Muhammad (saw) – The Perfect Man — Page 542
CHAPTER 23 Patience in Times of Affliction 542 The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa said, "When a Muslim suffers affliction and according to the command of All a h says ' ِِّٰ اِﻧَّﺎH ' and prays َّ ْ اَﻟﻠّٰﻬُﻢ ِْ أﺟُﺮ ْىن ِ ىف ِْ ﻣُﺼِﻴ Vَْىت ْ وَاَﺧ ِْﻠِﻒ ْىل ْ ﺧَري ا ً ﻣِﻨ ﻬَﺎ ,meaning, 'O All a h give me reward of this affliction and grant me a better substitute', God rewards him with something better. " 2 Hadrat Ab u Hurairah ra relates from the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa that he said, "God Almighty says; "When I take a beloved object from a believer and he shows patience, his reward is paradise itself. " 3 At another occasion H u du r sa said, "The affairs of a believer are amazing. There is goodness in every aspect. A true believer is the one whois grateful in affliction and this gratefulness brings blessings. If he is patient in the face of tribulation, it also becomes a source of blessings for him. " 4 A person is tested according to his faith. If he has strong faith, his hardship is also severe, and if he is weak in his faith, he is tested accordingly. When a person emerges successfully from the trial by showing patience, his sins are forgiven to such an extent that no sin remains on his record. 5 In his practical life, the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa showed extraordinary patience. Hadrat ‘Abdull a h bin Mas‘ u d ra relates, "I went to see H u du r sa. He was suffering from a high fever. I said 'O Messenger of All a h, you are