Asking Allah for Calamities to befall upon you?

[Zebunissa]

Asking Allah for Calamities to befall upon you?

A couple of years ago I was going through a rough patch, without going into details it was something ‘visible’ that everyone could see when they looked at me.

Apart from my family, most of my friends didn’t know the extent of the problem as I avoided everyone and I would only meet them when I was 100% normal.

I started a new course and there I met a sister who I became friends with. We saw each other everyday and she could see the strange things that were happening to me. We were very close friends and she helped me out a great deal, she is probably the only sister who has actually seen me at the lowest/worst points of my life and has always been there for me.

After I left the course, we eventually lost contact and we didn’t see each other around much. I bumped into her last week all was well and we exchanged numbers. I sent her a text the a few days ago, asking her how she is doing.

She told me that she is currently in hospital as her brain started bleeding. The doctors performed brain surgery on her but the operation failed and they are going to operate on her in two months time. She asked me to make dua for her.

I was stunned and then I remembered the words she had said in the past.. it hit me like a ton of bricks: “I wish ALLAH could test me like He is testing you. I’m so jealous of you. For surely ALLAH tests those that He loves”.”
MY friend is in hospital. Please make dua. *emotional*


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1. What is the opinion of the Shariah regarding challenging ALLAH for tests and trials?

Please provide evidence from the Quran/Hadith and the opinion from the Ulema.
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[OurMuslimUmmah]

If you don't mind me asking but is this regarding you ? I'm rather confused.

[the_middle_road]

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1. What is the opinion of the Shariah regarding challenging ALLAH for tests and trials?

Please provide evidence from the Quran/Hadith and the opinion from the Ulema.
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I don't think that is something we should do. Rather we should ask Allah ta'ala for the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter as He has taught us in the Qur'an. I think there is a hadith to this effect; I'll see if I can find it later.

[Al-Farooq]

I don't think that is something we should do. Rather we should ask Allah ta'ala for the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter as He has taught us in the Qur'an. I think there is a hadith to this effect; I'll see if I can find it later.

There is a few ahaadith that sound similar to what you describe in the following fatwah....

Question: A friend of mine told me that I should not ask Allah to give me patience because that implies that I am asking Allah to give me trials. Is this true? If it is, then how do we explain Sûrah al-Baqarah: 250 and Sûrah al-A`râf: 126?

Answered by Sheikh `Abd al-Mahdî `Abd al-Qâdir

There is some truth to your friend’s statement that we should not ask Allah for patience on account of the implication it brings that we are asking Him for tribulations.

As a rule, a person should ask Allah for forgiveness and prosperity in this worldly life and in the Hereafter.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Ask Allah for certainty in faith and protection from harm, for nothing granted to a person after certainty in faith is better than protection from harm.” [Musnad Ahmad and Sunan Ibn Mâjah with an authentic line of tradition]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Ask Allah for forgiveness, wellbeing, and protection from harm, for nothing granted to a person after certainty in faith is better than protection from harm.” [Sunan al-Nasâ’î]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) heard a man beseech Allah by saying O Possessor of Majesty and Generosity. He told him: “You are being answered. Ask for what you need.”

Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard someone saying: “O Lord I ask you for patience.”

He said: “You are asking Allah for trial, so rather ask him for wellbeing.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (3527), though it is a weak hadîth as stated by al-Albâni]

Abû al-Dardâ’ said: “O Messenger of Allah, I prefer to be given good and be thankful rather than to be tested and exercise patience.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “And the Messenger of Allah prefers for you to be given good.” [Zâd al-Ma`âd]

You have mentioned in your questions some verses that might appear to contradict what I have mentioned above. Among these is Allah’s saying: “And when they went out against Goliath and his forces they said: ‘Our Lord! Pour down upon us patience, and make our steps firm and assist us against the unbelieving people’.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 250]

Then we have the verse that relates the words of the magicians at the time of Pharaoh after they converted to Islam. “And you do not take revenge on us except because we have believed in the communications of our Lord when they came to us! Our Lord: Pour out upon us patience and cause us to die in submission.” [Sûrah al-A`râf: 126]

These two verses mention supplications for patience, but these supplications were offered by those people after a most grievous trial had already befallen them. That is the time for such supplications.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O people! Do not hope to face the enemy (in battle) and ask Allah to save you (from calamities), but if you should face the enemy, then be patient and let it be known to you that Paradise is under the shades of swords.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (2819) and Sahîh Muslim (1742)]

When affliction befalls a Muslim, he must be patient and reconciled to Allah’s decree. He must not regret or become anxious.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If Allah loves some people, He will test them. Whoever is pleased in it, Allah will be pleased with him, and whoever is embittered by it, Allah will be displeased with him.” [Musnad Ahmad and Sunan al-Tirmidhî]

Abû al-Dardâ’ said: “If Allah decrees something, He likes people to be pleased with it.”

`Imrân b. Husayn used to say when he was sick: “What is wanted by Him is wanted by me.” The same was said by Abû al-`Âliyah.

