Does He Think . . .
You would agree that if I stand on a piece of carpet and ten men pull it from one side, I would fall down. However, if a cow or any other similarly big animal sits on a carpet and ten men pull it from one side, the carpet may tear but the animal will not move. In the time of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam there was an extremely strong man who would stand on a sheepskin and challenge any ten men to pull it in order to make him fall. He would even offer a reward for those who succeeded in toppling him. Many attempted. However, they always failed. The sheepskin would tear but, due to his strength, he would never fall.
Deceived by his physical strength, this man scoffed at the concept of resurrection. ‘If ten men cannot topple me,’ he wondered, ‘who will ever take me to task?’ In response, Allah Ta’aala revealed the following aayaat:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنْسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ
أَيَحْسَبُ أَنْ لَنْ يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ
يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُبَدًا – أَيَحْسَبُ أَنْ لَمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُ عَيْنَيْنِ – وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ
Certainly, We created man such that he is always in difficulty. Does he think that nobody has ability over him? He says, ‘I have spent abundant wealth’. Does he think nobody sees him? Did we not give him two eyes, a tongue and two lips?
Man’s Weakness
Is there anybody who had no difficulty whatsoever throughout his entire life? From man’s infancy till his eventual death, he suffers innumerable difficulties. In his infancy, there is hunger, colic, fever, a cough, teething or simply diaper that has to be changed but he is unable to speak and his mother does not immediately realize the problem. As he continues his journey in life, his problems continue; a variety of accidents, ailments, aches and pains. Maybe it’s just a common cold, a nagging cough or a splitting headache. As an adult, he faces a range of other problems. Problematic neighbours, quarrelsome siblings, rebellious children, an unsympathetic husband, a nagging wife, unrealistic in-laws, a difficult boss or, maybe he is the boss, but his employees are dishonest or plain lazy. Sometimes it is not the people whom he deals with but a financial crisis. His accounts are in arrears and he doesn’t have money to pay. Worse, he does not have money to put food on the table! Then there are medical woes: cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes . . . the list never ends.
The Message
The bottom line, however, is that the cause of all man’s difficulties is Allah. Surely, nothing happens in the universe without the will of Allah. Everything, good and bad, can only happen if he so desires. Thus, Allah Ta’aala says:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنْسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ
Certainly, We created man such that he is always in difficulty.
By reminding man of his frequent struggles and the fact that they are caused by Allah Ta’aala, man’s attention is drawn to his weakness in contrast to the greatness of Allah. The message is more than clear: If you doubt who can take you to task in the Hereafter, remember that no matter how strong you may be, you are a weakling in front of Allah. Despite your strength, you suffered the consequences of the difficulties that Allah had placed in your way. Hence, nothing can stop Him from taking you to task!
In his arrogance, man thinks that Allah cannot see him. Thus, Allah Ta’aala says:
أَيَحْسَبُ أَنْ لَمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ
Does he think nobody sees him?
Allah Ta’aala thereafter reminds man that: Let alone seeing you, We (and nobody else) created the eyes with which you see. In fact, We did not only create your eyes. Instead, We also gave you your tongue and lips.
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُ عَيْنَيْنِ – وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ
Did we not give him two eyes, a tongue and two lips?
The Reasons for Difficulty
While assuring the disbeliever that he will never evade Allah Ta’aala on the Day of Qiyaamah, these aayaat also highlight the reason for the difficulties we experience in our lives. Put simply, these difficulties are a reminder of our weakness against the greatness of Allah Ta’aala. Continuous reflection over these two aspects may make us more fearful of His punishment and hence, more conscious of our duties to Him. In different words, every difficulty is a wake-up call, a reminder that we start mending our ways before it’s too late. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said that for the Believer, illness is kaffaarah (expiation) for past sins and admonition for the future. However, when the Hypocrite falls ill for a brief period and then recuperates, he is like a donkey whose owners fastened him and later unfastened him; he does not understand why! When Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said this, a man in the gathering said, “What is illness? By Allah, I have never been ill!” “Go away,” responded Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, “(If you never fall ill) you are not one of us!” According to some versions, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam then said that if anybody desired to see a man from the dwellers of the fire, he should look at this man. “If Allah desired any good for him, He would have cleansed him (of his sins).”
Adversity and Expiation of Sin
Concerning the relation between adversity and expiation of sins, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam also said that:
Every adversity suffered by a Muslim, even if it is a mere thorn-prick, results in expiation of his sins.
Adversity expiates a Muslim’s sins just a tree sheds it’s leaves.
