36/23. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4023 — Why the Prophets Were Tested
Patience at the time of calamity
Hadith About Trials: Why Believers Are Tested
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4023
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4023
حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ حَمَّادٍ الْمَعْنِيُّ، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ دُرُسْتَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلاَءً قَالَ " الأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الأَمْثَلُ فَالأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الْعَبْدُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صُلْبًا اشْتَدَّ بَلاَؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلاَءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَطِيئَةٍ " .
Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas Narrated from:
I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which people are most severely tested?’ He said: ‘The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A person is tested according to his religious commitment. If he is steadfast in his religious commitment, he will be tested more severely, and if he is frail in his religious commitment, his test will be according to his commitment. Trials will continue to afflict a person until they leave him walking on the earth with no sin on him.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4023In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 98English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4023
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4023
This is a well-known hadith about trials and tests in Islam. Sa’d bin Abu Waqqas asked which people are most severely tested. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered: the Prophets, then the next best and the next best. He explained that a person is tested according to his religious commitment. If someone is firm in faith, the test may be stronger; if his commitment is weaker, the test comes according to that level. The hadith does not present trials as pointless pain. It says trials continue until a person is left walking on earth with no sin on him. This gives comfort to a believer facing hardship, while also teaching patience, humility, and trust in Allah during difficult times.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophets were the most severely tested among people.
- A person’s test is connected to his level of religious commitment.
- Stronger faith may come with stronger trials.
- Trials can be a means through which sins are removed.
