Is the following Hadith reliable?
“When a servant’s sins become so numerous that he has no good deeds left to compensate, then Allah tries him with sadness as an expiation for him.”
Answer:
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this narration with a weak chain.
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 6 pg. 157. Also see Targhib, vol. 4 pg. 287 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 2 pg. 291)
Being afflicted with sadness and grief is indeed a means of expiating sins as explained in the following Hadith recorded by Imam Muslim (rahimahullah):
Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id and Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) report that they heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say:
“Whatever discomfort, tiredness, illness, grief or even worry that affects a Mu’min will be a means of expiating his sins”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2573)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approve by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar