The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When Allah intends good for a servant, He hastens his punishment in this world; but when He intends evil for a servant, He withholds punishment for his sin until he meets Him with it on the Day of Resurrection.” (1)

This ḥadith and the one preceding it were both narrated by al-Tirmidhī through a single chain and from the same Companion; hence the author treats them as one report.

“Hastens his punishment in this world” means that Allah sends calamities upon him because of the sins he has committed, so that he emerges from them free of sin.

“Withholds punishment for his sin” means that He delays the punishment that the sin deserves.

“Until he meets Him with it”—the verb yuwāfī, with a kasrah on the letter fāʾ, is in the active voice and in the accusative due to ḥattā—signifies that he will arrive on the Day of Resurrection bearing his full load of sins and will then receive the punishment he deserves.

Overall meaning: The Prophet ﷺ informs us that a sign that Allah wants good for His servant is His hastening the servant’s punishment for his sins in this world, so the servant departs this life with no sin left to face on the Day of Resurrection; for the one who is called to account early will find the reckoning lighter later. Conversely, a sign that Allah wills evil for a servant is that he is not requited for his sins in this life, so he comes on the Day of Resurrection with every sin intact and is punished accordingly.

Relevance to this chapter: The ḥadith urges patience in the face of afflictions and contentment with divine decree, for that is ultimately in the servant’s best interest.