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Salaam A Laikum!

I first and foremost would like to extend my deepest gratitude to you for performing this great deed of answering Islam related questions!

My question is :

In the Christian religion's followers believe in Stigmata which are the wounds of Christ that extremely good Christians are afflicted with. I would like to know if this concept is true?

Next Question :

Our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was afflicted with lots of pain when on earth as he was the best muslim that will ever be! The better muslim the more Allah tests his patience. So will something similar to "Stigmata" happen to Muslims?

Thankx for your time... I will wait for your re.

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Answer:

Biggest trials afflictions on Pious

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: In the Christian religion's followers believe in Stigmata which are the wounds of Christ that extremely good Christians are afflicted with. I would like to know if this concept is true?

Islam guides towards the belief that every child is born absolutely innocent and free of sin, and that every individual will be responsible for his own deeds.

The Christian concept of each being born with the ‘eternal sin’ committed by Prophet Adam (a.s.), or the concept of Prophet Isa (a.s.) ‘dying on the cross’ to forgive the sins of mankind; or any other such concepts of transferring sins done by one individual to another are absolutely against the concept of justice, or logic, or the Divine Guidance of the All-Just and All Mighty Lord.

Even in the courts of law of this world, it would be deemed gross injustice and unfair if a son is sentenced for the crimes of his father, or a father is sentenced to serve a sentence for the crimes committed by his son, etc.! Can one even imagine such gross injustice being served in the Just Court of Allah Subhanah? It is nothing but a lie which the ignorant attribute to the All Just Lord of the Worlds!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134:

They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verse 18:

18 Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another's burden. If one heavily laden should call another to (bear) his load, not the least portion of it can be carried (by the other) even though he be nearly related.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 164:

164 Every soul draws the result of its acts on none but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is toward Allah: He will tell you the Truth of the things wherein ye disputed.

The Quranic and Islamic belief on the concept of the ‘transfers’ of sin is very very clear indeed: Every person will be responsible for his deeds, and no person will be called upon to pay for the sins of another!

Q-2: Our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was afflicted with lots of pain when on earth as he was the best muslim that will ever be! The better muslim the more Allah tests his patience.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1562 Narrated by Sa'd

When the Prophet (saws) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction, he replied, "The Prophets, then those who come next to them (in Taqwa), then those who come next to them (in Taqwa). A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.548 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials."

Ibn Mas'ud said: "I visited the Messenger of Allah (saws)while he had a fever. I exclaimed: 'O Messenger of Allah! You have a high fever! ' He (saws) said: 'My fever is as much as two amongst you [might have].' I asked: 'Is it because you have a double reward?' He (saws) replied: 'Yes, that is right. No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even if it is no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins because of it, and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a tree'."

Q-3: So will something similar to "Stigmata" happen to Muslims?

Nothing of the so called ‘stigmata’ or anything even similar happens to anyone! The Sunnah (or way) of Allah Subhanah is that the more pious and God-fearing the person, the more he/she is tested by Allah Subhanah! If one just simply studies the tests and tribulations that Allah Subhanah put on His Prophets like Nooh (a.s.), and Ibraheem (a.s.), and Moosa (a.s.), and Isa (a.s.), and Ayyub (a.s.), and Yunus (a.s.), etc., and above all, on Prophet Mohamed (saws), one would realize that a normal human being would absolutely break down under these conditions and the weight laid upon them as tests by Allah Subhanah! These pious and righteous slaves of Allah Subhanah were tested beyond comprehension, but under the guidance of Allah Subhanah, they always remained patient and steadfast on the Path commanded to them by their Lord!

The more pious one is, the more he is tested by Allah Subhanah; so that He may raise them in status and honor in the life of the Hereafter! Allah Subhanah Knows Who amongst His servants can bear His tests, and who cannot. Therefore one should never volunteer or challenge Allah Subhanah to test him, but rather follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) and always pray to Merciful Lord to not test him beyond his capacity, or lay upon him the severe trials and tribulations that He laid upon the people before him; but when put in a trial and affliction according to the Plan and Decree of Allah, one should pray for Mercy and patience, and stay steadfast on the Straight Path.

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,

Burhan