Friday, March 18, 2011

The difference between punishments and trials

The difference
between punishments and trials
Allah menitions in the Quran that when an
evil befalls us it is due to what our own hands have earned. Also our beloved Messenger,
Muhammad (sallalahu 'alayhi wassallam) said in a hadith that the most tried are the
Prophets, then those in piety after those. So therefore in our day to daylife when things
go wrong in our lives how do we decide whether it is due to our sinfulness or that Allah
loves us . and therefore sends a trial upon us
Jazakallahu khairun

From Quran Blog 

And important note that we want to discuss and share with you its is about reading Quran and Reciting Holy Quran to understand it, Ramadan is the month when the beautiful the Holy Quran has been revealed.  A miracle by the creator of the worlds, Allah (SWT)  Should we not glorify him by reading the gift he has sent down for us and learn Arabic Quran by heart  to feel the power of it and learn is with translation to understand it and let our heart fill will tears of glory and wash away our sins  “Will they not meditate on the Quran, or are there locks on the hearts”, read Holy Quran, Surah Muhammad, Verse 24.

End from holy Quran reciter blog

Praise be to Allaah.

Punishments are what happen to people in return for their evil deeds.
Trials are tests which are sent to try people, and people may be tested by good things or
by bad.

Concerning punishments, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Whatever
of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from
yourself…” [al-Nisa’ 4:79]

Concerning the phrase “is from yourself”, Qutaadah
said: “[It means] the punishment is for you, O son of Adam, because of your
sin.” Abu Saalih said that “whatever of evil befalls you, is from
yourself” means “because of your sin, and I [Allaah] am the One Who decreed
it for you.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

Allaah also says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whatever
of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons
much.” [al-Shoora 42:30]

Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: “[It means]
whatever misfortune happens to you, O people, is because of evil deeds that you have
already done, and ‘He pardons much’ refers to evil deeds – He does
not punish you for them but He pardons them. ‘And if Allaah were to punish men for
that which they earned, he would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of
the earth…’ [Faatir 35:45 – interpretation of the meaning].”

Concerning trials, the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “If Allaah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever has patience
will have patience, and whoever is anxious will be anxious.” (Reported by
Imaam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1706).

The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) also said: “The extent of the reward will be in accordance with the extent of
the trial. If Allaah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever is content will have
contentment, and whoever is angry will have anger.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi,
2320; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2210).

The following outlines how one may tell whether a given
event is a punishment or a trial:

If the misfortune results from doing an act of obedience to Allaah,
such as being wounded in jihaad, or losing money when migrating for the sake of Allaah, or
losing a job because of becoming Muslim or increasing one’s commitment to Islam, then
this is a trial. Whoever bears it with patience will be rewarded, but if one reacts
angrily then one will earn the wrath of Allaah. If the misfortune results from sin, such
as sexually-transmitted diseases or illnesses caused by drinking alcohol and taking drugs,
and so on, then this is the kind of punishment that comes in this world (as opposed to
being deferred until the Hereafter). If the misfortune is connected neither to a good deed
nor a sin – such as other kinds of disease and sickness, losing a child, or failing
in business – then it depends on the person’s situation. If he is good and
devout, it is a trial, and if he is sinful, it is a punishment.

The misfortune may be a punishment to atone for sins, or it may be a
trial aimed at raising a person’s status and increasing his hasanaat (good
deeds/rewards) – this may be determined by whether a person is obedient or
disobedient. A person should not praise himself, rather he should criticize himself for
his shortcomings and strive to attain perfection. He will benefit from misfortunes in any
case, if he has patience and hopes for reward. And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid




 

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