What is the difference between the calamity that occurs and serves as expiation for sins and the calamity that is a warning from Allah?
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The questioner : I say, O Shaykh, regarding the calamity that befalls a Muslim, how does one distinguish between it being a means of expiating sins and raising one’s rank, and it being a warning from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) for the person?
The Shaykh : First: It must be known that Allah said in the Book:[Ash-Shuraa 42:30].
The calamities that befall Muslims are due to what their hands have earned. The specific calamities that befall a person fall under two categories: either they are due to what his hand has done, in which case he is punished for the sin in this world, and the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter; or they are for the purpose of testing him so that he reaches the degree of perfection in patience.
Because a person is in one of two states: either prosperity, in which his duty is gratitude, or adversity, in which his duty is patience. A person does not reach the degree of patience except through something upon which he exercises patience.
For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was tested more than others, to the extent that he would fall ill as two of us would fall ill, and it was intensified upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) at the time of death for the sake of raising his rank through the station of patience.
So a person is tested with a specific trial, either because of sins he committed, in which case Allah expiates them for him through this calamity, and the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter. For this reason, some people, when they commit sins and then calamities and trials befall them, they thank Allah for this, because they say, “Allah knew of my sin, so He punished me in this world before the Hereafter, and the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter.” So they consider that a blessing for which they thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And when a person is struck by a trial, he has three states, or rather four states:
Either he complains with his heart or his limbs, tearing his clothes, pulling out his hair, and slapping his cheeks, and he feels in his heart that he is dissatisfied with his Lord, may Allah protect us from that. This is in the lowest of the ranks, and this is a sinner from whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) disavowed himself, saying:Sunan an-Nasa'i 1862Sahih (Darussalam).
Or he exercises patience and seeks reward from Allah, despite his dislike of what happened. This is one who has fulfilled the obligatory duty; he has fulfilled the obligatory duty, and he has the reward of the patient. And if he seeks the reward from Allah, then the patient are paid their reward without reckoning.
The third is a state more perfect than patience, which is contentment. Contentment is more perfect than patience. The patient is dissatisfied with the trial, but he is patient. The one who is content finds both matters equal regarding the decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and he says to himself, “Allah did not decree this for me except for good.” So he is completely content, and his state is not affected at all, neither by his heart nor by his limbs.
The fourth is the station of gratitude. How does one thank Allah for a calamity? We say that its aspect is what I mentioned to you a moment ago: if he has committed sins, he knows that this is a punishment for his sins, so he thanks Allah for hastening the punishment for him in this world, which is easier than it being in the Hereafter. Then he thanks Allah for the fact that if he is content and patient, it is better for him, so he thanks Allah for that. Yes.
The Shaykh : First: It must be known that Allah said in the Book:
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
وما أصابكم من مصيبة فبما كسبت أيديكم ويعفو عن كثيرThe calamities that befall Muslims are due to what their hands have earned. The specific calamities that befall a person fall under two categories: either they are due to what his hand has done, in which case he is punished for the sin in this world, and the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter; or they are for the purpose of testing him so that he reaches the degree of perfection in patience.
Because a person is in one of two states: either prosperity, in which his duty is gratitude, or adversity, in which his duty is patience. A person does not reach the degree of patience except through something upon which he exercises patience.
For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was tested more than others, to the extent that he would fall ill as two of us would fall ill, and it was intensified upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) at the time of death for the sake of raising his rank through the station of patience.
So a person is tested with a specific trial, either because of sins he committed, in which case Allah expiates them for him through this calamity, and the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter. For this reason, some people, when they commit sins and then calamities and trials befall them, they thank Allah for this, because they say, “Allah knew of my sin, so He punished me in this world before the Hereafter, and the punishment of this world is easier than the punishment of the Hereafter.” So they consider that a blessing for which they thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And when a person is struck by a trial, he has three states, or rather four states:
Either he complains with his heart or his limbs, tearing his clothes, pulling out his hair, and slapping his cheeks, and he feels in his heart that he is dissatisfied with his Lord, may Allah protect us from that. This is in the lowest of the ranks, and this is a sinner from whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) disavowed himself, saying:
He is not one of us who strikes his cheeks, rends his garment, and calls the calls of the Jahiliyyah.
ليس منا من ضرب الخدود وشق الجيوب ودعا بدعوى الجاهليةOr he exercises patience and seeks reward from Allah, despite his dislike of what happened. This is one who has fulfilled the obligatory duty; he has fulfilled the obligatory duty, and he has the reward of the patient. And if he seeks the reward from Allah, then the patient are paid their reward without reckoning.
The third is a state more perfect than patience, which is contentment. Contentment is more perfect than patience. The patient is dissatisfied with the trial, but he is patient. The one who is content finds both matters equal regarding the decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and he says to himself, “Allah did not decree this for me except for good.” So he is completely content, and his state is not affected at all, neither by his heart nor by his limbs.
The fourth is the station of gratitude. How does one thank Allah for a calamity? We say that its aspect is what I mentioned to you a moment ago: if he has committed sins, he knows that this is a punishment for his sins, so he thanks Allah for hastening the punishment for him in this world, which is easier than it being in the Hereafter. Then he thanks Allah for the fact that if he is content and patient, it is better for him, so he thanks Allah for that. Yes.