Calamities expiate for sins

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this 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?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
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Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

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 Allaah, 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 Allaah, that will increase her reward and hasanaat… and Allaah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam

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