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”…

“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…

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…

I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (al-Sadiq) (a.s) saying: “There are more devils on a believer (trying to misguide him) than flies on a piece of meat.”

“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.”

Out of what Allah revealed to Musa (Prophet Moses) (a.s) is the following: O Musa! I have not created a creation more beloved to Me than My believing servant. For verily I try him with what is good for him, I bestow on…

Prophet Musa (a.s), son of 'Imran, had a brother-in-faith whom he cared for, loved and respected. A man once came to this friend of Musa (a.s) and asked him to intercede on his behalf with a tyrant who happened to be a…

“When Allah decides to honor a servant but the servant has committed sins, He afflicts him with an ailment. If not that, He puts him in need; and if not that, He intensifies the severity of his death (in order that his…

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…

A Prophet from the children of Israel once passed by a dead man half of whose body was buried under a wall and the other half was eaten by scavenger birds and wild dogs. Then he came to a city where one of its notables…

Prophet Musa (a.s) was once walking along the sea shore when a fisherman came by and prostrated himself before the Sun, uttering words of polytheism. Then he threw his fishing net in (to the sea) and drew it out filled…

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

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.

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

“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…

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

I heard Abu Ja'far (a.s) saying: Verily, Allah took a covenant from the believer that he would bother with four types of afflictions. The first and the easiest of these is a fellow believer who envies him; the second is…

A believer is so honorable before Allah that if he were to ask Him for Paradise and all it contains, He would give it to him -and this would not decrease anything in His Kingdom- but if he were to ask Him of this world,…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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).

I was with Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) when a man complained to him saying, 'My son and my brothers have cut themselves off from me and my (fellow Muslim) brothers have (also) alienated themselves from me.' 'Truth (haqq) has a…

Ali ibn Al-Husayn and Abu Ja'far (a.s) said: The soul of a (dead) believer is asked - when it is being washed (for funeral), 'Would it please you to be returned to the body that you resided in?' It would reply, 'What am…

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…

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…

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…

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).

Prophet (a.s) said: Allah [M.G] has said: Amongst My believing servants there are those whose religious affairs are not set right except by wealth, affluence and health; so, I give them these as their lot that the…

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…

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).

The disciples of 'Isa (Prophet Jesus (a.s)) complained to him about what they were suffering at the hands of others. He said to them, 'Believers have always been despised. Their faith is like a wheat kernel - how sweet…

Abd al-A`la ibn A'yun said: I heard Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) saying: If you intend to be my brothers and my companions, then prepare yourselves for enmity and hatred of people otherwise, you are not my companions.

43. Muhammad ibn 'Ajlan reported: I was with my master Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) when a man complained to him (of a need). 'Be patient,' he (a.s) told him, 'for Allah will give you relief.' Then he (al-Sadiq (a.s)) remained…

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…

A person may have a status with his Lord that he cannot attain by his actions. Therefore, he is tried with his body or tried with his possessions, or he is tried with his children. And if he bears patience, Allah raises…

Prophet (a.s) said: How wonderful the believer is! Whatever Allah decrees is always good for him. When he is afflicted, he bears patience and when he is bestowed, he gives thanks.

Allah gives this world to the one He loves as well as the one He despises. But He gives the hereafter only to the one He loves. And if a believer were to ask the Lord for a foot of land in this world, He may deny him;…

Allah [M.G] says: Whatever I divert and keep away from My believing servant, I make it good for him. So, let him be pleased with My decree, and let him bear patience over My trials, and let him give thanks over My…

' The Messenger of Allah (a.s) laughed once until his teeth were showing, 'Will you not ask me why I am laughing?' he asked. 'Indeed, O Messenger of Allah,' inquired the people. 'I am amazed at a Muslim, whatever Allah…

50. Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s) said: Sometimes, a person has a certain level (reserved for him) with Allah that he does not attain except by one of two characteristics: either by an ailment in his body or by the loss of his…