The Wisdom of Trials and Calamities.
Sheikh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'Alameen. May
peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
There is
always a great wisdom or hikmah behind the incidents of calamities that took
place and happened to mankind, which includes the following:
1 – To
Attain True Submission And Servitude (‘Ubudiyyah) To Allāh, The Lord Of The
Worlds.
Many people are sometime becoming the slaves of their whims and desires and so much so may lead to not attain as a true slaves of Allāh. They say that they are servants of Allāh, but when they are tested they turn on their heels and lose out in this world and in the Hereafter, and that is an evident loss.
Allāh the Exalted says:
“And among mankind is he who worships Allāh as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss”
[Al-Hajj, 22:11]
Many people are sometime becoming the slaves of their whims and desires and so much so may lead to not attain as a true slaves of Allāh. They say that they are servants of Allāh, but when they are tested they turn on their heels and lose out in this world and in the Hereafter, and that is an evident loss.
Allāh the Exalted says:
“And among mankind is he who worships Allāh as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss”
[Al-Hajj, 22:11]
2 – Trials
Prepare The Believers To Prevail On Earth.
It was said to Imam al-Shafi’ie (may Allāh have mercy on him): Which is better, patience or tests or prevailing? He said: Prevailing is the level attained by the Prophets, and there can be no prevailing except after trials. If a person is tried he will become patient, and if he remains patient he will prevail.
3 – The
Expiation Of Sins.
Abu Hurairah (may Allāh be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:
“Trials will continue to befall the believing man or woman in himself, his child and his wealth until he meets Allāh with no sin on him.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidzi (2399), classed as sahih by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 2280.]
It was narrated that Anas (may Allāh be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)
“When Allāh wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allāh wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him his sin until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Narrated by al-Tirmidzi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah (1220)].
4 –The
Attainment Of Reward And A Rise In Status.
‘Aishah (may Allāh be pleased with her) narrated: The Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:
“The believer is not harmed by a thorn or anything greater, but Allāh will raise him in status thereby, or erase a sin thereby.”
[Muslim (2572)]
‘Aishah (may Allāh be pleased with her) narrated: The Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:
“The believer is not harmed by a thorn or anything greater, but Allāh will raise him in status thereby, or erase a sin thereby.”
[Muslim (2572)]
5 –
Calamities Provide An Opportunity To Think About One's Faults And Shortcomings
And Past Mistakes.
If it is a punishment, what was the sin?
6 –
Calamity Is A Lesson In Tawhid, Faith And Trust In Allāh.
It shows you in a practical sense what you really are, so you will realize that you are a weak slave, and you have no strength and no power except with your Lord, then you will put your trust in Him in a true sense, and will turn to Him in a true sense, and put aside your position, pride, arrogance, self-admiration and heedlessness, and you will understand that you are poor and in need of your Lord, and you are weak and need to turn to the Most Strong, the Almighty, may He be glorified.
Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Were it not that Allāh treats His slaves with the remedy of trials and calamities, they would transgress and overstep the mark. When Allāh wills good for His slaves, He gives him the medicine of calamities and trials according to his situation, so as to cure him from all fatal illnesses and diseases, until He purifies and cleanses him, and then makes him qualified for the most honourable position in this world, which is that of being a true slave of Allāh (‘ubudiyyah), and for the greatest reward in the Hereafter, which is that of seeing Him and being close to Him." [Zaad al-Ma’ad, 4/195]
It shows you in a practical sense what you really are, so you will realize that you are a weak slave, and you have no strength and no power except with your Lord, then you will put your trust in Him in a true sense, and will turn to Him in a true sense, and put aside your position, pride, arrogance, self-admiration and heedlessness, and you will understand that you are poor and in need of your Lord, and you are weak and need to turn to the Most Strong, the Almighty, may He be glorified.
Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Were it not that Allāh treats His slaves with the remedy of trials and calamities, they would transgress and overstep the mark. When Allāh wills good for His slaves, He gives him the medicine of calamities and trials according to his situation, so as to cure him from all fatal illnesses and diseases, until He purifies and cleanses him, and then makes him qualified for the most honourable position in this world, which is that of being a true slave of Allāh (‘ubudiyyah), and for the greatest reward in the Hereafter, which is that of seeing Him and being close to Him." [Zaad al-Ma’ad, 4/195]
7 –
Calamities Would Remove the Self-Admiration from Our Hearts And Bring Them
Closer To Allāh.
