Tuesday 12 Rabi‘ at-akhir 1446 - 15 October 2024
English

Calamities expiate for sins

Question

My wife used to pray until she had her first child, then she became lazy, claiming that any woman who gives birth, all her sins are forgiven because of the pain that she suffers in childbirth. What do you say to her?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

This is not correct. A woman, like anyone else among the children of Adam, if anything befalls her and she bears it with patience and seeks reward (from Allaah), then she will be rewarded for these pains and calamities. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave the example of something that is less severe than that, and said that if a thorn pricks a person, he will have expiation because of that. It should be noted that if a person bears the disasters that befall him with patience and seeks reward from Allah, he will be rewarded for his patience and seeking reward, and the disaster itself will be an expiation for his sins. Calamities expiate sins in all cases; if that is accompanied by patience, a person will be rewarded for his patience in the face of those calamities. When a woman gives birth, there is no doubt that she endures pain and suffering; this pain is an expiation for her, and if she bears it with patience and seeks reward from Allah, that will increase her reward and hasanaat… and Allah knows best.

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Source: From the fataawa of Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen,  Majallah al-Da’wah, no. 1789, p. 61