Thursday, March 10, 2011

Tested? Here's the Deal...

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.
It do not usually post information on my blog that can be found on other websites. However, this is a subject so close to my heart that when I hear of anyone struggling with it or needing an understanding and outlook, I must share. I was honored to give a workshop in Philadelphia on, "After Hardship there is Ease." This is part of the material I used. I have highlighted in a different color certain hadith that actually make me feel happy, grateful, and totally blessed whenever Allah sends me a test. This gives me great hope; I hope it will do the same for you.
How to view Hardships?

Allah has decreed that, in this life, hardships and disasters strike both believers and non-believers. For a non-believer, they are inconveniences that hinder him from proceeding with his normal involvement in the worldly life. For a believer, on the other hand, they are instances of rest and remembrance, tests that promise great rewards, and indications of atonement and expiation of sins. Regardless of how little is the harm that strikes a believer, it carries with it good news of forgiveness and elevated rank (in Jannah). The Righteous Predecessors used to be pleased when a hardship afflicted them, seeing it as a token of Allah’s forgiveness and benevolence.

Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Suppor-ter and Protector, etc.) (Surah Baqara Verse 286)

Expiations of Sins
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet said: " Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah (S) burdened with no sins. " [Tirmithee]

Sign of Allah’s Love
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity" [Bukharee and others]

Sign of Eeman
Abu Hurayrah (RA) and Ka’b Bin Maalik (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake - until it is uprooted all at once." [Bukharee and Muslim]

Sign of Righteousness
The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their rewards are the highest. Sa’d (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with his deen (faith). If his deen is firm his affliction is hard, and if his deen is weak, his affliction is light. Indeed, one would be so much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without any sins. " [Ahmad, Tirmithee]

Early Punishment
Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " When Allah wills good for a servant of His, He expedites his punishment 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 Resurrection." [Tirmithee]

Multiplication of Rewards
Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " The amount of reward is in accordance with the amount of suffering. When Allah (SWT) loves some people, He tries them (with affliction). He who then is content (with Allah’s decree) has achieved the acceptance (of Allah), and he who is dissatisfied (with Allah’s decree) will attain the anger (of Allah)." [Tirmithee]

Rewards for Sickness
One should not look to sickness as a gloomy episode, but should remember the great good in it. It is one form of affliction with which Allah (SWT) tests His ‘ibaad (servants), giving them a
chance to acquire rewards, as was explained above, as is further emphasized below.

Removal of Sins and Elevation in Ranks
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Whenever a Muslim is afflicted by harm from sickness or other matters, Allah will drop his sins because of that, like a tree drops its leaves." [Bukharee and Muslim]

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: "A Muslim is not afflicted by hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm, or depression - even if pricked by a thorn, but Allah expiates his sins because of that. " [Bukharee and Muslim]

Sa’eed said, " I was with Salmaan (RA) when he visited a sick man in Kindah ( in Persia ), and he said to him: " Expect good because Allah (SWT) makes a believers sickness an expiation (for his sins) and a period of rest. However, when a disbeliever falls sick, he is like a camel whose owner ties it then lets it loose - it does not understand why it was tied nor why it was freed." [Bukharee]

‘Aishah (RA) narrated that once some pain afflicted the Prophet (SAW) causing him to suffer and turn about in his bed. she said: "Had one of us done this, you would have blamed him." He (SAW) replied: " An ailment is intensified for the righteous. whenever a believer is afflicted by a hardship, whether it is a thorn or more, a sin is taken off from him because of it, and he is elevated by one rank (in Jannah). " [Ahmad]

Retaining Rewards for Deeds Before Sickness
Usually, when a believer falls sick, he would not be able to do the same amount of good (prayer, fasting, helping Muslims etc) that he used to do when he was well. But Allah out of His great mercy, continues to record for him the good deeds that he was forced to stop because of his sickness. Abu Moosa Al-Ash’aree narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: " For a traveling or sick person, his deeds will be recorded in accordance with what he used to do when he was resident or well." [Bukharee]

‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr reported that the Prophet said: "No (believing) person gets sick, but (his deeds) will be recorded for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well." [Bukharee] Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: " No Muslims body is afflicted by Allah, but He will record (his deeds) foe him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well - as long as he is sick. Thus, if He takes his life, He forgives him; and if He cures him, He washes him (from sins)." [Bukharee]

‘Uqbah Bin ‘Aamir reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: "Each days deeds are sealed with it. thus, when a believer gets sick, the angels say, " Our lord! Your servant such and such, You have restrained him (from doing good this day)." And the lord replies, " Seal his day in accordance with his (usual) deeds, until he is cured or dies". [Ahmad]

Reason for the Reward
‘Atta Bin Rabaah reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) told him, "Do you want to see a woman from the people of Jannah (paradise)?" He said "Yes". He said: " It is this black woman. She came to the Prophet (SAW) saying, " I have (epileptic) seizures, and I get exposed, so supplicate to Allah for me." He (SAW) said: " If you wish, be patient and you will attain Jannah; or if you wish, I will ask Allah to cure you." She replied, " I will be patient ! But my body gets exposed (because of the fall), so supplicate to Allah for me that I do not become exposed." and he (SAW) did." [Bukharee and Muslim]

The scholars have differed in opinion as to whether a sick person will be rewarded for the sickness itself or for being patient during it. the correct opinion is that if he is patient and submits to Allah’s will, as in the above hadeeth, he would be rewarded for both the submission and the sickness, otherwise, he would not be rewarded at all; because he resented Allah’s decree. This is what should be understood from Ibn hajar al-’Asqalaanees words: "The authentic hadeeths are clear in that the rewards are recorded once affliction strikes a Muslim. As for patience and acceptance, they are virtues for which a person may get additional rewards over those for the affliction." ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: "If a Muslim is pricked by (as little as) a thorn in the worldly life, and he seeks its reward from Allah, some of his sins will be removed, because of it, on the Day of Judgement."[Bukharee]

"True believers are only those whose hearts are filled with awe whenever God is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His revelations are recited to them. In their Lord do they place their trust." (Chapter 8: Verse 2)

(By: Md Ziya)
How we react when faced with an affliction, with a really big test, is the most important aspect when it comes to reaping rewards from Allah, subhaana wa taala. Whatever the test is, the first words to utter are "Al hamdu l'Illah!" Or "Al hamdu l'Illah 'ala kully haal!" (All praise be to Allah for every matter!)

