Wisdom

Behind
Calamities

Ahmed R. Ubana
 Wisdom Behind Calamities
1. To attain True Submission
and Servitude (‘uboodiyyah)
to Allah
(‫)تحقيق العبودية هلل رب العالمين‬
‫صابَهُ َخ ْي ٌر ا ْط َمأ َ َّن ِب ِه‬
َ َ ‫ف فَ ِإ ْن أ‬ٍ ‫علَى َح ْر‬ َ َّ ‫اس َم ْن يَ ْعبُ ُد‬
َ ‫َّللا‬ ِ َّ‫( َو ِم َن الن‬
‫اآلخ َرةَ ذَ ِل َك ُه َو‬ِ ‫س َر ال ُّد ْنيَا َو‬ ِ ‫علَى َو ْج ِه ِه َخ‬ َ ‫ب‬َ َ‫صابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ ا ْنقَل‬َ َ ‫َو ِإ ْن أ‬
11/‫ين ) الحج‬ ُ ‫ان ا ْل ُم ِب‬
ُ ‫س َر‬ْ ‫ا ْل ُخ‬
“And among mankind is he who worships Allaah as
it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls
him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls
him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to
disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this
world and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss”
[al-Hajj 22:11]
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

2. Trials Prepare the Believers

to Prevail on Earth
(‫)االبتالء إعداد للمؤمنين للتمكين في األرض‬
‫الم ْحنَةُ أ َ ْو‬
ِ ‫ص ْب ُر أ َ ْو‬
َّ ‫ ال‬: ‫ أَيُّ ُه َما أَفضل‬: ‫قيل لإلمام الشافعي رحمه هللا‬
ِ َ‫ين د ََر َجةُ ْاْل َ ْن ِبي‬
‫ َو ََل يَكون الت َّ ْم ِكين إَل بَ ْع َد‬، ‫اء‬ ُ ‫ الت َّ ْم ِك‬: ‫الت َّ ْم ِك ْي ُن ؟ فَقَا َل‬
. ‫صبَ َر َمكن‬َ ‫ َو ِإذَا‬، ‫صبَ َر‬ َ ‫امتْ ِح َن‬ ْ ‫ فَ ِإذَا‬، ‫الم ْحنَ ِة‬ ِ
It was said to Imam al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy
on him): Which is better, patience or tests or
prevailing? He said: Prevailing is the level attained by
the Prophets, and there can be no prevailing except
after trials. If a person is tried he will become patient,
and if he remains patient he will prevail.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

3. Expiation of sins
(‫)كفارة للذنوب‬
: ‫ قال النبي صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬: ‫عن أبي هريرة رضي هللا عنه قال‬
‫ حتى‬، ‫ وماله‬، ‫ وولده‬، ‫( ما يزال البالء بالمؤمن والمؤمنة في نفسه‬
) ‫يلقى هللا وما عليه خطيئة‬
. )2280( "‫) وصححه اْللباني في "السلسلة الصحيحة‬2399( ‫رواه الترمذي‬
Al-Tirmidhi (2399) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said:
“Trials will continue to befall the believing man or
woman in himself, his child and his wealth until he
meets Allaah with no sin on him.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2399), classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2280.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

َ ‫علَ ْي ِه َو‬
: ‫سلَّ َم‬ َّ ‫صلَّى‬
َ ُ‫َّللا‬ َ ‫َّللا‬ ُ ‫ قَا َل َر‬: ‫وع َْن أَنَ ٍس رضي هللا عنه قَا َل‬
ِ َّ ‫سو ُل‬
َّ ‫ َو ِإذَا أ َ َرا َد‬، ‫ع َّج َل لَهُ ا ْلعُقُوبَةَ فِي ال ُّد ْنيَا‬
ُ‫َّللا‬ َّ ‫( ِإذَا أ َ َرا َد‬
َ ‫َّللاُ ِبعَ ْب ِد ِه ا ْل َخ ْي َر‬
َ ‫ع ْنهُ ِبذَ ْن ِب ِه َحت َّى يُ َوا ِف‬
)‫ي ِب ِه يَ ْو َم ا ْل ِقيَا َم ِة‬ َ ‫س َك‬ َ ‫ِبعَ ْب ِد ِه الش ََّّر أ َ ْم‬
)1220( ‫) وصححه اْللباني في السلسلة الصحيحة‬2396( ‫رواه الترمذي‬
It was narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) “When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens
the punishment for him in this world, and when Allaah wills ill
for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from
him his sin until he comes with all his sins on the Day of
Resurrection.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-
Silsilah al-Saheehah (1220).
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

