By Haruna  Razaq
Islam lets the Muslim understand the fact that worldly problems do not affect his religion. It therefore cannot lead to violation of Shariah. It is for a little period of time and are nothing but a passing illusion that will soon be replaced with the permanent pleasure in the hereafter.

In other words, mundane pleasures and enjoyment cause distractions and therefore lead to violation of Shariah. For details on the temporary and transient nature of world’s pleasures, see Qur’an 9:38, 13:26, 28:60 etc. Also, Anas (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “On the day of resurrection, he who deserves the hell-fire and had lived most luxuriously in the first life will be brought before Allah.

He will be given a taste of Hell, and will then be asked, “O son of Adam, have you ever enjoyed a pleasure?” He will reply, “No, by your glory my Lord! I have never enjoyed a satisfaction!”

And he who deserves Jannah (paradise) and had been most afflicted in the first life will be brought before Allah. He will then be asked, “O son of Adam, have you ever suffered a misery or any affliction?” He will reply, “No, by your glory my Lord! I have never suffered from a misery or any affliction”. (Muslim, Ahmad, and others)

Benefits of adversities

There are lots of benefits that associate with afflictions for the believers. Below are some of them as indicated in well known hadiths of the Prophets (s.a.w). :_ (1) Problems expiate a believer’s sins and clean his record prior to the Day of Judgement.

On this Abu Hurayrah (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Affliction continues to befall believing men and women in their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah, burdened with no sins. (2) Problem indicates Allah’s love for a believer.

Allah makes it a means of cleaning His beloved servant and of raising his level among the believers. Anas (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “When Allah loves some people, He subjects them to affliction.”

And Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “When Allah’s wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity.” (3) Problem is a sign of testing the belief and faith for a believer. Abu Hurayrah (r.a) and Ka’b Bin Malik (r.a) reported that the Prophet said:

“A believer’s parable is like that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way. So is a believer; he continues to be subjected to affliction, until he reaches his appointed term (of death). And a hypocrite’s (or kafir’s) parable is like that of firm cedar tree; it does not shake until it is uprooted at all once.

(4) Problem as a means of gaining paradise _ On this Islam teaches that when an afflicted believed shows perseverance and submission to Allah, Allah grants him great rewards in Jannah. This is especially true when the affliction deprives him from a dear and important limb or part of his body.

Anas (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said that Allah says: “When I afflict my servant with his two dear ones (his eyes) and he shows patience, I compensate him for them with Jannah. Similarly, when a Muslim dies in a wide_spreading disease or plague, Allah grants him the reward of martyrdom. Anas (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said:

Plague is a (means of) martyrdom for every Muslim. Also, Abu Hurayrah (r.a) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Martyrs are of five types: he who dies from plague, he who dies from an abdominal illness, he who dies by drowning, he who dies under a collapsed building, and he who is killed fighting in Allah’s way etc.

To be continued