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.”

“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.”

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.

“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.”

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.”

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.

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).

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.'