Sins Are Offset By Ordeals

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Praise be to Allah, Who offset the sins of our followers (shiaa) through their hardships, so that their obedience remains immune through it and they become deserving of reward as a result of it.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Whenever Allah punishes a believing servant in this world, [it is only because] He is too Clement, too Glorious, too Generous, and too Kind to requite him with punishment on the Day of Resurrection.

Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘When Allah, Blessed and most High, wants to honour a servant who has previously committed a sin, He tries him with illness, and if not with that then with need. And if not with that, then He makes his death difficult. But when He wants to humiliate a servant who has done some good previously, He makes his body healthy, or makes his sustenance abundant, or makes his death easy.