Patience in the face of affliction and encouragement thereof
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Question: What is the ruling on [not] forbidding what is wrong? Is it sufficient to be patient with the affliction? And what is the authenticity of the hadiths regarding the encouragement of patience in the face of affliction?
Answer: Not forbidding what is wrong is not part of patience in the face of affliction. The obligatory thing when afflicted with wrongdoings is to forbid them by hand, or by tongue, or by heart, according to one’s ability, based on the saying of Allah, the Exalted:[At-Tawbah 9:71] the verse [at-Tawbah: 71]. And it is not permissible for Muslims to be lenient in forbidding wrongdoings, whether that is in the home, on the road, or elsewhere.
As for the hadiths regarding patience in the face of affliction, they are numerous. Among them is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): This hadith is authentic. And among them is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), for example: Sahih Muslim 2999 Narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih from Suhayb ibn Sinan (may Allah be pleased with him).
And Allah, the Exalted, said in His Noble Book:[Al-Baqarah 2:155] AND GIVE GOOD NEWS TO THE PATIENT, WHO, WHEN A CALAMITY STRIKES THEM, SAY, “INDEED WE BELONG TO ALLAH, AND TO HIM WE RETURN.” THOSE ARE THE ONES UPON WHOM ARE BLESSINGS FROM THEIR LORD AND MERCY, AND IT IS THOSE WHO ARE THE GUIDED. [al-Baqarah: 155 - 157]. And He, the Exalted, said: [az-Zumar: 10]. The verses and hadiths on this matter are numerous. We ask Allah to make us and our brothers among the patient, for He is Generous and Bountiful.
And among what has been transmitted in the hadiths regarding patience in the face of affliction is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad from Abu Hurayrah.
Some people think that the one who is afflicted with illnesses and the like is one upon whom Allah is angry, but that is not the case! Indeed, the one who is most noble to Allah and most beloved to Him, such as the prophets and messengers and others among the righteous, may be afflicted with illness and calamities, as mentioned earlier in his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 54:5 the hadith. And as happened to our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah, on the Day of Uhud, in the Battle of the Confederates, and at his death (peace and blessings be upon him). And as happened to the Prophet of Allah, Ayyub (peace be upon him), and to the Prophet of Allah, Yunus (peace be upon him). This is to elevate their status and magnify their rewards, and so that they may be a good example for those afflicted after them.
And a person may be afflicted with prosperity, such as great wealth, women, and children, and the like. So it is not befitting for him to think that by that he is beloved to Allah if he is not upright in His obedience. Indeed, the one who is given that may be beloved, and he may be hated. Circumstances differ, and love with Allah is not by status, children, wealth, or positions. Rather, love with Allah is by righteous deeds, mindfulness of Allah, turning to Him, and fulfilling His right. And whoever is most complete in mindfulness of Allah is most beloved to Allah.
And it has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: So whoever is afflicted with disbelief and sins, this is evidence that he is hated by Allah according to his state.
Then also, the affliction may be a means of luring (istidraj). One may be afflicted with blessings by which he is lured until he falls into evil and into what is worse than his previous state. Allah, the Exalted, said: [al-Qalam: 44 - 45]. It was narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Then he recited His saying, the Exalted: [al-An'am: 44], meaning they are despairing of all good, refuge with Allah.
And He, Glorious and Exalted, said:[Al-Mu'minun 23:55] WE HURRY THEM TOWARD THE GOOD DEEDS, BUT THEY ARE NOT AWARE. [al-Mu'minun: 55 - 56].
And people may be afflicted with illnesses and diseases and the like, not out of hatred, but for a profound wisdom, among which is the raising of ranks and the removal of sins, as explained earlier.
Answer: Not forbidding what is wrong is not part of patience in the face of affliction. The obligatory thing when afflicted with wrongdoings is to forbid them by hand, or by tongue, or by heart, according to one’s ability, based on the saying of Allah, the Exalted:
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِAs for the hadiths regarding patience in the face of affliction, they are numerous. Among them is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
The most severe of people in affliction are the prophets, then the righteous, then the most excellent, then the most excellent.
أشد الناس بلاء الأنبياء، ثم الصالحون، ثم الأمثل فالأمثلStrange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.
عجبا لأمر المؤمن! إن أمره كله له خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن؛ إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيرًا له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيرًا لهAnd Allah, the Exalted, said in His Noble Book:
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍAnd among what has been transmitted in the hadiths regarding patience in the face of affliction is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Affliction will continue to befall the believing man and the believing woman in his or her body, or in his or her wealth, or in his or her child, until he or she meets Allah, the Exalted, with no sin upon him or her.
لا يزال البلاء بالمؤمن والمؤمنة في جسده أو في ماله أو في ولده حتى يلقى الله سبحانه وما عليه خطيئةSome people think that the one who is afflicted with illnesses and the like is one upon whom Allah is angry, but that is not the case! Indeed, the one who is most noble to Allah and most beloved to Him, such as the prophets and messengers and others among the righteous, may be afflicted with illness and calamities, as mentioned earlier in his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
The most severe of people in affliction are the prophets...
أشد الناس بلاء الأنبياء...And a person may be afflicted with prosperity, such as great wealth, women, and children, and the like. So it is not befitting for him to think that by that he is beloved to Allah if he is not upright in His obedience. Indeed, the one who is given that may be beloved, and he may be hated. Circumstances differ, and love with Allah is not by status, children, wealth, or positions. Rather, love with Allah is by righteous deeds, mindfulness of Allah, turning to Him, and fulfilling His right. And whoever is most complete in mindfulness of Allah is most beloved to Allah.
And it has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Indeed, Allah gives the worldly life to whom He loves and to whom He does not love, and He only gives faith and religion to whom He loves. So whoever Allah gives religion to, He loves him.
إن الله يعطي الدنيا من يحب ومن لا يحب، وإنما يعطي الإيمان والدين من أحب فمن أعطاه الله الدين فقد أحبهThen also, the affliction may be a means of luring (istidraj). One may be afflicted with blessings by which he is lured until he falls into evil and into what is worse than his previous state. Allah, the Exalted, said:
We will progressively lead them [to destruction] from where they do not know. (183) And I will give them time. Indeed, my plan is firm.
سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَعْلَمُونَ * وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌWhen you see Allah giving the servant what he loves while he is in disobedience, know that it is only a luring (istidraj).
إذا رأيت الله يعطي العبد ما يحب على معصيته فاعلم أنما هو استدراجSo when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.
فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُمْ بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْلِسُونَAnd He, Glorious and Exalted, said:
Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ And people may be afflicted with illnesses and diseases and the like, not out of hatred, but for a profound wisdom, among which is the raising of ranks and the removal of sins, as explained earlier.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.