The interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And whatever strikes you of calamity is for what your hands have earned”

Question:
In the saying of Allah the Exalted and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the most severely tested of people are the prophets, and the hadith, and in the hadith he tested him. He says: The verse indicates that calamities are due to sins, and the hadith indicates that the prophets... but the prophets are the furthest of people from sins, and yet they are the most severely tested of people. How do you reconcile these?

Answer:
My brother, calamities are either an expiation for sins or a raising of ranks. What befalls the prophets and the sincere believers is a raising of their ranks. A believing person may have a station in Paradise that he does not reach through his deeds, so Allah tests him with calamities so that he may attain that station with Him. Yes. May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. The calamities... he is patient and thus reaches that high station in Paradise. Yes.