Afflictions are a Form of Blessing

Apart from some hardships, afflictions also bring about various benefits for the believer. Recognizing them makes easy the path of patience and endurance for the believer. Hardships teach the believer to be patient and Allah abundantly rewards His patient slaves.

Sufferings remind the sinful believer about the greatest affliction of life, i.e. death, which may afflict him at any moment. It reminds him of the severe punishments, which may follow next, as a result of his disobedience to Allah.

When one deviates, he seldom pays any heed to the advice of others; but when calamity strikes, he is reminded of Allah and His severe punishments. Allah says, “We will make them taste a lesser punishment before the greater punishment that perhaps they may return (to the right path).” [Surah as-Sajdah (32): 2] So, calamities give one the time to reflect over one’s sins and their awful outcome. As a result, one recognizes his errors and returns to Allah in repentance; worldly difficulties thus, serve as a blessing for the sinful.

Hardships reduce the burden of sins from the believer freeing him from the severe and unbearable punishments of the Hereafter. The Messenger of Allah     said, “Afflictions continue to befall believing men and women in their body, family and property, until they meet Allah burdened with no sins.” [as-Saheehah (2280)] and he also said, “No stress or exhaustion befalls the Muslim, nor worry or distress, even a thorn which pricks him, but Allah will expiate his sins because of that.” [Agreed upon]

Suffering in this world is insignificant in comparison to the harsh unbearable punishments of the Hereafter. Besides, death puts an end to a person’s suffering in this world, whereaspunishments of the Hereafter are eternal!

Moreover, Allah forgives most of our disobedience in the world, and what we suffer of the hardships is a retribution for only a fraction of our sins. Allah, the All-Merciful, informs us in the Qur’an, “Whatever befalls you is a result of what your hands have earned. And He (Allah) pardons much.” [Surah ash-Shura (42): 30]

If we were to be punished for all of our evil deeds, everything on the Earth be destroyed. Allah says in Surah Fatir, “if Allah were to punish men for that which they earned, He would not leave a moving (living) creature on the face of the Earth, but He gives respite for an appointed term…” [Surah Faatir (35):45]

So, it is from the immense Mercy of Allah that He pardons much of our evil deeds and He has made the afflictions of this life an atonement for the harsh and severe punishments of the Hereafter. Allah's Messenger said: “When Allah wills good for a servant of His, He expedites his punishments in this life, and when He wills retribution for a servant of His, He holds his sins for him to judge him by them on the Day of Judgment.” [Saheeh al-Jamee (308)]

Hardships establish submission and humbleness in the believer; for instance, when afflicted with sickness, the slave realizes his weakness and need for Allah; and he invokes His Lord for good health; and after having been granted fitness, he becomes thankful to His Lord for alleviating his hardships and strives harder in worshiping Him.

Had he always lived a healthy life without having experienced any difficulty or hardship, he would have grown arrogant and proud. Likewise, if he were to be ill all the time, he would not have had the opportunity to worship Allah and be grateful to Him.

These and many other benefits of worldly difficulties together bring about numerous blessings for the believer. Besides, worldly difficulties are necessary for the spiritual growth of the believer since they purify him from sins, help him worship Allah sincerely and establish his Deen (religion). It is for this reason that the Prophets and their followers were pleased when afflicted with hardships. Allah's Messenger said, “The Prophets are afflicted the most, then the righteous. Indeed, one of them would be tested with poverty, so that he would not be able to wear anything except a coarse cloak. And indeed, they used to be pleased with affliction as you are with comfort.” [as-Saheehah (144)]