The Severity of a Believer’s Afflictions

“I heard Abu Jafar (a.s) say “In the decree of Allah ﷻ , there is nothing but good for a believer”

“For a muslim, whatever Allah ﷻ has decreed is good, and if he comes to possess all that is in the East and West,it will be good for him.” Then, he recited this verse “So, Allah protected him from the evil of their plot” [40:45]. Then he (al-Sadiq) said “By Allah, they overpowered him (i.e. the one intended in the previous Holy Verse) and killed him but what Allah protected him from was being overcome in his faith.”

“If a believer knew what reward lies for him in suffering tribulations, he would wish he could be cut into pieces with a scissor.”

I was with Abu Ja'far (a.s) when Jamil al-Azraq came by to visit. They began talking about the afflictions of the Shi'ah and their tribulations; and Abu Ja'far (a.s) said: A group of people came to 'Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s) and 'Abd Allah ibn 'Abbas and asked them some questions similar to what you have put forth. So, they came to Al-Husayn ibn 'Ali (a.s) and asked him about the matter. Al-Husayn (a.s) said: 'By Allah (I swear), afflictions, poverty and being killed comes more swiftly to those who love us than racing horses or a torrential stream (rushing) to its end. And if that were not the case, we would deem you as not being one of us’.

I was seated with the Commander of the Faithful (a.s) when a man came to him and said: “By Allah, I love you (for the sake of Allah).” “You have spoken the truth”, 'Ali replied, “our essence is a treasure that Allah took a promise of from the progeny of Adam; therefore, be prepared to clothe yourself with poverty, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (a.s) saying: 'Ali: by Allah (I swear), poverty comes faster to those who love you than a river flowing to the bottom of a valley.”

I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (al-Sadiq) (a.s) saying: “There are more devils on a believer (trying to misguide him) than flies on a piece of meat.”

“Any Muslim servant, who is tried by Allah with a misfortune and bears patience, will receive the reward of one thousand martyrs.”

“Anyone of our Shi'ah who is afflicted by Allah with a trial and bears it with patience shall have the reward of one thousand martyrs.”

Out of what Allah revealed to Musa (Prophet Moses) (a.s) is the following: O Musa! I have not created a creation more beloved to Me than My believing servant. For verily I try him with what is good for him, I bestow on him what is good for him and I remove from him what is good for him. For I know better what is more proper for My servant. Therefore, let him be patient over My trials, be pleased with My decrees and give thanks for My blessings. I shall record him amongst the truthful ones with Me when he acts according to My pleasure and obeys My command.

Prophet Musa (a.s), son of 'Imran, had a brother-in-faith whom he cared for, loved and respected. A man once came to this friend of Musa (a.s) and asked him to intercede on his behalf with a tyrant who happened to be a king of the Israelites. 'By Allah, I do not know him and have never asked him for a favor,' friend of Musa replied. 'What have you to lose,' the man persisted, 'Perhaps; Allah will fulfill my need through you.' So, he went off with the man without Musa's knowledge and approached the tyrannical king. When the tyrant saw him, he drew him close and showed him utmost respect. The latter asked the king for the man's favor and it was granted. Shortly thereafter, the king died. The people of his kingdom gathered in large numbers for his funeral and the marketplaces were shut. It so happened that on the very same day, Musa's brother-in-faith passed away, too. He had a tendency to keep his house door shut and whenever Musa wanted to pay him a visit; he would simply let himself in. Now it came to pass that Musa forgot the man for three days. On the fourth day, he said to himself, 'I have neglected my brother for three days. I must visit him.' When he opened the door to let himself in, Musa found his friend dead and the creatures of the earth were feeding on his face. 'O Lord,' Musa called out, 'Your enemy died and You brought forth a multitude for his funeral, but when You caused Your friend to die, You let the creatures eat him up?' 'O Musa,' the Lord [M.G] replied, 'My friend begged this tyrant for a favor and he granted it; so, I gathered the people of his kingdom for his funeral (to honor him) as a reward for his having granted a believer's request and that he may go forth from the world whilst I owe him no reward. And as for this believer, I allowed the creatures of the earth to feed on him because of his having asked a tyrant for a favor; and it was not pleasing to Me that he should leave this world without any sin.'

