A persons life in this world is not stable.
One passes through alternating periods of happiness and dismay, strength
and weakness. wealth and povert, health and sickness etc. A true believer
is one who maintains a clear level of Eemaan throughout the wordly
fluctuations. He continues to remember Allah and ascribe the bounties to
Him; and he turns to Him in submission, asking for relief from his affliction.
This is described by the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) who said:
" Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer ! They are all
for his benefit; If he is granted ease of living he is thankful; and this
is best for him. And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres;
and this is best or him." [ Muslim ]
And Allah (S) said (which means);
" Certainly, We shall test you with fear,hunger,loss of wealth,lives
and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient - those who, when afflicted
with calamity say, "Truly to Allah we belong, and truly to Him shall
we return." it is those who will be awarded blessings and mercy from
their Lord; and it is those who are the guided ones." [ 2:155-157
]
Thus, a believer shows gratitude and thankfulness for all the wonderful
blessings that Allah grants him. And he displays patience and submission
during sickness and hardships, hunger, or other afflictions.
HARDSHIPS BENEFIT THE BELIEVER
Allah has decreed that, in this life, hardships and disasters strike
both believers and non-believers. For a non-believer, they are inconveniences
that hinder him from proceeding with his normal involvment in the wordly
life. For a believer, on the other hand, they are instances of rest and
rememberance, tests that promise great rewards, and indications of atonment
and expiation of sins. Regardless of how little is the harm that strikes
a believer, it carries with it good news of forgivness and elevated rank
( in Jannah ). The Righteous Predecessors used to be pleased when
a hardship afflicted them, seeing it as a token of Allah's forgivness and
benevolence.
EXPIATION OF SINS
Abu Hurayrah (radiallaahu anhu) reported that
the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:
" Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in
their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah (S) burdened with
no sins. " [ Tirmithee ]
SIGN OF ALLAH'S LOVE
Abu Hurayrah (radiallaahu anhu) reported that
the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:
" Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to
adversity" [ Bukharee and others ]
SIGN OF EEMAN
Abu Hurayrah (radiallaahu anhu) and Ka'b Bin Maalik
(radiallaahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)
said:
" The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant;
the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues
to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite is that of
a firm cedar tree; it does not shake - until it is uprooted all at once."
[ Bukharee and Muslim ]
SIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their
rewards are the highest. Sa'd (radiallaahu anhu)
reporeted that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:
" The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets,
then the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with
his deen (faith). If his deen is firm his affliction is hard,
and if his deen is weak, his affliction is light. Indeed, one would
be so much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without
any sins. " [ Ahmad, Tirmithee ]
EARLY PUNISHMENT
Anas (radiallaahu anhu) reported that the Prophet
(sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:
" When Allah wills good for a servant of His, He expedites his
punishment in this life; and when He wills retribution for a servant of
His, He holds his sins for Him to judge him by them on the Day of Resurrection.
" [ Tirmithee ]
MULTIPLICATION OF REWARDS
Anas (radiallaahu anhu) reported that the Prophet
(sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:
" The amount of reward is in accordance with the amount of suffering.
When Allah (SWT) loves some people, He tries them (with affliction). He
who then is content (with Allah's decree) has achieved the acceptance (of
Allah), and he who is dissatisfied (with Allah's decree) will attain the
anger (of allah)." [ Tirmithee ]
Tests For The Believers