Selected Ahadith on Trials and Patience:

Abu Huraira (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

مَنْيُرِدِاللَّهُبِهِخَيْرًايُصِبْمِنْهُ

If Allah intends good for someone, then he afflicts him with trials.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5321, Grade: Sahih

Mahmud ibn Labeed (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

إِذَاأَحَبَّاللَّهُقَوْمًاابْتَلَاهُمْفَمَنْصَبَرَفَلَهُالصَّبْرُوَمَنْجَزِعَفَلَهُالْجَزَعُ

If Allah loves a people, then he afflicts them with trials. Whoever is patient has the reward of patience, and whoever is impatient has the fault of impatience.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 23122, Grade: Sahih

Mus’ad ibn Sa’eed (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

الْبَلَاءُبِالْعَبْدِحَتَّىيَتْرُكَهُيَمْشِيعَلَىالْأَرْضِمَاعَلَيْهِخَطِيئَةٌ

The servant will continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sin.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2398, Grade: Sahih

–Because Allah forgives sins as a reward for patience with trials.–

Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

إِذَاأَرَادَاللَّهُبِعَبْدِهِالْخَيْرَعَجَّلَلَهُالْعُقُوبَةَفِيالدُّنْيَاوَإِذَاأَرَادَاللَّهُبِعَبْدِهِالشَّرَّأَمْسَكَعَنْهُبِذَنْبِهِحَتَّىيُوَافِيَبِهِيَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِ

If Allah intends good for his servant, then he hastens the punishment for him in this world. If Allah intends evil for his servant, then he withholds punishment for his sins until he appears on the Day of Resurrection.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2396 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

In another narration, the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

إِنَّعِظَمَالْجَزَاءِمَعَعِظَمِالْبَلَاءِوَإِنَّاللَّهَإِذَاأَحَبَّقَوْمًاابْتَلَاهُمْفَمَنْرَضِيَفَلَهُالرِّضَاوَمَنْسَخِطَفَلَهُالسَّخَطُ

Verily, with greater rewards come greater trials. Verily, when Allah loves a people he will test them. Whoever is pleased will be satisfied, and whoever is displeased will be frustrated

Sunan Tirmidhī 2396, Grade: Hasan

–Despite the incidental blessings that might come about from trials, a Muslim should never wish to be put to trial because he does not know if he will succeed.–

Miqdad ibn Al-Aswad (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

إِنَّالسَّعِيدَلَمَنْجُنِّبَالْفِتَنَإِنَّالسَّعِيدَلَمَنْجُنِّبَالْفِتَنِإِنَّالسَّعِيدَلَمَنْجُنِّبَالْفِتَنُوَلَمَنْابْتُلِيَفَصَبَرَفَوَاهًا

Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. Verily, the blessed person is one kept away from trials. How good is one who is afflicted but bears it patiently!

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4263, Grade: Sahih

Abu Bakr (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

لَمْتُؤْتَوْاشَيْئًابَعْدَكَلِمَةِالْإِخْلَاصِمِثْلَالْعَافِيَةِفَاسْأَلُوااللَّهَالْعَافِيَةَ

You will not be given anything after sincere faith as good as security, so ask Allah for security. (Security = Aafiya)

Musnad Aḥmad 11, Grade: Sahih

–One of the greatest trials a Muslim might endure is the death of a loved one such as a spouse, a parent, or a child. If he remains patient and praises Allah in such a situation, then Allah has guaranteed a house for him in Paradise.–

Abu Musa Al-Ashari(RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

إِذَامَاتَوَلَدُالْعَبْدِقَالَاللَّهُلِمَلَائِكَتِهِقَبَضْتُمْوَلَدَعَبْدِيفَيَقُولُونَنَعَمْفَيَقُولُقَبَضْتُمْثَمَرَةَفُؤَادِهِفَيَقُولُونَنَعَمْفَيَقُولُمَاذَاقَالَعَبْدِيفَيَقُولُونَحَمِدَكَوَاسْتَرْجَعَفَيَقُولُاللَّهُابْنُوالِعَبْدِيبَيْتًافِيالْجَنَّةِوَسَمُّوهُبَيْتَالْحَمْدِ

When the child of a servant dies, Allah says to the angels: Have you taken the life of my servant’s child? They say yes. Allah says: Have you taken the fruit of his heart? They say yes. Allah says: What has my servant said? They say: He has praised you and said to Allah we belong and to Allah we return. Allah says: Build a house for my servant in Paradise and name it the House of Praise.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1021, Grade: Hasan

Abu Huraira (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

يَقُولُاللَّهُتَعَالَىمَالِعَبْدِيالْمُؤْمِنِعِنْدِيجَزَاءٌإِذَاقَبَضْتُصَفِيَّهُمِنْأَهْلِالدُّنْيَاثُمَّاحْتَسَبَهُإِلَّاالْجَنَّةُ

Allah the Exalted says: I have nothing to give to my faithful servant, if I cause his dear friend to die and he remains patient, other than Paradise.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6060, Grade: Sahih