75/2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5647 — Sins Fall Like Leaves
The severity of disease
Hadith About Sickness Removing Sins Like Falling Leaves
Sahih Bukhari : 5647
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5647
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مَرَضِهِ وَهْوَ يُوعَكُ وَعْكًا شَدِيدًا، وَقُلْتُ إِنَّكَ لَتُوعَكُ وَعْكًا شَدِيدًا. قُلْتُ إِنَّ ذَاكَ بِأَنَّ لَكَ أَجْرَيْنِ. قَالَ " أَجَلْ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يُصِيبُهُ أَذًى، إِلاَّ حَاتَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ خَطَايَاهُ، كَمَا تَحَاتُّ وَرَقُ الشَّجَرِ ".
`Abdullah Narrated from:
I visited the Prophet (ﷺ) during his ailments and he was suffering from a high fever. I said, "You have a high fever. Is it because you will have a double reward for it?" He said, "Yes, for no Muslim is afflicted with any harm but that Allah will remove his sins as the leaves of a tree fall down."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5647In-book reference : Book 75, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 70, Hadith 550
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5647
This Hadith describes the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم during illness. Abdullah رضي الله عنه visited him while he was suffering from a high fever. He asked if the fever was severe because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would have double reward. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said yes. Then he gave a general teaching: no Muslim is afflicted with any harm except that Allah removes sins from him, like leaves falling from a tree. This image is easy to understand. Just as dry leaves fall away from a tree, sins may be removed through hardship by Allah’s mercy. The Hadith about sickness removing sins gives hope to those facing pain. It also reminds us that harm is not hidden from Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم experienced high fever and real physical suffering.
- Harm that touches a Muslim may be a means for sins to be removed.
- The Hadith uses the image of leaves falling from a tree to show removal of sins.
- A believer can find hope even during illness and pain.
