The Calamities That Befall a Person: Punishment or Test
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
We begin this session with you by reading this message sent by Khalid al-Shamri from Riyadh. He asks: Are the illnesses and calamities that befall the son of Adam a punishment from Allah, or a test for His servant?
Answer:
Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, the calamities that befall the servants contain a great divine wisdom. They may be a punishment and destruction, refuge with Allah, and this is the case for disbelievers and those who associate partners with Allah. They may also be a purification and expiation, and this is the case for the believers. Indeed, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, sends calamities upon them because of their sins,[Ash-Shuraa 42:30], and He forgives much. Thus, it serves as a warning for them so that they repent to Allah and return to Him. [Ar-Rum 30:41].
It also serves as an expiation for their evil deeds; Allah expiates their evil deeds through it. It may also be an elevation in their ranks, for Allah may assign a rank in Paradise for a servant that he does not attain through his deeds, so He decrees these calamities for him to elevate his ranks. Thus, they contain great wisdoms. Calamities do not come without benefit and without wisdom, for this contradicts the wisdom of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Nothing happens except that it has a divine wisdom. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
We begin this session with you by reading this message sent by Khalid al-Shamri from Riyadh. He asks: Are the illnesses and calamities that befall the son of Adam a punishment from Allah, or a test for His servant?
Answer:
Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, the calamities that befall the servants contain a great divine wisdom. They may be a punishment and destruction, refuge with Allah, and this is the case for disbelievers and those who associate partners with Allah. They may also be a purification and expiation, and this is the case for the believers. Indeed, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, sends calamities upon them because of their sins,
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned
وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْCorruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَIt also serves as an expiation for their evil deeds; Allah expiates their evil deeds through it. It may also be an elevation in their ranks, for Allah may assign a rank in Paradise for a servant that he does not attain through his deeds, so He decrees these calamities for him to elevate his ranks. Thus, they contain great wisdoms. Calamities do not come without benefit and without wisdom, for this contradicts the wisdom of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Nothing happens except that it has a divine wisdom. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/193 — archive.org (1:05)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.