4. Attainment of reward and a

rise in status
(‫)حصول األجر ورفعة الدرجات‬

: ‫سله َم‬ ‫صلهى ه‬

َ ‫َّللاُ َعلَ ْي ِه َو‬ ْ َ‫شةَ رضي هللا عنها قَال‬
ُ ‫ قَا َل َر‬: ‫ت‬
ِ ‫سو ُل ه‬
َ ‫َّللا‬ َ ِ‫( َع ْن َعائ‬

‫يب ْال ُمؤْ ِم َن ِم ْن ش َْو َك ٍة فَ َما فَ ْوقَ َها ِإال َرفَعَهُ ه‬

‫ أ َ ْو‬، ‫َّللاُ ِب َها َد َر َجة‬ ُ ‫ص‬ ِ ُ‫( َما ي‬
) ‫َطيئَة‬ِ ‫ع ْنهُ ِب َها خ‬
َ ‫ط‬‫َح ه‬
Muslim (2572) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The believer is not harmed by a thorn or anything greater, but
Allaah will raise him in status thereby, or erase a sin thereby.”
5. Calamities provide an
Wisdom Behind Calamities

opportunity to think about

one's faults and shortcomings
and past mistakes.
)‫ عيوب النفس وأخطاء المرحلة الماضية‬، ‫(االبتالء فرصة للتفكير في العيوب‬
) ‫سبَتْ أ َ ْي ِدي ُك ْم َويَ ْعفُو ع َْن َكِِ ٍير‬ َ َ ‫( َو َما أ‬
َ ‫صابَ ُك ْم ِم ْن ُم ِصيبَ ٍة فَ ِب َما َك‬
)2/363( "‫ انظر "تفسير القرآن العظيم‬، 30/‫الشورى‬
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your
hands have earned. And He pardons much”
[ash-Shoora 42:30].
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

6. Calamity is a Lesson in
Tawheed, faith and trust in
Allaah
)‫درس من دروس التوحيد واإليمان والتوكل‬
ٌ ‫(البالء‬
: ‫قال ابن القيم‬
‫ وهللا سبحانه إذا أراد‬، ‫" فلوَل أنه سبحانه يداوي عباده بأدوية المحن واَلبتالء لطغوا وبغوا وعتوا‬
‫ حتى‬، ‫ يستفرغ به من اْلدواء ال َم ْهلَكَة‬، ‫بعبد خيرا ً سقاه دواء من اَلبتالء واَلمتحان على قدر حاله‬
‫ وأرفع ِواب اآلخرة وهو رؤيته‬، ‫ وهي عبوديته‬، ‫ أ َّهله ْلشرف مراتب الدنيا‬: ‫إذا هذبه ونقاه وصفاه‬
. ‫وقربه " انتهى‬
. ) 195 / 4 ( " ‫" زاد المعاد‬
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
Were it not that Allaah treats His slaves with the remedy of trials and
calamities, they would transgress and overstep the mark. When Allaah wills
good for His slaves, He gives him the medicine of calamities and trials
according to his situation, so as to cure him from all fatal illnesses and
diseases, until He purifies and cleanses him, and then makes him qualified
for the most honourable position in this world, which is that of being a true
slave of Allaah (‘uboodiyyah), and for the greatest reward in the Hereafter,
which is that of seeing Him and being close to Him. End quote.
Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/195
7. Calamities drive out self- Wisdom Behind Calamities

