asalamualikum.
*Testing, Affliction and Calamities *
by *Shaykh Dr. Saalih As-Saalih رحمه الله*
Delivered on May 20th, 2006
http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4151
*THE REWARD ASSOCIATED WITH TESTS/TRIALS*
Certainly testing is a station for a while (i.e. it is temporary). *It
erases the sins* just as the leaves fall from a tree, as mentioned in the
ahaadeeth narrated by Abu Sa`eed Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنهما
that the Prophet said, *"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 Allaah expiates some of his sins for that."*[4]
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه also narrated that the Messenger صلى الله عليه
وسلم said, *"If Allaah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with
trials." *[5]
In a hadeeth narrated by Abdullah ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما, he said *“I
visited the Prophet during his ailments and he was suffering from a high
fever. I said, "You have a high fever. Is it because you will have a double
reward for it?" He said, "Yes, for no Muslim is afflicted with any harm
except that Allaah will remove his sins as the leaves fall from a tree."*[6]
Hence, the reward is affirmed regarding every type of harm or hurt, tangible
or intangible, *if the believer patiently perseveres and anticipates the
reward*. As Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه reported: I heard Allaah's
Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saying, *"Allaah said, 'If I deprive my slave
of his two beloved things (i.e. his eyes) and he remains patient, I will let
him enter Paradise in compensation for them.'"*[7]
Tests and trials are a means to removing sins (from the believers) and all
the children of Adam commit sins. Tests and trials may also raise one’s
degree enabling one to move on to a higher level in Paradise as in the
hadeeth where Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, *“Allaah سبحانه
وتعالى says to His angels when they take the soul of a person’s child, ‘You
took the fruit of his heart.’ They (the angels) say, ‘Yes.’ Then Allaah
says, ‘What did My slave say (upon that)?’ They say, ‘He praised you and
made istirjaa’ (meaning he said, Innaa lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji`oon’ -
To Allaah we belong and to Him we shall return). So Allaah سبحانه وتعالى
says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and name it The House of
Praise’.”*[8] This is reported by Imaam Ahmad and Shaykh al-Albaanee graded
it Hasan.
In another hadeeth reported in Saheeh Muslim: *Any Muslim who is hurt by a
thorn or greater than that, Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will remove a sin from him
and elevates him a degree (raise his status) because of that.*[9] So (he is
raised) degree above degrees, until he reaches his final degree in Paradise
which comes due to his patience and above that, due to the Favour of Allaah
سبحانه وتعالى, as He سبحانه وتعالى says in Surah az-Zumar, verse 10:
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
*{Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without
reckoning.}* [Az-Zumar 39:10]
Thus calamities, trials and tests are signs of love from Allaah for the
believers. They are comparable to a cure; although it may be bitter, you
accept it because it is from the one whom you love; and to Allaah belongs
the best example. As comes in the hadeeth, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
said: *“The magnitude of the reward is proportional to the magnitude of the
affliction. When Allaah سبحانه وتعالى loves some people, He tests them. He
who is content (with Allaah’s decree) will receive the Pleasure (of Allaah
سبحانه وتعالى); and he who is discontent will attain the wrath (of Allaah
سبحانه وتعالى).”*[10] Related by at-Tirmidhi and Sheikh al-Albaanee رحمه
الله graded it Saheeh.
Imam ibn Al Qayyim said: *The ibtilaa’ (testing) of the believer is like
medicine for him. It cures him from illness. Had the illness remained it
would destroy him or diminish his reward and level (in the hereafter). The
tests and the trials extract these illnesses from him and prepare him for
the perfect reward and the highest of degrees (in the life to come).”*[11]
Certainly the affliction of tests and trials is better to the believer than
the punishment of the hereafter. Certainly it is a cause for the elevation
of one’s rank and expiation for his sins, and therefore it is better.
In the hadeeth, Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, *“If Allaah
intends good for the Believer He hastens his punishment in this life and if
He intends otherwise, He withholds his punishment for his sin until he
re-compensates him for it on the Day of Resurrection.”*[12] Reported by
at-Tirmidhi and Sheikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله authenticated it. The People of
Knowledge made it clear that this is in reference to the one who is a *
hypocrite*. Allaah سبحانه وتعالى withholds the punishment from him in this
life to give him his full account on the Day of Resurrection; and we seek
refuge in Allaah from such.
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