Al-Hasan said: We have visited `Imrân b. Husayn when he was sick. One man said: “I have to ask you about your suffering.”

`Imrân said: Do not do so, my brother, for by Allah I love suffering, and whoever loves it will be the most beloved of people to Allah. Allah says: ‘And whatever affliction befalls you, it is on account of what your hands have wrought, and (yet) He pardons most (of your faults).’ [Sûrah al-Shûrah: 30] And this is accounted of what my hands have wrought, and yet what He has pardoned of my faults is far more.”

This is the noble conduct of the pious people when they are tested – not before they are tested.

The person who is spared from calamities has to thank Allah if he sees a person being tested. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If a man sees a person suffering from affliction and says: ‘All praise is due to Allah who has spared me from what He has tested you with and who has given me preference over many of His creatures’ then such a trial will not afflict him, whatever it might be.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (3428) with an authentic chain of transmission.]

I pray to Allah to safeguard in this life and grant us good in the Hereafter.

[Zebunissa]

If you don't mind me asking but is this regarding you ? I'm rather confused.

Yes it is about me, I am okay. It is the friend/sister of mine who is currently in hospital.

[Peacenik]

I don't think that is something we should do. Rather we should ask Allah ta'ala for the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter as He has taught us in the Qur'an. I think there is a hadith to this effect; I'll see if I can find it later.

Absolutely.

And Sister Zebunissa, May ALLAH (SWT) Speed up your friend/sister's recovery - Ameen

[Zebunissa]

Absolutely.

And Sister Zebunissa, May ALLAH (SWT) Speed up your friend/sister's recovery - Ameen

Ameen.
Akhi
Everyone make Dua.

[S@Z]

may Allah cure your friend of her illness, give her shifa'a, and make her recovery swift and smooth, aameen

[Hijabistani]

Asking Allah for Calamities to befall upon you?

A couple of years ago I was going through a rough patch, without going into details it was something ‘visible’ that everyone could see when they looked at me.

Apart from my family, most of my friends didn’t know the extent of the problem as I avoided everyone and I would only meet them when I was 100% normal.

I started a new course and there I met a sister who I became friends with. We saw each other everyday and she could see the strange things that were happening to me. We were very close friends and she helped me out a great deal, she is probably the only sister who has actually seen me at the lowest/worst points of my life and has always been there for me.

After I left the course, we eventually lost contact and we didn’t see each other around much. I bumped into her last week all was well and we exchanged numbers. I sent her a text the a few days ago, asking her how she is doing.

She told me that she is currently in hospital as her brain started bleeding. The doctors performed brain surgery on her but the operation failed and they are going to operate on her in two months time. She asked me to make dua for her.

I was stunned and then I remembered the words she had said in the past.. it hit me like a ton of bricks: “I wish ALLAH could test me like He is testing you. I’m so jealous of you. For surely ALLAH tests those that He loves”.”
MY friend is in hospital. Please make dua. *emotional*


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. What is the opinion of the Shariah regarding challenging ALLAH for tests and trials?

Please provide evidence from the Quran/Hadith and the opinion from the Ulema.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allah swt knows what tests and trials we will be facing ino ur lives,its only we don't know. Allah swt wrote our Qadr 50,000 years before the heavens and earth was created...so i dont think there is any point asking for a trial.

[iloveislam1]

You will insha'Allah find the answer to your question in chapter 6 of this ebook:

http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/Dua%...20Believer.pdf

[abu_bakr]

The wisdom behind calamities


I often hear that there is great wisdom behind the calamities that befall people. What is this wisdom?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Yes, there is great wisdom behind calamities, including the following:

1 – To attain true submission and servitude (‘uboodiyyah) to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Many people are slaves to their whims and desires and are not true slaves of Allaah. They say that they are slaves of Allaah, but when they are tested they turn on their heels and lose out in this world and in the Hereafter, and that is an evident loss. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And among mankind is he who worships Allaah as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss”

[al-Hajj 22:11]

2 – Trials prepare the believers to prevail on earth

It was said to Imam al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him): Which is better, patience or tests or prevailing? He said: Prevailing is the level attained by the Prophets, and there can be no prevailing except after trials. If a person is tried he will become patient, and if he remains patient he will prevail.

3 – Expiation of sins

al-Tirmidhi (2399) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Trials will continue to befall the believing man or woman in himself, his child and his wealth until he meets Allaah with no sin on him.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2399), classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2280.

It was narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) “When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allaah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him his sin until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (1220).

4 – Attainment of reward and a rise in status

Muslim (2572) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The believer is not harmed by a thorn or anything greater, but Allaah will raise him in status thereby, or erase a sin thereby.”

5 – Calamities provide an opportunity to think about one's faults and shortcomings and past mistakes.

Because if it is a punishment, what was the sin?

