The Messenger of Allah said: "Nothing afflicts the believer, whether fatigue, grief, disease - even a worry that concerns him - except that by it, Allah removes something from his bad deeds."
Hadith Commentary: The Book on Jana'iz (Funerals)
This profound narration from Jami' at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 966) offers divine wisdom concerning the believer's perspective on worldly afflictions. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) illuminates the spiritual reality behind physical and emotional trials.
Comprehensive Nature of Afflictions
The hadith enumerates four categories: fatigue (physical exertion), grief (emotional distress), disease (bodily illness), and worry (mental anxiety). This comprehensive listing demonstrates that no form of hardship escapes Allah's merciful compensation.
Classical scholars note that "even a worry that concerns him" includes all legitimate concerns - financial difficulties, family matters, community affairs - showing the vast scope of Allah's mercy.
Spiritual Purification Mechanism
The phrase "Allah removes something from his bad deeds" indicates an expiatory function. As Imam al-Tibi explains: "Afflictions serve as kaffarah (atonement) for minor sins, while major sins require specific repentance."
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali elaborates that this purification occurs through the believer's patient endurance, transforming temporal suffering into eternal reward and spiritual cleansing.
Distinction of the Believer
The specific mention of "the believer" highlights that this divine compensation is contingent upon faith. Al-Mubarakfuri notes in his commentary: "The non-believer receives his full reward in this world, while the believer's afflictions become means of elevation in the Hereafter."
This differentiation underscores Islam's holistic worldview where temporal hardships are recontextualized within eternal divine wisdom.
Practical Implications
Scholars derive from this hadith the importance of sabr (patient perseverance) and redha (contentment with divine decree). As Imam al-Ghazali states: "The intelligent believer welcomes afflictions as opportunities for spiritual advancement."
This teaching transforms the believer's relationship with suffering, enabling them to face life's challenges with hope and spiritual awareness rather than despair.