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.”

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.

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

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

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

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.

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).

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).