admiration from our hearts

and bring them closer to
Allaah
)‫(اَلبتالء يخرج العجب من النفوس ويجعلها أقرب إلى هللا‬
‫ ( َويَ ْوم ُحنَ ْي ٍن ِإ ْذ أ َ ْع َجبَتْ ُك ْم َكِْ َرت ُك ْم ) َر َوى‬: ‫ " قَ ْوله‬: ‫ال ابن حجر‬
‫ قَا َل‬: ‫الر ِبيع ْبن أَنَس قَا َل‬ َّ ‫يُونُس ْبن بُ َك ْير فِي " ِزيَادَات ا ْل َمغَ ِازي " ع َْن‬
‫صلَّى‬
َ ‫ي‬ َ ‫َق ذَ ِل َك‬
ّ ‫علَى النَّ ِب‬ َّ ‫ فَش‬, ‫ لَ ْن نُ ْغلَب ا ْليَ ْوم ِم ْن ِقلَّة‬: ‫َر ُجل يَ ْوم ُحنَ ْي ٍن‬
".. ‫سلَّ َم فَ َكانَتْ ا ْل َه ِزي َمة‬
َ ‫علَ ْي ِه َو‬
َ ‫َّللا‬
َّ

Ibn Hajr said: Yoonus ibn Bukayr narrated in Ziyaadaat al-

Maghaazi that al-Rabee’ ibn Anas said: A man said on the
day of Hunayn: “We will never be defeated today for lack
of numbers.” That upset the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) and then they were defeated.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

: )3/477( ‫قال ابن القيم زاد المعاد‬

‫" واقتضت حكمته سبحانه أن أذاق المسلمين أوَلً مرارة الهزيمة والكسرة مع‬
‫ع َددِهم وقوة شوكتهم ليضع رؤوسا رفعت بالفتح ولم تدخل بلده‬ُ ‫ع َددِهم و‬
َ ‫كِرة‬
‫وحرمه كما دخله رسول هللا واضعا رأسه منحنيا على فرسه حتى إن ذقنه تكاد‬
. ‫تمس سرجه تواضعا لربه وخضوعا لعظمته واستكانة لعزته " انتهى‬
Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’aad (3/477):
In His wisdom, Allaah decreed that the Muslims should first taste the
bitterness of defeat, despite their great numbers and adequate
equipment and strength, so as to humble some people who felt proud
as a result of the conquest of Makkah and who had not entered His
land and His sanctuary as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) had entered it, bending his head
whilst riding his horse to the extent that his chin almost touched the
saddle, out of humbleness before his Lord.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

َ ‫ين آ َمنُواْ َويَ ْم َحقَ ْال َكافِ ِر‬

) ‫ين‬ َ ‫َّللاُ اله ِذ‬
‫ص ه‬ َ ‫ ( َو ِليُ َم ِ هح‬: ‫وقال هللا تعالى‬
. 141/‫آل عمران‬
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And that Allaah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and
destroy the disbelievers”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:141]
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

، ‫ وأيضا ً فإنه خلصهم ومحصهم من المنافقين‬. ‫ ومن آفات النفوس‬، ‫" أي لينقّيهم ويخلّصهم من الذنوب‬
‫ فإنهم إذا ظفروا بَغَوا وبطروا‬، ‫ِم ذكر حكمة أخرى وهي ( ويمحق الكافرين ) أي يهلكهم‬......... .‫فتميزوا منهم‬
‫ إذ جرت سنّة هللا تعالى إذا أراد أن يهلك أعداءه ويمحقهم قيّض لهم‬، ‫ فيكون ذلك سبب دمارهم وهالكهم‬،
‫ ومن أعظمها بعد كفرهم بغيهم وطغيانهم في أذى أوليائه‬، ‫اْلسباب التي يستوجبون بها هالكهم ومحقهم‬
‫ وقد محق هللا الذي حاربوا رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم يوم أحد‬... ‫ومحاربتهم وقتالهم والتسليط عليهم‬
. ‫وأصروا على الكفر جميعا ً " انتهى‬
al-Qaasimi (4/239) said:
i.e., to cleanse them and purify them of sin and of pride and arrogance. He
also cleanses them of the hypocrites, and make them stand out distinct from
them… then He mentions another reason, which is “to destroy the
disbelievers”, for if they prevail they will transgress and overstep the mark,
which will be the cause of their downfall and destruction. The laws of Allaah
dictate that when He wants to destroy His enemies and erase them, he
makes available to them the means which will lead to their doom and
eradication, among the greatest of which, after their kufr, is their
transgression and tyranny in persecuting, opposing and fighting His close
friends… Allaah destroyed those who waged war against the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on the day of Uhud and
persisted in kufr. End quote.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities
8. To demonstrate the true nature
of people, for there are people
whose virtue is unknown until
calamity strikes
)‫ فهناك ناس ال يعرف فضلهم إال في المحن‬. ‫(إظهار حقائق الناس ومعادنهم‬

