Affliction is an adornment for the believer and a mark of honour
for the man of intellect, because facing it directly needs steadfastness and
firm-footedness, both of which confirm belief. The Prophet said, 'We, the
company of the prophets, are the people who have the hardest trials, then after
us come the believers then the others like them.'
Whoever tastes the food of affliction while under God's protection enjoys
it more than he enjoys God's blessing. He yearns for it when it is not there,
because the lights of blessing lie under the balance of affliction and trial,
and the balance of affliction and trial lies under the lights of blessing. Many
are delivered from affliction and then destroyed in blessing. God praised none
of His bondsmen, from Adam up to Muhammad, until He had tested him and seen how
he fulfilled the duty of worship in affliction.
There
is no good in a slave who complains of a single trial preceded by thousands of
blessings and followed by thousands of comforts. Whoever does not show the
patience
required in affliction is deprived of thankfulness in the blessings he
receives. Similarly, whoever does not give the thankfulness owed for blessings
is denied the patience owed in affliction. Whoever is denied both of them is an
outcast.
Ayyub said in his supplication, 'O God,
verily seventy comfort and ease did not come to me until You sent me seventy
afflictions.' And Wahb ibn Munabbih said, 'Affliction to a believer is like a
bit to a horse and a halter to a camel.' 'Ali said, 'Steadfastness in relation
to belief is like the head to the body. The head of steadfastness is
affliction, but only those who act righteously understand that."
