"عَنْ سَعْدٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً (قَالَ: ) الأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الأَمْثَلُ فَالأَمْثَلُ حَتَّى يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى قَدْرِ دِينِهِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ صَلْبَ الدِّينِ اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فِى دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِىَ عَلَى حَسِبِ ذَلك أَوْ قَدْرِ ذَلِكَ فَمَا يَزَالُ الْبَلَاءُ بِالعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهُ يَمْشِى فِى الأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ".
See similar narrations below:
Collected by Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, Aḥmad, Dārimī, Ḥākim, Ibn Ḥibbān, Nasāʾī's Kubrá, Bayhaqī, Aḥmad's Zuhd, Suyūṭī"O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which of the people is tried most severely?" He said: "The Prophets, then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them. A man is tried according to his religion; if he is firm in his religion, then his trials are more severe, and if he is frail in his religion, then he is tried according to the strength of his religion. The servant shall continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sins."
قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلاَءً قَالَ الأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الأَمْثَلُ فَالأَمْثَلُ فَيُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ دِينُهُ صُلْبًا اشْتَدَّ بَلاَؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلاَءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الأَرْضِ مَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ
People are tested according to their commitment to faith
“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.’”
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۔»
“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.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4023)
قُلْتُ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلاءً؟ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ دِينُهُ صُلْبًا اشْتَدَّ بَلاؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلاءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ
“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.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4023)
قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلاءً؟ قَالَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الصَّالِحُونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ مِنَ النَّاسِ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صَلابَةٌ زِيدَ فِي بَلائِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ خُفِّفَ عَنْهُ وَمَا يَزَالُ الْبَلاءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْأَرْضِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ
[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), "Which people are tested the most severely?" He replied, "The prophets, then those who are most similar, then those who are similar." A person is tested according to his faith. If his faith is weak, he will be tested accordingly. If his faith is strong, he will be tested accordingly. He added, "The afflictions will continue to come to a person until they leave him walking on the Earth, with no sin on him."
سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلاءً؟ فَقَالَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ فَيُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ رَقِيقَ الدِّينِ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ ذَاكَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صُلْبَ الدِّينِ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ ذَاكَ قَالَ فَمَا تَزَالُ الْبَلايَا بِالرَّجُلِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ
[Machine] "Saad, O Messenger of Allah, which people face the greatest tribulations?" The Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, replied, "The prophets, then those most like them, and then those most like them." He continued, "Each person will be tested according to the strength of their faith. If their faith is strong, they will be tested accordingly. And I once said, 'The most severely tested are those with the strongest faith.' And if a person's faith is weak, they will be tested according to the strength of their faith. And I once said, 'Each person will be tested according to the strength of their faith.' The trials will continue to afflict a person until they walk on Earth free from any sin." My father commented, and it was also said by Saad, "I said, O Messenger of Allah..." [The rest of the passage is missing.]
سَعْدٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلاءً؟ قَالَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ حَتَّى يُبْتَلَى الْعَبْدُ عَلَى قَدْرِ دِينِهِ ذَاكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ صُلْبَ الدِّينِ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى قَدْرِ ذَاكَ وَقَالَ مَرَّةً أَشَدُّ بَلاءً وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى قَدْرِ ذَاكَ وَقَالَ مَرَّةً عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ قَالَ فَمَا تَبْرَحُ الْبَلايَاعَنِ الْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَعْنِي وَمَا إِنْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَطِيئَةٍ قَالَ أَبِي وَقَالَ مَرَّةً عَنْ سَعْدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ
[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ was asked, "Who among the people experiences the most severe affliction?" He said, "The prophets, then the best, then the best. A man is tested according to his religious commitment, so if he is firm in his religion, his trials increase, and if he is weak in his religion, they are lightened for him. The affliction will continue for a servant until he walks on the earth with no sin to his account."
سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صَلَابَةٌ زِيدَ صَلَابَةً وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ خُفِّفَ عَنْهُ وَلَا يَزَالُ الْبَلَاءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مَا لَهُ خَطِيئَةٌ»
“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.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4023)
سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «النَّبِيُّونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ إِنْ كَانَ صُلْبَ الدِّينِ اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلَاءُ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الْأَرْضِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ»
ذِكْرُ الْإِخْبَارِ عَمَّا يَجِبُ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ مِنْ تَوْطِينِ النَّفْسِ عَلَى تَحْمِلِ مَا يَسْتَقْبِلُهَا مِنَ الْمِحَنِ وَالْمَصَائِبِ
[Machine] "O Messenger of Allah, who are the people who are tested the most severely?" He said, "The prophets, then those who are closest to them in righteousness. A person is tested according to the strength of their faith. The trial will not cease to afflict a person until it leaves him walking on the earth without any sin."
يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ وَيُبْتَلَى الْعَبْدُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلَاءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ»
ذِكْرُ خَبَرٍ ثَانٍ يُصَرِّحُ بِصِحَّةِ مَا ذَكَرْنَاهُ
“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.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4023)
قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ دِينُهُ صُلْبًا اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلَاءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ»
ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ الْبَلَايَا تَكُونُ بِالْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَكْثَرُ، ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلِ فَالْأَمْثَلِ فِي الدِّينِ
[Machine] He said, "O Messenger of Allah, who are the people who face the most trials and tribulations?" He replied, "The prophets, then those who are most like them. Each person is tested according to their level of faith. A person will continue to be tested until they walk on the face of the earth without any sins upon them."
أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الْعَبْدُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ»
“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.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4023)
قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الْعَبْدُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ دِينُهُ صُلْبًا اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسْبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلَاءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مَا بِهِ خَطِيئَةٌ»
“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.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4023)
سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ مَنْ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ النَّبِيُّونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسْبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ صُلْبَ الدِّينِ اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَمَا تَبْرَحُ الْبَلَايَا عَلَى الْعَبْدِ حَتَّى تَدَعَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الْأَرْضِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ
[Machine] I said, "O Messenger of Allah, who among the people endures the most severe trials?" He said, "The prophets, then the righteous, then those who resemble them. For the one who resembles the prophets, he is tested according to his faith. So, if his faith is firm, his trials are increased. And if his faith is weak, his trials are decreased. The trials continue upon the servant until he walks on the earth without any sin."
قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الصَّالِحُونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ مِنَ النَّاسِ؛ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صَلَابَةٌ زِيدَ فِي بَلَائِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ؛ خَفَّفْتُ عَنْهُ وَلَا يَزَالُ الْبَلَاءُ فِي الْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ»
“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.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4023)
«أَشدُّ النَّاسِ بلاءً الأنبياءُ، ثم الأمْثلُ، فالأمْثَلُ، يُبْتَلى الرجلُ على حسبِ دينِه، فإِنْ كانَ في دينه صُلبًا اشتدَّ بلاؤه، وإنْ كانَ في دينه رقَّةٌ ابْتُلي على قدْرِ دينه، فما يبْرحُ البلاءُ بالعبْدِ حتَّى يتركه يمشى على الأرْضِ، وما عليه خطيئةٌ۔»