Being grateful for the affliction or test is the highest level of emaan. This is the state when a person thanks Allah for the affliction that has befallen him. He knows that such a difficulty is a means of expiation for his sins and perhaps a cause for an increase in his good deeds.
I have a jolly little rhyme which you might like to say sometime...
Hop, skip and jump with glee,
Allah, You've sent a test to me!
Alhamdu l'Illah! Grateful is me,
I'm basking in the Love from Thee!

10 comments:

  1. Jazakullah khair for this. The poem made me smile,

    Ummshuhudaa

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  2. assalamu alaikum sister,
    one thing I love about your blog is that you send so much positive vibes around, mashaallah.
    jazakallah khairan for such a compilation of hadeedh, made me nostalgic, couldn't control my tears.
    youshaka

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  3. Wa alaykum as salaam wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh Umm Shuhadaa and Youshaka,

    Wa iyakunna! Glad to hear you smiled...and cried.

    Youshaka, I just don't know how we cannot have positive vibes when Allah gives us SO MUCH! Subhaan Allah, we get the most enormous rewards for such relatively simple things. Most certainly we don't deserve it...but His Generosity is overwhelming. May you be one of those in Allah's Shade for the tears you shed and may we all meet him with no sins on our account - ameen!

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  4. Salams sis, I love your blog so much its so real.

    can you do this favour for me. Can you just explain what this hadith means because I'm abit confused.

    Sa’eed said, " I was with Salmaan (RA) when he visited a sick man in Kindah ( in Persia ), and he said to him: " Expect good because Allah (SWT) makes a believers sickness an expiation (for his sins) and a period of rest. However, when a disbeliever falls sick, he is like a camel whose owner ties it then lets it loose - it does not understand why it was tied nor why it was freed." [Bukharee]
    I dont understand this, the part about the camel. what does that mean in relation to human beings?

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  5. Wa alaykum as salaam wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh Sarah my sweet.

    The comparison of the disbeliever with the camel, is that the camel does not have comprehension of why he was tied up, or if he is set free, why he was freed. The camel doesn't understand the reason for the things happening to it. So, the disbeliever doesn't understand why he fell sick or why he was cured, because he has no faith in Allah and no belief in sickness as a blessing and cure as a mercy.

    There is another hadith, that compares the believer with the disbeliever in sickness as well. It is to the general effect that the sickness is what you believe, so if you have faith that the sickness is sent from Allah as expiation and blessing, then it is exactly that. However, if you believe that it is a punishment and a curse, then it is exactly that...for your disbelief in your Creator and His attributes.

    I hope that helps, but if not let me know and I'll try again. Jazaaki Allahu khayran :-D

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  6. thanks for this post. It helped me alot. I was actually suffering for some time now because an affliction befalled someone very close to me. I was kind of mourning.. now i realised that its just Allah's way of choosing whos truly sincere to him, and who can be patient for him and he truly does test the ones he loves. Masha'Allah. Now i am peaceful (sort of) i still need some work on my self. Insha'Allah Allah can forgive me for any ill feeling i had. astaghfirAllah.

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  7. Mashallah sis..I dont know you but I love you..jazakallahukhairin for the reminders..they really do help. Its so ironic I read your post about being tested I was just reminding myself how it is source of getting close to Allah. In suratul Hajj 22 11 Allah swt says "And among mankind is he who worships Allâh as it were, upon the very edge; if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him, when fitnah comes to him, or a hardship befalls him, if something that brings about grief comes his way, if he is tested, if he is put to the test, when sadness comes his way, if a hardship befalls him, what happens? He flips upon his face. He loses both this world and the Hereafter. There is no doubt that this is the clear loss." I hope never to be that in which Allah swt describes here.

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  8. As salaamu alaykum Umm Khalil.

    Wa iyaaki ukhti, wa barak Allahu feeki for your beneficial comment and your love! Hearts speak to each other, there is no question.

    That is such a strong selection from the Quran, mashaa'Allah. I, too, pray we never be in that state - ameen.

    So often, people think I'm not "real" when I take things my stride and say I'm happy with all Allah sends me and everyone else. However, I'm perfectly real, because I see everything as an opportunity to benefit my account with Allah and my aakhirah. It's all good.

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  9. as salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

    I am new to your blog and I love it! Maa shaa Allah!

    Jazaak Allahu Khair for this very beneficial post Subhana Allah Adheem Allah truly knows what His believers need and at what times because I so needed this my heart needed this at this very moment...In the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest 13:28 Allahu Akbar!
    Baarak Allahu feeki uhkti you dont know how much this helped!:) Love you for the sake of Allah and keep up the good work your blog is very beneficial May Allah increase you in khair ameen

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  10. Wa alaykum as salaam wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh Salafi Muslimah!

    Mashaa'Allah ukhti, isn't it mind blowing at times how Allah, azza wa jal, sends us exactly what we need, when we need it? I'm honored to have you visit my blog and blessed that you are benefiting. Jazaaki Allahu khayran wa feeki Barak Allah. Ameen to your dua' and may you have even more than you have wished for me - ameen.

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