"Only tears and illness will eliminate sins." Is this statement a hadith? If yes, how can they eliminate sins?

Dear Brother / Sister,

In a long hadith narration, the things that eliminate sins are mentioned as follows: “tears, khudu (obeying Allah’s orders and praying to Him) and illnesses”. (Kanzul-Ummal, h.no: 44154)

It is not stated in the hadith that “only those three things become means of the elimination of sins”; it is stated that “they are among the means”.

When the Prophet (pbuh) guided people, he would underline the issues that he deemed appropriate at that time. This underlining did not express a limitation; it indicated the position of that thing. For example, when he said, “tears are a means of the elimination of sins”, he did not mean to say, "other things are not a means of the elimination of sins ". He only wanted to attract the attention of his addressees to that issue. 

We can also remember the following well-known hadith about tears:

“There are two kinds of eyes which fire will not touch: one of them is the eye that sheds tears due to fear of Allah and the other is the eye that spends the night by keeping guard in the way of Allah.” (Kanzul-Ummal, h. no: 5875)

The “elimination of sins” mentioned in the hadith means their forgiveness and deletion from the book of deeds. They become atonement for sins in a sense. As a matter of fact, we see a bigger list of atonement in another hadith narration: 

“No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” (Bukhari, Marda,1; Muslim, Bir, 52)

The long hadith in which the statement mentioned in the question is included is as follows:

Once, a man came to the Prophet (pbuh) and said, “I have come to ask you about things related to this world and the hereafter”. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Ask whatever you like.” Then, the following conversation, from which we can take many lessons, took place between them:

- I want to be the wealthiest of people. What should I do?

- Be content and you will be the wealthiest of people.

- I want to be the best one among people.

- The best one among people is the one that is the most beneficial to them. Be beneficial to people.

- I want to be the fairest person among people.

- Want for others what you want for yourself and you will be the fairest person.

- I want to be the one that is closest to Allah among people and be one of His special slaves.

- If you mention and remember Allah a lot, you will be among His special slaves.

- I want to be among the doers of good.

- Worship Allah as if you see Him; even if you do not see Him, He sees you.

- I want to perfect my belief.

- If you have high ethics, your belief will be perfect.

- I want to be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in light.

- Do not wrong yourself and do not wrong other people; you will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in light. Show mercy to yourself and show mercy to others; Allah will show you mercy.

- I want my sins to decrease.

- If you ask forgiveness and beg Allah, your sins will decrease.

- I want to be the noblest one among people.

- If you do not complain to Allah about His slaves, you will be the noblest one among people.

- I want my provision to be abundant.

- Remain in a state of purity; you will be granted abundant provision.

- I want to be loved by Allah and His Messenger.

- Love those whom Allah and His Messenger love, and hate those whom Allah and His Messenger hate.

- I want to be safe from the wrath of Allah.

- Do not get angry with anyone; you will be safe from the anger and wrath of Allah.

- I want my supplication to be accepted.

- Avoid what is haram; your supplication will be accepted.

- I want that Allah should not expose me to shame before the witnesses.

- Guard your chastity lest you be exposed to shame before the witnesses.

- I want Allah to conceal my faults.

- Conceal the faults of your brothers; Allah will conceal your faults.

- What will eliminate my sins?

- Your tears, khudu’ (worshipping Allah with respect) and illnesses.

- What qualities are more virtuous in the eye of Allah?

- High ethics, humility, showing patience in the face of misfortunes and showing consent to qadar.  

- What is the biggest sin in the eye of Allah?

- Bad character and stinginess toward Allah’s orders.

- What makes the mercy of Allah, who is the most merciful, increase?

- To give sadaqah secretly and to visit and take care of relatives.

- What will extinguish the fire of Hell?

- Fasting. (see Kanzul-Ummal, ibid; al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi, Nawadirul-Usul, 1293 printing, p. 325)

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