“When Allah decides to honor a servant but the servant has committed sins, He afflicts him with an ailment. If not that, He puts him in need; and if not that, He intensifies the severity of his death (in order that his sins may be forgiven). And when He decides to disgrace a person who has done some good, He bestows him with well-being. If not that, He amplifies his livelihood; and if not that, He makes his death easy.”

Allah [M.G] has said: By My Honor! I do not take a servant of Mine from the world, if I intend mercy for him, until all his sins are removed—either by a straitening in his livelihood, by an affliction in his body or a fear that I cause him to experience. And if anything remains on him thereafter, I make his dying difficult. Abu Ja'far (a.s) also said: Allah has also said: By My Honor! If I intend to chastise a servant of Mine, I do not take him from the world until I compensate him fully for his good deeds—either by increasing his livelihood, by health in his body or by a sense of security that I cause him to experience. And if anything remains for him thereafter, I make his dying easy.

A Prophet from the children of Israel once passed by a dead man half of whose body was buried under a wall and the other half was eaten by scavenger birds and wild dogs. Then he came to a city where one of its notables had died and had been placed on a bed adorned with velvet and surrounded by groups of people. So, he called to Allah [M.G] saying, 'O Lord, You are most surely a Just Judge and You do no injustice. That servant had never associated a partner to You even for a moment; yet You caused him to die such a (despicable) death. And this servant of Yours had never believed in You for even a moment; yet You have given him such an (honorable) death.' Allah [M.G] replied, 'My servant: I am indeed as You have said—a Just Judge who does no injustice. That (believing) servant had a sin left with Me; so, I caused him to die such a death that he may meet Me with nothing left on him (for punishment). And this (disbelieving) servant of mine had a good deed leftover with Me; so, I caused him to die thus that he may meet Me with nothing left for him with Me (as reward).'

Prophet Musa (a.s) was once walking along the sea shore when a fisherman came by and prostrated himself before the Sun, uttering words of polytheism. Then he threw his fishing net in (to the sea) and drew it out filled (with fish). Then he threw it in again and once again it came out full. Once more he repeated this and once again it came out full until he was satisfied then he departed. Then another man came along, performed the ablution and stood in prayer, praising and glorifying Allah. Then he flung his net in but drew it back empty. So he repeated it and again he met with no success. Once again, he threw his net in and this time he caught a small fish. So, he praised and thanked Allah and went off. Seeing this, Musa (a.s) called out, 'O Lord! When Your servant came along and denied You, praying to the Sun and uttering blasphemy, his net was filled in with fish repeatedly until he was satisfied and left. And when Your believing servant came along, performed the ablution, prayed, glorified, praised and supplicated to You and then threw his net in, he received nothing but a small fish?' So, Allah [M.G] revealed to him, 'O Musa! Look to your right.' Musa looked and it was revealed to him what Allah [M.G] had set aside (in reward) for the believing servant. Then it was said to him, 'O Musa, now look to your left.' And he saw what (punishment) was awaiting the disbelieving servant. Then Allah [M.G] spoke, 'O Musa, (in reality) the one whom I gave did not benefit anything and nor did the one I denied lose anything.'' O Lord!' responded Musa (a.s), '(Indeed) it is the duty of all that know You to be content with whatever You do (for them).'

I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) saying: The root of obedience to Allah is to be content with whatever Allah does to a person regardless of what he likes or dislikes. And whatever Allah does for a servant is always good

16. Yunus ibn Ribat reported: I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) saying: Verily, the people of truth have always had to endure difficulties. However, that is for a short period and everlasting well-being.

I heard him (al-Sadiq (a.s)) saying: Allah has allowed His friends to be the target of His enemies in this world.

“It is not so. Rather, when Allah (may His majesty be glorified) loves a servant, He incites the people against him that they may say against him what is not true; and he may thereby be rewarded whilst they may be punished for that. And when He hates a servant, Allah (may His majesty be glorified) pours love for him in the hearts of people so they may praise him for what he does not possess and thereby both they and he may be punished.”
Then he said: “Who was more loved by Allah than Yahya ibn Zakariyya? Yet, all those who were around him were against him until they did with him what they did (i.e. they killed him). And who (also) was more loved by Allah (may His majesty be glorified) than Al-Husayn ibn 'Ali (a.s)? People turned against him until they killed him! And who was more despised by Allah than Abu so-and-so and so-and-so? It is not as they have said.”

al-Sadiq (a.s) said: When Allah loves a person, He turns people against him.

