Imaam Abdur Rahman As-Sa’dee
(rahimahuAllaah)
“And We will surely
test you with something of fear, hunger, and loss of wealth, lives, and
fruits…But, give glad tidings to the patient. Those who, when they are
afflicted by a calamity say: ‘Indeed we belong to Allaah, and indeed to Him we
will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are Salawaat from their Lord, and
they receive His mercy. And it is those who are the rightly guided.”
[al-Baqarah: 155-157]
Allaah informs us
that His slaves must be tested with trials, in order to manifest and differentiate
between those who are truthful and those who are liars, between those who are
patient and those who are impatient. This is the way Allaah deals with His
slaves, because if the people of faith (Imaan) were not tested and they were
left to remain in good times and happiness there would be confusion which is
corruption. However, the wisdom of Allaah necessitates differentiating the good
people from the evil people. This is the lesson and benefit of trials. So these
trials are not to lose the Imaan of the believers, nor to turn them away from
their religion. Never would Allaah cause the believers to lose there Imaan.
These calamities,
tests, and trials MUST occur, as
The All-Knower, All- Acquainted has informed us. And just as He informed us,
they happen. Whenever they befall, people are divided into two
categories:
»The patient
»And The Impatient
The impatient has
to deal with two calamities: Loosing something
beloved (the calamity at hand), plus loosing something far greater; and that is
the reward one would have attained for obeying Allaah by being patient; thus, the one who is impatient totally losses. This person’s Imaan decreases and he/she misses out
the opportunity of having patience, gratitude, and being satisfied and pleased
(with the decree of Allaah). Rather, he/she becomes displeased and/or angry.
This attitude shows immaturity in Imaan.
As
for the one who Allaah guides to patience during times of calamity;
he/she restrains his/her speech and actions from the dissatisfaction and
displeasure (of Allaah). This person seeks their reward with Allaah. He/she
understands that the reward for being patient is greater than that which was
lost. In this sense, the calamity actually
becomes a blessing for such a person, because it becomes a means to achieve
something that is better and more beneficial than which was lost. This person is rewarded for obeying Allaah’s command
to be patience. As Allaah says:
“…and
give glad tidings to the patient.”
Their statement in
these rough times is:
“Innaa
lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon.”
Meaning: We are owned by Allaah, and we are under His command
and control. Therefore, we do not really own ourselves or our wealth. So when
we are tested with calamities, we must realize it is the Most Merciful running
His sovereignty. None can oppose or question Him. It is from excellence in
worship to realize that the calamities that befall us are from The All-Wise
Owner Who has more compassion for His slaves then they even have for
themselves. This realization will make us satisfied with Allaah, and thankful
for His management, because we know it is good for us even if we do not
understand how.
While we are owned
by Allaah, we will also return to Him on the Day of Return. Then everyone will
be recompensed. So if we bear patience and seek Allaah’s reward, we will find
our great reward with Him. However, if we are impatient, dissatisfied, and
displeased, the only recompensation we get is dissatisfaction and the
missed-out opportunity of the reward of patience.
So the realization
that the slave belongs to Allaah, and is returning to Allaah, is of the
greatest causes of patience.
“Those…”
…who are
characterized by the aforementioned patience have…,
“…upon
them are the Salawaat of their Lord…”
Meaning: high
praise and mention of their character.
“…and
mercy…”
(Meaning): immense
mercy, and from His mercy upon them is that He has made them successful in
being patient, by which they achieve an excellent reward.
“…and it
is those who are the rightly guided.”
(Meaning): those
who acknowledge the truth and act in accordance to it. The truth meant here is
their knowledge that they belong to Allaah and that they are returning to Him.
They implement this reality by being patient for Allaah.
This verse also
indicates that whoever does not have patience will get the opposite of that
which those who are patient attain. Allaah thus penalizes them with dispraise,
punishment, misguidance, failure, and loss. What a great difference is there
between these two groups of people!
“Little
(indeed) is the hardship that the patient experience, while the impatient
experience much hardship and distress!”
These verses:
1. These verses: prepare the soul for mishaps and
calamities before they happen so that it will be easier and lighter on the soul
when they finally befall.
2.These verses: explain how to react to such mishaps and
calamities. (i.e. have Sabr/Patience)
3. These verses: shed light on the things that help one
to have patience.
4. These verses: detail the reward of those who are
patient.
5. These verses: give awareness to the condition of the
impatient by the opposite condition of the patient.
6. These verses: explain that trials and tests are the
system of Allaah which has been established. And you will never find any change
in the system of Allaah.
7. (And lastly), these verses: detail the different
types of mishaps and calamities.
Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
Whenever a slave
is afflicted with a calamity, then says:
“Indeed we
belong to Allaah and Indeed to Him we will return. O Allaah reward me for my
affliction, and replace what I lost with something better.”
Allaah rewards
him/her and replaces his/her loss with something better.
(Narrated by Muslim)
Source: Tafseerus Sa’dee
Translator: Zaid Lites
Translator: Zaid Lites
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