ولا وصب ولا هم ولا حزن ولا أذى ولا غم، حتى الشوكة يشاكها إلا كفر الله بها من خطاياه‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏ '‏و‏ ‏الوصب‏ ‏':‏ المرض .‏
Translation
Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

"Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ دخلت على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يوعك فقلت‏:‏ يارسول الله إنك توعك وعكاً شديداً قال‏:‏ ‏"‏أجل إني أوعك كما يوعك رجلان منكم‏"‏ قلت‏:‏ ذلك أن لك أجرين ‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏أجل ذلك كذلك ما من مسلم يصيبه أذى؛ شوكة فما فوقها إلا كفر الله بها سيئاته ، وحطت عنه ذنوبه كما تحط الشجرة ورقها‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I visited the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was suffering fever. I said, "You seem to be suffering greatly, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Yes, I suffer as much as two persons." I said, "Is that because you have a double reward?" He replied that that was so and then said, "No Muslim is afflicted by a harm, be it the pricking of a thorn or something more (painful than that), but Allah thereby causes his sins to fall away just as a tree sheds its leaves".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ من يرد الله به خيراً يصب منه‏"‏ ‏:‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "He whom Allah intends good, He makes him to suffer from some affliction".[Al- Bukhari].