‫ فإذا‬، ‫ " الناس ما داموا في عافية مستورون‬: ‫قال الفضيل بن عياض‬

‫ وصار‬، ‫نزل بهم بالء صاروا إلى حقائقهم ؛ فصار المؤمن إلى إيمانه‬
. " ‫المنافق إلى نفاقه‬
al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad said: ’’As long as people are doing
fine, their true nature is concealed, but when calamity
strikes, their true natures are revealed, so the believer
resorts to his faith and the hypocrite resorts to his
hypocrisy”
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

۟ ُ‫ص َدق‬
‫وا َولَيَ ۡعلَ َم َّن‬ َّ ‫ين ِمن قَ ۡب ِل ِه ۡۖۡم فَلَيَ ۡعلَ َم َّن‬
َ ‫ٱَّللُ ٱلَّ ِذ‬
َ ‫ين‬ َ ‫( َولَقَ ۡد فَتَنَّا ٱلَّ ِذ‬
)‫ين‬َ ‫ۡٱل َك ٰـ ِذ ِب‬

)But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah

will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He
will surely make evident the liars(
Surat Al-Ankabut 3]
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

9. Calamities strengthen
people’s resolve
)‫(االبتالء يربي الرجال ويعدهم‬

. ) ‫( ألم يجدك يتيما ً فآوى‬

َ ‫علَ ْي ِه َو‬
‫سلَّ َم على تحمل‬ َّ ‫صلَّى‬
َ ُ‫َّللا‬ َ ‫فكأن هللا تعالى أرد إعداد النبي‬
‫المسئولية ومعاناة الشدائد من صغره‬

“Did He not find you O Muhammad) an orphan and give

you a refuge?”
[al-Duha 93:6]
It is as if Allaah wanted to prepare the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) to bear responsibility
and endure hardship from an early age.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

10. Another reason behind calamities and

hardship is that a person becomes able to
distinguish between true friends and friends
who only have their own interests at heart.
‫ أن اإلنسان يميز بين األصدقاء الحقيقيين وأصدقاء‬: ‫(ومن حكم هذه االبتالءات والشدائد‬
)‫المصلحة‬
:‫كما قال الشاعر‬
‫جزى هللا الشدائد كل خير وإن كانت تغصصني بريقـي‬
‫وما شكري لها إَل ْلني عرفت بها عدوي من صديقي‬
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

11. Calamities remind you of your sins

so that you can repent from them.
)‫(االبتالء يذكرك بذنوبك لتتوب منها‬

ِ ‫س ِيّئ َ ٍة فَ ِم ْن نَ ْف‬
) ‫س َك‬ َ َ ‫( َو َما أ‬
َ ‫صابَ َك ِم ْن‬
‫ أي بذنبك‬: ‫ قال المفسرون‬، 79/‫النساء‬
“…but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself”
[an-Nisa’ 4:79]. The commentators said: i.e., because of your sin.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

