75/3. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5648 — Harm Expiates Sins
Most prone to trials are Prophets, then the most pious, and then the less pious
Hadith About Harm Expiating Sins Like a Tree Sheds Leaves
Sahih Bukhari : 5648
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5648
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ يُوعَكُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ تُوعَكُ وَعْكًا شَدِيدًا. قَالَ " أَجَلْ إِنِّي أُوعَكُ كَمَا يُوعَكُ رَجُلاَنِ مِنْكُمْ ". قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ لَكَ أَجْرَيْنِ قَالَ " أَجَلْ ذَلِكَ كَذَلِكَ، مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يُصِيبُهُ أَذًى شَوْكَةٌ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا سَيِّئَاتِهِ، كَمَا تَحُطُّ الشَّجَرَةُ وَرَقَهَا ".
`Abdullah Narrated from:
I visited Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) while he was suffering from a high fever. I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! You have a high fever." He said, "Yes, I have as much fever as two men of you." I said, "Is it because you will have a double reward?" He said, "Yes, it is so. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, even if it were the prick of a thorn, but that Allah expiates his sins because of that, as a tree sheds its leaves."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5648In-book reference : Book 75, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 70, Hadith 551
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5648
This Hadith gives both a scene and a lesson. Abdullah رضي الله عنه visited Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم while he had a high fever. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said his fever was like the fever of two men. When asked about double reward, he answered yes. Then he taught that no Muslim is afflicted with harm, even a thorn prick or anything greater, except that Allah expiates sins because of it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم compared this to a tree shedding its leaves. This Hadith about harm expiating sins is often searched by Muslims who are sick, worried, or in pain. Its message is not to love pain, but to know that Allah can place forgiveness within hardship.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم suffered severe fever during illness.
- Even small harm, like a thorn prick, may expiate sins.
- The Hadith compares sins being removed to leaves falling from a tree.
- A Muslim can remember Allah’s mercy when facing pain.
