There is a Prophetic Hadeeth that says that the punishment of this Ummah is in its worldly life. What does this Hadeeth mean? Does it mean that Muslims will never enter Hell?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

This Hadeeth was narrated by Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak who classified it as Saheeh in compliance with the criteria of a sound Hadeeth according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim . It was also narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab Al-Eemaan and was classified as Saheeh by Al-Albaani .

This Hadeeth means that the different kinds of misfortunes, pains, distresses, diseases and even if pain caused by a prick of thorn and corporal punishments for crimes that a Muslim is afflicted with expiate his sins and misdeeds. This is supported by the Hadeeth narrated in Saheeh Muslim in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, says: “No fatigue, nor illness, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor harm, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were a prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allaah expiates some of his sins for that.” [Muslim]

In another narration: “No prick of a thorn or whatever is severer befalls a believer unless Allaah Elevates him a degree and expiates a sin for that.”

A third narration reads: “and even a wound that afflicts him.”

Another narration states: “Whoever among you fulfills (the acts of obedience) will be rewarded by Allaah. And whoever commits any misdeeds and is punished in this worldly life, that punishment will be expiation and purification for his sin, and whoever Allaah Conceals (his sin), it is up to Him to Forgive or Punish him (in the Hereafter).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “anyone who commits a sin that has a prescribed punishment and was punished in this worldly life, then the punishment will be atonement for him.” [Muslim]

This does not indicate that the disobedient Muslims will not enter Hell because this belief contradicts the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa‘ah that disobedient Muslims will be under the Will of Allaah. He May Punish them or Forgive them. Whoever amongst them deserves to enter Hell will come out of it after receiving his due punishment.

Allaah Knows best.