and seeking Allah’s help in doing so. The other state comes after the action: seeking forgiveness for one’s shortcomings and thanking Allah for the good He has graciously enabled one to do. Allah Most High says:
“So be patient; indeed, Allah’s promise is true. And seek forgiveness for your sin.”
He commanded him to bear decreed calamities patiently and to seek forgiveness for sin, although each servant seeks forgiveness according to his own state, for the good deeds of the righteous count as sins for those brought near to Allah.
Allah Most High says:
“But if you are patient and mindful of Allah, that is indeed a matter requiring firm resolve.”
Joseph said:
“Indeed, whoever is mindful of Allah and patient—Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost.”
He thus mentioned patience in the face of calamities and mindfulness of Allah through avoiding blameworthy deeds. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Strive for what benefits you, seek Allah’s help, and do not give up. If something befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such and such, this and that would have happened.’ Rather, say, ‘Allah has decreed, and He does whatever He wills,’ for ‘if only’ opens the way for Satan’s work.”
He thus commanded a person, when calamities befall him, to consider the divine decree rather than lament the past. Instead, he should know that whatever befell him could never have missed him, and whatever missed him could never have befallen him. Thus, one should look to the divine decree in the face of calamities and seek forgiveness for one’s faults. Allah Most High says:
“No calamity befalls the earth or yourselves without being written in a Record before We bring it into being. That is certainly easy for Allah.”
“So that you may neither grieve over what you have missed nor exult in what He has given you.”
Allah Most High also says:
“No calamity befalls except by Allah’s permission. Whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.”
‘Alqamah and others said: This is a man who is struck by a calamity and knows that it is from Allah, so he is content and submits.
And Allah, Glorified and Most High, knows best.