His statement, “and the like”: such as plucking out one’s hair—when a person takes hold of the hair on his head and pulls it out—for all of this indicates discontent with the calamity. The Prophet ﷺ disavowed people of this kind, saying: “He is not one of us who slaps the cheeks, tears the garments, and calls with the calls of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.” (1)

Likewise, saying, “O my woe! O my destruction!” and the like, for this betrays discontent.

It should be known that people’s responses to calamity fall into different levels:

The first: the grateful.

The second: the contented.

The third: the patient.

The fourth: the panic-stricken.

As for the panic-stricken person, he has committed what is prohibited and has shown discontent with the decree of the Lord of the worlds, in Whose hand lies the dominion of the heavens and the earth. To Him belongs all sovereignty; He does whatever He wills.

As for the patient person, he has fulfilled the obligation. The patient person is one who bears the calamity: that is, he finds it bitter, arduous, and difficult, and dislikes its occurrence, yet he endures it and restrains himself from what is prohibited. This is obligatory.

As for the contented person, he is not troubled by this calamity. Rather, he sees that it is from Allah and is fully content with it, and there is no regret in his heart,