he will also receive a reward.
Calamities, then, present themselves in two ways:
• Sometimes, when a person is struck by misfortune, he remembers the promised reward and deliberately counts that calamity with Allah. In this case there are two benefits: his sins are wiped away and his good deeds are increased.
• At other times he is heedless of this, his breast constricts, impatience or annoyance overtakes him, and he neglects to intend the seeking of reward from Allah. Even so, the calamity still expiates his sins, so he is a winner under every circumstance in the trials that come his way.
Thus he may gain only the erasure of sins—without further reward—because he formed no intention, showed no patience, and did not seek recompense; or he may gain both the expiation of sins and a reward from Allah, as mentioned earlier.
For that reason, whenever a person is afflicted—even by something as slight as a thorn—he should recall the prospect of reward from Allah for that misfortune, so that he is rewarded for it in addition to having his sins removed.
This is part of Allah’s grace, bounty, and generosity: He tries the believer, then, because of that very trial, either rewards him or erases his sins. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.
- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Allah intends good for someone, He afflicts him.” (Reported by al-Bukhari.)