Muhammad (saw) – The Perfect Man — Page 544
CHAPTER 23 Patience in Times of Affliction 544 are put in trials and tested most. He replied, "The Prophets, then the ones who are close to them and then the others closer to them. " 8 Forbearance in Disease The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa was by nature patient and appreciative. Hadrat ‘ A ’ishah ra said that she had not seen greater suffering than the last illness of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa. 9 Hadrat ‘Abdull a h bin Mas‘ u d ra relates, "I visited the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa during his last illness. He was in a great deal of pain. I touched him and said, "You have very high fever. " H u du r sa replied, 'My suffering is equal to two people,' I said, 'You would have double the reward as well'. He replied 'Yes' and added, 'When a Muslim suffers affliction or disease God forgives his sins like the leaves falling off a tree. ' 10 Our beloved master and patron suffered relatively greater trials as his status was very high. He endured pain at the hands of non- believers and idolaters. He suffered the shocks of the death of his relatives and dear ones and he endured it all with great fortitude. He always advised his followers to show patience. When taking oath of initiation from the newly converted ladies, he used to repeat these words, "We would not lacerate our faces in times of grief, we would not pronounce maledictions of destruction or wail. We would