I heard Abu Ja'far (a.s) saying: Verily, Allah took a covenant from the believer that he would bother with four types of afflictions. The first and the easiest of these is a fellow believer who envies him; the second is a hypocrite who follows his tracks; the third is a devil who tries to tempt and mislead him; and the fourth is an infidel from whom he felt safe but who strives to fight him. What remains of a believer after (all) this?”

A believer is so honorable before Allah that if he were to ask Him for Paradise and all it contains, He would give it to him -and this would not decrease anything in His Kingdom- but if he were to ask Him of this world, even the space that his feet occupy, He may deny him. And a disbeliever is so contemptuous before Allah that if he were to ask Him for the world and all it contains, He would give it to him -and this would make no difference in His Kingdom- but if he were to ask Him of Paradise, even the space that his feet occupy, He would deny him. Indeed, Allah presents a believer with afflictions just like a man presents his family with gifts and He protects him (from what is harmful for him) like a doctor protects the sick.”

Allah has some chosen ones amongst His creatures whom He spares from afflictions. He keeps them alive in well-being, sustains them in well-being, causes them to die in a state of well-being, shall resurrect them in well-being and admit them into Paradise in well-being.

I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) saying: Indeed, Allah has amongst His creatures some (special) servants; whenever an affliction descends from the heavens or a deficiency in sustenance, He drives it towards them. And whenever (there is) well-being or ample sustenance, He diverts it from them. (And) if the light (nur) of one of them were to be divided between all the inhabitants of the earth, it would suffice them.

Allah never decrees anything for a believer but that He makes His decree the best for him.

Allah keeps a believer away from what He dislikes even if he (the believer) longs for it, just as a man keeps a camel away from a flock it does not belong to.

Verily the Lord maintains a believer; no forty days pass but that He presents him either with an ailment in his body, or with an affliction in his family and wealth, or any other affliction of the world, that He may thereby reward him for that.

I heard him (i.e. al-Sadiq (a.s)) say: No forty nights pass for a believer without something befalling him for which he is rewarded - the least of which is an anxiety whose cause he does not understand.

No forty days pass for a believer without the Glorious and most High Lord presenting him with pain in his body or loss of wealth, or an affliction for which Allah rewards him.

A believer never escapes one of three (problems) if not all three! Either a family member who shuts him out, or a neighbor who troubles him, or a person he meets on his way to work (who troubles him). Even if a believer were (to isolate himself) on a mountain top, Allah would send a devil to bother him. And Allah provides for him (the believer) comfort from his faith.”

I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) saying: No forty nights pass for a believer except a matter befalls him that grieves him and reminds him (of Allah).

I was with Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) when a man complained to him saying, 'My son and my brothers have cut themselves off from me and my (fellow Muslim) brothers have (also) alienated themselves from me.' 'Truth (haqq) has a dynasty,' replied Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s), 'and so does falsehood (batil). And in each one of them, the other is disgraced. During the rule of falsehood, the least affliction that befalls a believer is that his sons and brothers break ties with him and his (fellow Muslim) brothers abandon him. And if a believer experiences a life of ease and comfort in the dynasty of falsehood, he will be afflicted in his physical body, wealth or family until Allah purifies him of the luxury that he had acquired in order that his share may thereby be reserved in the dynasty of truth. Therefore be patient and rejoice.”

Ali ibn Al-Husayn and Abu Ja'far (a.s) said: The soul of a (dead) believer is asked - when it is being washed (for funeral), 'Would it please you to be returned to the body that you resided in?' It would reply, 'What am I to do with (more) afflictions, loss and grief?'

Messenger of Allah (a.s) said: Allah [M.G] says: O World! Visit My believing servant with all kinds of afflictions in what he is preoccupied with in his worldly affairs and strain his means of livelihood and do not be lax with him lest he seeks refuge in you.

34. Al-Sabbah ibn Siyabah narrated: I asked Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s), 'The affliction that befalls a believer is it because of a sin?' 'No,' he replied, 'It is so that He (Allah) may hear his wails and complaints and supplications for which good deeds are recorded for him and misdeeds are wiped out from him, and a treasure is amassed for him for the Day of Resurrection.