Ibn Hajar said: Yunus ibn Bukair narrated in Ziyadat al-Maghazi that Al-Rabee’ Ibn Anas said: A man said on the day of Hunayn: “We will never be defeated today for lack of numbers.” That upset the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and then they were defeated.
Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’ad (3/477):
In His wisdom, Allāh decreed that the Muslims should first taste the bitterness of defeat, despite their great numbers and adequate equipment and strength, so as to humble some people who felt proud as a result of the conquest of Makkah and who had not entered His land and His sanctuary as the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) had entered it, bending his head whilst riding his horse to the extent that his chin almost touched the saddle, out of humbleness before his Lord.
Allāh says: “And that Allāh may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers”[Ali- ‘Imran, 3:141]
Al-Qasim (4/239) said: “It is to cleanse them and purify them of sin and of pride and arrogance. He also cleanses them of the hypocrites, and make them stand out distinct from them… then He mentions another reason, which is “to destroy the disbelievers”, for if they prevail they will transgress and overstep the mark, which will be the cause of their downfall and destruction. The laws of Allāh dictate that when He wants to destroy His enemies and erase them, he makes available to them the means which will lead to their doom and eradication, among the greatest of which, after their kufur, is their transgression and tyranny in persecuting, opposing and fighting His close friends… Allāh destroyed those who waged war against the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) on the day of Uhud and persisted in kufur. "
Ibn Hajar said: Yunus ibn Bukair narrated in Ziyadat al-Maghazi that Al-Rabee’ Ibn Anas said: A man said on the day of Hunayn: “We will never be defeated today for lack of numbers.” That upset the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and then they were defeated.
Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’ad (3/477):
In His wisdom, Allāh decreed that the Muslims should first taste the bitterness of defeat, despite their great numbers and adequate equipment and strength, so as to humble some people who felt proud as a result of the conquest of Makkah and who had not entered His land and His sanctuary as the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) had entered it, bending his head whilst riding his horse to the extent that his chin almost touched the saddle, out of humbleness before his Lord.
Allāh says: “And that Allāh may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers”[Ali- ‘Imran, 3:141]
Al-Qasim (4/239) said: “It is to cleanse them and purify them of sin and of pride and arrogance. He also cleanses them of the hypocrites, and make them stand out distinct from them… then He mentions another reason, which is “to destroy the disbelievers”, for if they prevail they will transgress and overstep the mark, which will be the cause of their downfall and destruction. The laws of Allāh dictate that when He wants to destroy His enemies and erase them, he makes available to them the means which will lead to their doom and eradication, among the greatest of which, after their kufur, is their transgression and tyranny in persecuting, opposing and fighting His close friends… Allāh destroyed those who waged war against the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) on the day of Uhud and persisted in kufur. "
8 – To
Demonstrate The True Nature Of People, For There Are People Whose Virtue Is
Unknown Until Calamity Strikes?
Al-Fudail ibn ‘Iyad said: As long as people are doing fine, their true nature is concealed, but when calamity strikes, their true natures are revealed, so the believer resorts to his faith and the hypocrite resorts to his hypocrisy.
Al-Baihaqi narrated in al-Dala’il that Abu Salamah said: Many people were confused – i.e., after the Isra’ – and some people came to Abu Bakar and told him. He said: “I bear witness that he is telling the truth.” They said: “Do you believe that he went to Syria in one night then came back to Makkah?” He said: “Yes, and I believe him in more than that, I believe what he says of the Revelation that comes to him from heaven.” And because of that he was named al-Siddiq.
Al-Fudail ibn ‘Iyad said: As long as people are doing fine, their true nature is concealed, but when calamity strikes, their true natures are revealed, so the believer resorts to his faith and the hypocrite resorts to his hypocrisy.
Al-Baihaqi narrated in al-Dala’il that Abu Salamah said: Many people were confused – i.e., after the Isra’ – and some people came to Abu Bakar and told him. He said: “I bear witness that he is telling the truth.” They said: “Do you believe that he went to Syria in one night then came back to Makkah?” He said: “Yes, and I believe him in more than that, I believe what he says of the Revelation that comes to him from heaven.” And because of that he was named al-Siddiq.