ِ ‫ُون العَذَا‬
ِ َ‫ب اْلكبَ ِر لَعَل ُهم ي‬
َ ُ‫رجع‬
) ‫ون‬ ِ ‫من العَذَا‬
َ ‫ب اْلدنَى د‬ َ ‫( َولَنُ ِذيقَن ُهم‬
‫ والعذاب اْلدنى هو نكد الدنيا ونغصها وما يصيب‬، 21/‫السجدة‬
‫اإلنسان من سوء وشر‬
“ And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment
(i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters,
calamities) prior to the supreme torment (in the
Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e.
accept Islam)”
[al-Sajdah 32:21]
The “near torment” is hardship in this world and bad
things that happen to a person.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities
12. Calamities show you the true nature of this
world and its transience, and that it is
temporary conveniences, and shows us that
true life is that which is beyond this world, in
a life in which there is no sickness or
exhaustion.
‫االبتالء يكشف لك حقيقة الدنيا وزيفها وأنها متاع الغرور‬
ُ ‫اآلخ َرةَ لَ ِه َى ال َحيَ َو‬
َ ‫ان لَو َكانُوا يَعلَ ُم‬
64/‫ون ) العنكبوت‬ ِ ‫الدار‬
َ ‫( َو ِإن‬

“Verily, the home of the Hereafter that is

the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will
never end), if they but knew”
[al-‘Ankaboot 29:64]
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

13. Calamities remind you of the great

blessings of good health and ease.
)‫(االبتالء يذكرك بفضل نعمة هللا عليك بالصحة والعافية‬

َ َ ۡ ۡ ࣱ َ ۡ ۟ ۡ
َ ُ‫ض ت َ َخاف‬
َّ ‫ون أن يَت َ َخ‬
‫طفَ ُك ُم‬ ِ ‫ر‬ۡ ‫ٱْل‬ ‫ی‬ ‫ف‬
ِ َ
‫ون‬ ُ ‫ف‬َ ‫ع‬‫ض‬ َ ‫ت‬‫س‬ۡ ‫م‬
ُّ ‫يل‬ ‫ل‬ِ َ ‫ق‬ ۡ
‫م‬ ُ ‫ت‬‫ن‬ ‫أ‬ ‫ذ‬ ‫إ‬
ِ ُ ‫َو‬
‫ا‬ ‫و‬ۤ ‫ُر‬
‫ك‬ ‫ٱذ‬
َ ‫ت لَعَلَّك ُۡم ت َ ۡشك ُُر‬
)‫ون‬ َّ ‫ص ِر ِهۦ َو َر َزقَكُم ِ ّم َن ٱل‬
ِ ‫ط ِيّبَ ٰـ‬ ۡ َ‫او ٰىك ُۡم َوأَيَّ َدكُم ِبن‬ َ َٔ‫اس فَـ‬ ُ َّ‫ٱلن‬
[Surat Al-Anfal 26]
And remember when you were few and
oppressed in the land, fearing that people
might abduct you, but He sheltered you,
supported you with His victory, and
provided you with good things - that you
might be grateful.
 Wisdom Behind Calamities

14. Longing for Paradise

)‫(الشوق إلى الجنة‬

ࣱۡ ُ
َ ُ ۡ ‫ه‬
)‫اخ َرة خَير ل َك ِم َن ٱألولى‬ ِ َٔ‫( َولَ ۡلـ‬
َ ‫يك َرب َُّك فَت َ ۡر‬
) ‫ضى‬ َ ‫ف يُعۡ ِط‬ َ َ‫( َول‬
َ ‫س ۡو‬
((And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life(4)
And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be
satisfied(5)..))

Surat Ad-Dhuhaa 4-5

 Wisdom Behind Calamities

)‫(فَ ِإ َّن َم َع ۡٱلعُ ۡس ِر يُ ۡس ًرا ۝ ِإ َّن َم َع ۡٱلعُ ۡس ِر يُ ۡسرا‬

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

Indeed nothing in this World Lasts,as if your Problems

..Wallahu a’lam..

Jazakum Allahu Khayran!!!