6 – Calamity is a lesson in Tawheed, faith and trust in Allaah

It shows you in a practical sense what you really are, so you will realize that you are a weak slave, and you have no strength and no power except with your Lord, then you will put your trust in Him in a true sense, and will turn to Him in a true sense, and put aside your position, pride, arrogance, self-admiration and heedlessness, and you will understand that you are poor and in need of your Lord, and you are weak and need to turn to the Most Strong, the Almighty, may He be glorified.

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

Were it not that Allaah treats His slaves with the remedy of trials and calamities, they would transgress and overstep the mark. When Allaah wills good for His slaves, He gives him the medicine of calamities and trials according to his situation, so as to cure him from all fatal illnesses and diseases, until He purifies and cleanses him, and then makes him qualified for the most honourable position in this world, which is that of being a true slave of Allaah (‘uboodiyyah), and for the greatest reward in the Hereafter, which is that of seeing Him and being close to Him. End quote.

Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/195

7 – Calamities drive out self-admiration from our hearts and bring them closer to Allaah

Ibn Hajr said: Yoonus ibn Bukayr narrated in Ziyaadaat al-Maghaazi that al-Rabee’ ibn Anas said: A man said on the day of Hunayn: “We will never be defeated today for lack of numbers.” That upset the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and then they were defeated.

Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’aad (3/477):

In His wisdom, Allaah decreed that the Muslims should first taste the bitterness of defeat, despite their great numbers and adequate equipment and strength, so as to humble some people who felt proud as a result of the conquest of Makkah and who had not entered His land and His sanctuary as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had entered it, bending his head whilst riding his horse to the extent that his chin almost touched the saddle, out of humbleness before his Lord.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And that Allaah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:141]

al-Qaasimi (4/239) said:

i.e., to cleanse them and purify them of sin and of pride and arrogance. He also cleanses them of the hypocrites, and make them stand out distinct from them… then He mentions another reason, which is “to destroy the disbelievers”, for if they prevail they will transgress and overstep the mark, which will be the cause of their downfall and destruction. The laws of Allaah dictate that when He wants to destroy His enemies and erase them, he makes available to them the means which will lead to their doom and eradication, among the greatest of which, after their kufr, is their transgression and tyranny in persecuting, opposing and fighting His close friends… Allaah destroyed those who waged war against the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on the day of Uhud and persisted in kufr. End quote.

8 – To demonstrate the true nature of people, for there are people whose virtue is unknown until calamity strikes

al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad said: As long as people are doing fine, their true nature is concealed, but when calamity strikes, their true natures are revealed, so the believer resorts to his faith and the hypocrite resorts to his hypocrisy.

Al-Bayhaqi narrated in al-Dalaa’il that Abu Salamah said: Many people were confused – i.e., after the Isra’ – and some people came to Abu Bakr and told him. He said: “I bear witness that he is telling the truth.” They said: “Do you believe that he went to Syria in one night then came back to Makkah?” He said: “Yes, and I believe him in more than that, I believe what he says of the Revelation that comes to him from heaven.” And because of that he was named al-Siddeeq.

9 – Calamities strengthen people’s resolve

Allaah chose for His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) a hard life filled with all kinds of hardship from a young age, in order to prepare him for the great mission that awaited him, which none could bear but the strongest of men, who have gone through hardship and who are tested with calamities and bear them with patience.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was born an orphan, then it was not long before his mother died too.

Allaah reminded the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) of that when He said (interpretation of the meaning):

“Did He not find you O Muhammad) an orphan and give you a refuge?”

[al-Duha 93:6]

It is as if Allaah wanted to prepare the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to bear responsibility and endure hardship from an early age.

10 – Another reason behind calamities and hardship is that a person becomes able to distinguish between true friends and friends who only have their own interests at heart.

11 – Calamities remind you of your sins so that you can repent from them.

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]

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”

[al-Shoora 42:30]

Calamities offer an opportunity to repent before the greater punishment comes on the Day of Resurrection. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam)”

[al-Sajdah 32:21]

The “near torment” is hardship in this world and bad things that happen to a person.

If life continues to be easy, a person may become conceited and arrogant, and think that he has no need of Allaah, so by His mercy He tests people so that they may return to Him.

12 – Calamities show you the true nature of this world and its transience, and that it is temporary conveniences, and shows us that true life is that which is beyond this world, in a life in which there is no sickness or exhaustion.

“Verily, the home of the Hereafter that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew”

[al-‘Ankaboot 29:64]

But this life is just hardship and exhaustion.

“Verily, We have created man in toil”

[al-Balad 90:4]

13 – Calamities remind you of the great blessings of good health and ease.

This calamity shows you in the clearest way the meaning of health and ease that you enjoyed for many years, but did not taste their sweetness or appreciate them fully.

Calamities remind you of blessings and the One Who bestows them, and cause you to thank and praise Allaah for His blessings.

14 – Longing for Paradise

You will never long for Paradise until you taste the bitterness of this world. How can you long for Paradise when you are content with this world?

This is some of the wisdom behind calamities, and the interests attained by them, and the wisdom of Allaah is great indeed.

And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A


http://islam-qa.com/en/ref/35914/calamities