Allah [M.G] speaks apologetically to his destitute (believing) servant in this world - like a brother explaining himself to a brother - saying, 'Nay, I swear by My Might and My Glory, I did not impoverish you to disgrace you. Raise this veil and look at what I have given you in compensation for this world.' So, when the veil is removed for him and he sees what Allah has substituted for him in exchange for this world, he will exclaim, 'I have not been harmed, O Lord, seeing what You have given me in exchange.

The best of 'gulps' is anger that is swallowed despite being unbearable; for the greatest reward comes with the greatest affliction. Allah never loved people but that He tried them (with afflictions).

Prophet (a.s) said: Allah [M.G] has said: Amongst My believing servants there are those whose religious affairs are not set right except by wealth, affluence and health; so, I give them these as their lot that the affairs of their religion may be set right.And amongst the servants there are those whose religious affairs are not set right except by hunger, poverty and disease; so, I afflict them with hunger, poverty and disease so that the affairs of their religion may be set right for them.

Allah has taken a pledge from the believer that his words will be belied and that he would not be able to avenge himself against his enemy.

When Allah loves a person, He chokes him with afflictions until he is immersed in them completely and trials flow towards him copiously. Then when he calls out to Him, He (Allah) replies, 'I am here My servant, here I am! If I wished to hasten towards you what you are asking for, then indeed I am able to do it; but what I have amassed for you (for the hereafter) is better for you.'

O Thabit! When Allah loves a person, He pours afflictions on him and rains them heavily on him. And (all the while) we pass our days and nights with him (unaware of his suffering).

The disciples of 'Isa (Prophet Jesus (a.s)) complained to him about what they were suffering at the hands of others. He said to them, 'Believers have always been despised. Their faith is like a wheat kernel - how sweet its taste is but how severe its treatment (in the process of purification) is!'

Abd al-A`la ibn A'yun said: I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) saying: If you intend to be my brothers and my companions, then prepare yourselves for enmity and hatred of people otherwise, you are not my companions.

43. Muhammad ibn 'Ajlan reported: I was with my master Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) when a man complained to him (of a need). 'Be patient,' he (a.s) told him, 'for Allah will give you relief.' Then he (al-Sadiq (a.s)) remained silent for a while. Then he turned towards the man and said, 'Tell me about the prison of Al-Kufah, how is it?' 'May Allah protect you,' the man replied, 'It is confining in space, putrid in smell and its inmates are in the worst of conditions.' 'But you are in a prison too,' retorted Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s), 'Do you expect to be at ease? Do you not know that the world is a prison for the believer?'

Verily, when Allah loves a person, He sends him an angel saying, 'Strike him with disease and intensify afflictions on him; and every time he is relieved of one trial, afflict with another that is more severe, and be hard on him - until he starts remembering Me, for I long to hear his supplications and his voice calling out to Me' And when He despises a person, He appoints him an angel and says, 'Keep him healthy and provide for him that he may not remember Me; for I do not wish to hear his voice.'

A person may have a status with his Lord that he cannot attain by his actions. Therefore, he is tried with his body or tried with his possessions, or he is tried with his children. And if he bears patience, Allah raises him to that status.

Prophet (a.s) said: How wonderful the believer is! Whatever Allah decrees is always good for him. When he is afflicted, he bears patience and when he is bestowed, he gives thanks.

Allah gives this world to the one He loves as well as the one He despises. But He gives the hereafter only to the one He loves. And if a believer were to ask the Lord for a foot of land in this world, He may deny him; but if he were to ask for the hereafter, He would give him whatever he would wish. He gives the disbeliever whatever he wishes in this world but if he were to ask for a foot of land in the hereafter, He would not give that to him.

Allah [M.G] says: Whatever I divert and keep away from My believing servant, I make it good for him. So, let him be pleased with My decree, and let him bear patience over My trials, and let him give thanks over My blessings - and I shall record him amongst the truthful ones.

' The Messenger of Allah (a.s) laughed once until his teeth were showing, 'Will you not ask me why I am laughing?' he asked. 'Indeed, O Messenger of Allah,' inquired the people. 'I am amazed at a Muslim, whatever Allah decrees for him will always turn out good for him in the end,' he said.

50. Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) said: Sometimes, a person has a certain level (reserved for him) with Allah that he does not attain except by one of two characteristics: either by an ailment in his body or by the loss of his assets.