Tests for the Believers: Fluctuations of
Life
A persons life in
this world is not stable. One passes through alternating
periods of happiness and dismay, strength and weakness. wealth
and poverty, health and sickness etc. A true believer is one
who maintains a clear level of Eemaan (Faith) throughout the
worldly 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 (SAW) 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 certainly, We shall test you with something of fear,
hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings
to As-Sābirin (the patient ones, etc.). (2:155)
Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allāh we
belong and truly, to Him we shall return." (2:157)
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 involvement in the worldly life. For a believer, on
the other hand, they are instances of rest and remembrance,
tests that promise great rewards, and indications of atonement
and expiation of sins. Regardless of how little is the harm
that strikes a believer, it carries with it good news of
forgiveness and elevated rank ( in Jannah {Paradise} ). The
Righteous Predecessors used to be pleased when a hardship
afflicted them, seeing it as a token of Allah's forgiveness and
benevolence.
Expiations of Sins
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet 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 (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: "
Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to
adversity" [Bukharee and others ]
Sign of Eeman (Faith)
Abu Hurayrah (RA) and Ka'b Bin Maalik (RA) reported that the
Prophet (SAW) 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 (RA) reported that the
Prophet (SAW) 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 (strength of their
Religion). If his deen is firm (strong) 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 (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " When Allah
wills good for a servant of His, He expedites (hasten/speed up)
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 (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) 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 ]
Rewards for Sickness
One should not look to sickness as a gloomy episode, but should
remember the great good in it. It is one form of affliction
with which Allah (SWT) tests His 'ibaad (servants), giving them
a chance to acquire rewards, as was explained above, as is
further emphasized below.
Removal of Sins and Elevation in Ranks
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: "
Whenever a Muslim is afflicted by harm from sickness or other
matters, Allah will drop his sins because of that, like a tree
drops its leaves." [Bukharee and Muslim ]
Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW)
said: " A Muslim is not afflicted by hardship, sickness,
sadness, worry, harm, or depression - even if pricked by a
thorn, but Allah expiates his sins because of that. " [
Bukharee and Muslim ]
Sa'eed said, " I was with Salmaan (RA) when he visited a sick
man in Kindah ( in Persia ), and he said to him: " Expect good
because Allah (SWT) makes a believers sickness an expiation
(for his sins) and a period of rest. However, when a
disbeliever falls sick, he is like a camel whose owner ties it
then lets it loose - it does not understand why it was tied nor
why it was freed."" [ Bukharee ]
'Aishah (RA) narrated that once some pain afflicted the Prophet
(SAW) causing him to suffer and turn about in his bed. she
said: " Had one of us done this, you would have blamed him." He
(SAW) replied: " An ailment is intensified for the righteous.
whenever a believer is afflicted by a hardship, whether it is a
thorn or more, a sin is taken off (forgiven) from him because
of it, and he is elevated by one rank (in Jannah) {every moment
where they are suffering from any type of pain, mental or
physical}.. " [Ahmad ]
Retaining Rewards for Deeds Before Sickness
Usually, when a believer falls sick, he would not be able to do
the same amount of good (prayer, fasting, helping Muslims etc)
that he used to do when he was well. But Allah out of His great
mercy, continues to record for him the good deeds that he was
forced to stop because of his sickness. Abu Moosa Al-Ash'aree
narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: " For a traveling or sick
person, his deeds will be recorded in accordance with what he
used to do when he was resident or well." [Bukharee ]
'Abdullah Bin 'Amr reported that the Prophet said: " No
(believing) person gets sick, but (his deeds) will be recorded
for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was
well." [ Bukharee ]
Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " No Muslims
body is afflicted by Allah, but He will record (his deeds) for
him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well - as
long as he is sick. Thus, if He takes his life, He forgives
him; and if He cures him, He washes him (from sins)." [
Bukharee ]
'Uqbah Bin 'Aamir reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Each
days deeds are sealed with it. thus, when a believer gets sick,
the angels say, " Our lord! Your servant such and such, You
have restrained him (from doing good this day)." And the lord
replies, " Seal his day in accordance with his (usual) deeds,
until he is cured or dies". [Ahmad]
Reason for the Reward
'Atta Bin Rabaah reported that Ibn 'Abbaas (RA) told him, "Do
you want to see a woman from the people of Jannah (paradise)?"
He said "Yes". He said: " It is this black woman. She came to
the Prophet (SAW) saying, " I have (epileptic) seizures, and I
get exposed, so supplicate to Allah for me." He (SAW) said: "
If you wish, be patient and you will attain Jannah; or if you
wish, I will ask Allah to cure you."
She replied, " I will be patient ! But my body gets exposed
(because of the fall), so supplicate to Allah for me that I do
not become exposed." and he (SAW) did." [ Bukharee and Muslim ]
The scholars have differed in opinion as to whether a sick
person will be rewarded for the sickness itself or for being
patient during it. the correct opinion is that if he is patient
and submits to Allah's will, as in the above hadeeth, he would
be rewarded for both the submission and the sickness,
otherwise, he would not be rewarded at all; because he resented
Allah's decree. This is what should be understood from Ibn
hajar al -'Asqalaanees words:
" The authentic hadeeths are clear in that the rewards are
recorded once affliction strikes a Muslim. As for patience and
acceptance, they are virtues for which a person may get
additional rewards over those for the affliction."
'Abdullah Bin 'Amr reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " If a
Muslim is pricked by (as little as) a thorn in the worldly
life, and he seeks its reward from Allah, some of his sins will
be removed, because of it, on the Day of Judgement." [ Bukharee
]
Verily, Allāh has purchased
of the believers their lives and their properties; for the
price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allāh's
Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in
truth which is binding on Him in the Taurāt (Torah) and the
Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur'ān. And who is truer to his
covenant than Allāh? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have
concluded. That is the supreme success. (9:111)