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
*
**CONCLUSION*
If the calamity befalls us and we pass it in reality (by observing the
proper manners) then we have learnt the lessons. The Salaf رحمهم الله were
in a much better state than us regarding (their handling of) tests and
trials. We have in them magnificent examples of patience, perseverance and
anticipation of reward from Allaah سبحانه وتعالى.
It is reported from `Umar رضي الله عنه that he used to praise Allaah سبحانه
وتعالى for tests and trials and when asked about it he said, *“I was not
touched by testing except that Allaah bestowed on me four favours: that it
wasn’t a test in my Deen, that it was not greater than me, that it was not
greater than what befell me, and that I was not deprived of being contented
and patient, and that I hope for the reward from Allaah.” *
We should not forget that in the test there is a reward and that this cannot
be attained *except* with patience, and patience cannot be attained except
with a strong will and faith. We should not forget to remember Allaah and be
thankful for His favours and be patient upon His tests and trials. Let this
be a sincere and hidden matter between us and our Rabb (Lord) سبحانه وتعالى
because He Knows and He Sees and He is more Merciful to us than we and all
mankind are to ourselves, so we should turn our affair to Him.
As a poet said, *“If you complain to the son of Adam it is as if you are
complaining to the one who has no mercy towards you.”* We should remember
that if we are touched by a calamity we should be thankful to Allaah that He
did not touch us with something more intense, and far greater, and that
whatever befalls us was not going to miss us and whatever missed us was not
going to befall us.
The magnitude of the reward is proportional to the magnitude of the test. To
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى is that which He gives and to Him is that which He
takes. The complaints and discontent are not going to help you. Rather, it
will magnify your calamity and will cause you to miss the reward and subject
you to being held as sinful.
Let each of us remember that no matter how great the magnitude of the
calamity that may befall us, it will never reach the intensity of the
calamity which touched the entire Ummah – the loss of the beloved one,
Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, who reminded us by saying, *“If anyone of you
is touched by a calamity let him remember the calamity that befell him
concerning me, for indeed it is the greatest calamity.”*[13] It is reported
by al-Bayhaqi and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله.
When touched by a calamity we should remember to say:
إنّا لِلَّهِ وإنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ؛ اللَّهُمَّ أجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتي
وأخْلِفْ لي خَيْراً مِنْها
Verily we belong to Allaah and to Him we shall return. O Allaah help me in
my calamity and bring me something better in return. [14]
We should not despair of the Mercy of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى no matter what
calamity befalls us, no matter what its magnitude or how intense it is
because Allaah سبحانه وتعالى stated in Surah ash-Sharh, verses 5–6:
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً {5} إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً
*{Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every
hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs,
so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs).}* [Ash-Sharh 94:5–6]
Verily with hardship there is relief and *“one hardship cannot beat two
reliefs”* as `Umar رضي الله عنه stated.
We should not forget the favour of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى if He restores to
you your state of wellbeing and soundness, lest we become from those whom
Allaah mentioned in surah az-Zumar, verse 8:
وَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنسَانَ ضُرٌّ دَعَا رَبَّهُ مُنِيبًا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا
خَوَّلَهُ نِعْمَةً مِّنْهُ نَسِيَ مَا كَانَ يَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ مِن قَبْلُ
وَجَعَلَ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ قُلْ تَمَتَّعْ
بِكُفْرِكَ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ
*{And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allaah Alone),
turning to Him in repentance. But when He bestows a favour upon him from
Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up
rivals to Allaah, in order to mislead others from His path. Say: "Take
pleasure in your disbelief for a while, surely, you are (one) of the
dwellers of the Fire!"}* [az-Zumar 39:8]
We should not forget that the tests, calamities and trials remind us of an
Hour that is surely coming and of a time which will end. This life is not an
endless abode and therefore we must work for our Hereafter. In the end, the
reminder and the glad tidings are found in the same verse which we first
spoke about:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ
الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ {155}
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا
إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ {156} أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ
وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
*{And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of
wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the
patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly, to Allaah we
belong and truly, to Him we shall return." They are those on whom are the
Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and
(they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided
ones.}* [Al-Baqarah 2:155–157]
We ask Allaah سبحانه وتعالى to make us of those who when afflicted with a
calamity truly remember and manifest the saying of Allaah: *Innaa lillaahi
wa innaa ilayhi raaji`oon.* asking Him to help us in our calamities, tests
and trials, to be able to persevere patiently, to overcome, and to ask His
reward and anticipate the reward from Him سبحانه وتعالى, and to compensate
us with that which is better.
All Praise is due to Allaah, and may the salaah and salaam be on Prophet
Muhammad, his household, the noble Companions and those who follow them
until the Day of Resurrection.
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