9 –
Calamities Would Strengthen People’s Resolve.
Allāh chose for His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) a hard life filled with all kinds of hardship from a young age, in order to prepare him for the great mission that awaited him, which none could bear but the strongest of men, who have gone through hardship and who are tested with calamities and bear them with patience.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was born an orphan, and then it was not long before his mother died too.
Allāh reminded the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) of that when He said:
“Did He not find you O Muhammad) an orphan and give you a refuge?” [Al-Duha, 93:6]
It is as if Allāh wanted to prepare the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) to bear responsibility and endure hardship from an early age.
Allāh chose for His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) a hard life filled with all kinds of hardship from a young age, in order to prepare him for the great mission that awaited him, which none could bear but the strongest of men, who have gone through hardship and who are tested with calamities and bear them with patience.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was born an orphan, and then it was not long before his mother died too.
Allāh reminded the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) of that when He said:
“Did He not find you O Muhammad) an orphan and give you a refuge?” [Al-Duha, 93:6]
It is as if Allāh wanted to prepare the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) to bear responsibility and endure hardship from an early age.
10 –
Calamities And Hardship Makes Enables A Person To Distinguish Between True
Friends And Friends Who With Self-Interest At Heart.
11 –
Calamities Remind You Of Your Sins So That You Can Repent From Them.
Allāh says: “Whatever of good reaches you is from Allāh, but whatever of evil befalls you is from yourself” [Al-Nisa’4:79]
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much” [Al-Shura 42:30]
Calamities offer an opportunity to repent before the greater punishment comes on the Day of Resurrection.
Allāh says:
“And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam)”
[Al-Sajdah, 32:21]
The “near torment” is hardship in this world and bad things that happen to a person.
If life continues to be easy, a person may become conceited and arrogant, and think that he has no need of Allāh, so by His mercy He tests people so that they may return to Him.
12 – Calamities Illustrate You The True Nature Of This World And Its Transience.
This world is temporary conveniences, and shows us that true life is that which is beyond this world, in a life in which there is no sickness or exhaustion.
“Verily, the home of the Hereafter that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew”
[al-‘Ankabut, 29:64]
But in this life one may face hardship and exhaustion.
“Verily, We have created man in toil” [al-Balad, 90:4]
Allāh says: “Whatever of good reaches you is from Allāh, but whatever of evil befalls you is from yourself” [Al-Nisa’4:79]
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much” [Al-Shura 42:30]
Calamities offer an opportunity to repent before the greater punishment comes on the Day of Resurrection.
Allāh says:
“And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam)”
[Al-Sajdah, 32:21]
The “near torment” is hardship in this world and bad things that happen to a person.
If life continues to be easy, a person may become conceited and arrogant, and think that he has no need of Allāh, so by His mercy He tests people so that they may return to Him.
12 – Calamities Illustrate You The True Nature Of This World And Its Transience.
This world is temporary conveniences, and shows us that true life is that which is beyond this world, in a life in which there is no sickness or exhaustion.
“Verily, the home of the Hereafter that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew”
[al-‘Ankabut, 29:64]
But in this life one may face hardship and exhaustion.
“Verily, We have created man in toil” [al-Balad, 90:4]
13 –
Calamities Remind You Of The Great Blessings Of Good Health And Ease.
This calamity shows you in the clearest way the meaning of health and ease that you enjoyed for many years, but did not taste their sweetness or appreciate them fully.
Calamities remind you of blessings and the One Who bestows them, and causes you to thank and praise Allāh for His blessings.
This calamity shows you in the clearest way the meaning of health and ease that you enjoyed for many years, but did not taste their sweetness or appreciate them fully.
Calamities remind you of blessings and the One Who bestows them, and causes you to thank and praise Allāh for His blessings.
14 –
Longing for Paradise.
You will never long for Paradise until you taste the bitterness of this world. How can you long for Paradise when you are content with this world?
This is some of the wisdom behind calamities, and the interests attained by them, and the wisdom of Allāh is great indeed.
And Allāh Almighty knows best.
You will never long for Paradise until you taste the bitterness of this world. How can you long for Paradise when you are content with this world?
This is some of the wisdom behind calamities, and the interests attained by them, and the wisdom of Allāh is great indeed.
And Allāh Almighty knows best.
[Via Islam Q&A]
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