On the Day of Qiyaamah, when people will see the reward of those who suffered difficulty in the worldly life, they will desire that their skins were cut with scissors . . .
Considering the above, the pious servants of Allah actually welcome adversity. Thus, some of our salaf (predecessors) used to say, “Were it not for worldly adversities, we would all be bankrupt on the Day of Qiyaamah.” Similarly, Ibn ‘Aqeel and Ibn-ul-Qayyim described worldly adversities as guests and the gifts of Jannah.
The former wrote in his Al-Funoon that, “Bounties are guests who should be entertained with shukr (gratitude) and adversities are guests who should be entertained with sabr (patience).”
The latter wrote in his Al-Fawaa’id that when Allah creates somebody for Jannah, the gifts of Jannah continuously reach him in the form of adversities.”
Question
If the purpose of adversity is expiation of past sins and admonition for the future, how do we explain the sufferings of the Ambiyaa alaihim-us-salaam? Do we not believe that the Ambiyaa alaihim-us-salaam were ma’soom (sinless)? If they were ma’soom (sinless), why did they experience so many adversities in their lives? Furthermore, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam also said the people who suffer the most hardship are the Ambiyaa and then those who follow them the most.
Answer
Often, the purpose of adversity is elevation of one’s status in the Hereafter instead of expiation and admonition. This is the rationale for the adversities suffered by the Ambiyaa alaihim-us-salaam, Sahaabah radiallahu anhum and so many other pious servants of Allah.
Besides, Allah Ta’aala often tests the imaan (faith) and sabr (patience) of His chosen servants.
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
We will certainly test you with a little fear, hunger, and shortage of wealth and decrease of lives. So give glad tidings to those who are patient.
In this regard, Shaikh Abdul Qaadir Al-Jilaani advised his son that, “Adversities are not meant to destroy you. Instead, they merely test you sabr (patience) and imaan (faith). Hence, adversities are man’s furnace.” (Gold cannot be burnt. Thus, it is placed in a blazing furnace in order to confirm whether it is definitely gold. If it does not burn, it is gold. If it burns, it is not. Similarly, adversities test man’s imaan and sabr.)
A Ni’mah from Allah
وَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنْسَانَ ضُرٌّ دَعَا رَبَّهُ مُنِيبًا إِلَيْهِ
When hardship afflicts man, he calls his Rabb turning to Him (in repentance).
Yes, this is another reason for adversity. It causes (maybe, forces?) one to turn to Allah . . . Ibn Taymiyyah described this as a ni’mah (favour) from Allah. In extreme difficulty, man turns to Allah alone. Crying in repentance, he places his faith in Him and begs him for assistance. Depended on the extent of his imaan he enjoys a sweetness that exceeds the joy experienced when his suffering is eventually dispelled.
An Antidote for Pride
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَاجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رَبِّهِ أَنْ آَتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ
Have you not seen the one who disputed with Ibrahim concerning his Rabb because He granted him kingdom?
وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ
If Allah expands (Increases) sustenance for His servants, they will transgress in the land . . .
إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَى أَنْ رَآَهُ اسْتَغْنَى
Man transgresses because he thinks that he is wealthy.
Based on these and other aayaat of the Qur’aan, many ‘Ulamaa opine that another reason why Allah puts some people to tribulation in the worldly life is to protect or cleanse them from pride and subsequent rebellion against His commands. Ibn-ul-Qayyim writes, “If Allah does not treat His servants with the medicines of test and tribulation, they become haughty and rebel. On the contrary, when Allah desires good for a servant, he makes him drink the medicines of adversity . . . and thereby rids him of detrimental (spiritual) ailments.”
Another Reason
Often, favours are only appreciated after they cease. Thus, Allah Ta’aala places difficulties in man’s life so that he will appreciate Allah’s favours and be grateful to Him.
The Most Important Reason
In the beginning of this article, we quoted the aayah “Certainly, We created man such that he is always in difficulty” and explained that this is a reminder to man of his weakness in contrast to the greatness of Allah. Bearing this in mind, we could understand why the great scholar, ‘Izzud-ud-Deen bin Abdis-Salaam, mentioned recognition of Allah’s rububiyyah (divinity) and one’s own ‘ubudiyyah (servitude to Allah) among the reasons for tribulation in our lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we quote the blessed words of Allah:
عَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
It is possible that you dislike something yet it is good for you.
(Similarly) It is possible that you love something yet it is bad for you. (Remember that) Allah knows and you do not!
Abu Hudhaifa Muhammed Karolia
5th Dhil Haj 1433
21st October 2012
Al-Jaami’ah Al-Mahmoodiah
Persida, Springs