THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PUNISHMENT AND TRIALS

March 5, 2020 Steps2Allah

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

More and more calamities are happening in the world. Most recently, in Lombok, an Indonesian island, over 1,000 earthquakes and aftershocks have hit the island within 3 weeks. Many of the Muslim countries are plagued by war and poverty. We have 1.6 billion Muslims but it seems that the Muslim countries are not doing well in terms of economy, peace and well being.

We need to understand the concept of punishments and trials in order for us to assess on how to react to a calamity which may befall us.

Indeed we offered obligatory duties to the heavens, the earth, the mountains, but they declined to bear it and feared (Allah’s torment). But man undertook it. Indeed he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results). ~ Quran 33:72

fter Allah created the universe, He offered Al-Amanah (trust/ obedience/ obligatory duties of His religion) to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains on the grounds that if they fulfilled them, He would reward them; and if they failed, He would punish them. Due to the challenges and high risk involved they felt they won’t be able to fulfill that responsibility. As a result the three declined Allah’s offer.

For some it might be difficult to comprehend how can inanimate objects have life. If so, please know everything that is created prostrates and submits to Allah.

Then Allah turned to Adam (a.s) and said to him: “I have offered the Al-Amanah to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they could not bear it. Will you take it on?” Adam said, “O Lord, what does it involve?” Allah said, “If you do good, you will be rewarded, and if you do evil, you will be punished.” So Adam took the Al-Amanah and bore it. So when Adam (a.s) was sent down to this world he was commanded by Allah to worship none but Him, follow Islamic fundamentals and spread the message of Tawhid (oneness of God) to his children too.

The Quran states,

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say “We Believe” and they will not be tested? ~ Quran 29:2

In general, punishments are sent to people who have disobeyed Allah. Allah has sent punishments on various nations, as stated in the Qur’an:

People of prophet Nuh (AS)
‘Ad (people of prophet Hud (AS))
Thamud (people of prophet Saleh (AS))
People of prophet Lut (AS)
People of Madyan (prophet Shu’aib (AS))
The pharaoh in the time of prophet Musa (AS)
People of the garden (surah al Qalam 68: 17-33)
People of saba’ (Surah Saba’ 34: 15-19)

At the same time, the various prophets were also sent to various nations and they faced many difficulties:

Prophet Nuh (AS)
Prophet Lut (AS)
Prophet Ya’qub (AS)
Prophet Yusuf (AS)
Prophet Ayyub (AS)
Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

Other righteous people mentioned in the Qur’an include:

Maryam (mother of Isa (AS))
Mother of Musa (AS)
The sorcerers in the time of Musa (AS)
People of the ditch (Ashab ul Buruj)

We also have the unique story of prophet Yunus (AS)

So, where is the line of difference between punishment and trials from Allah?

In general, punishments occurred when a person, a group of people or a nation to remind them to come back to Allah:

We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’an) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard tho your Lord that He is a Witness over all things? (Surah Fussilat 41:53)

“Say: He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet…” (Surah Al An’am 6: 65)

Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih from Jabir ibn `Abd-Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the ayah (verse) (Say: He has power to send torment on you from above…) was revealed, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A`udhu bi wajhika (I seek refuge in Your Face)…”

Punishments also occur due to disobedience to Allah

And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.(Surah Ash-Shura 42: 30) and,

Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.(Surah An-Nisaa’ 4:79)

And let those who oppose The Messenger’s command (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways) beware; lest some Fitnah (trials, afflictions, calamity) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them. ~ Quran 24:63

Punishments of previous nations serve to warn us of Allah’s Anger on disobedience to His commands:

The Qur’an tells us that many nations and communities were destroyed because of their sinful lifestyles:

“If they treat thy (mission) as false, so did the Peoples before them (with their Prophets), the People of Noah, and Ad and Thamud. Those of Abraham and Lut; and the Companions of the Madyan people; and Moses was rejected (in the same way). But I granted respite to the Unbelievers, and (only) after that did I punish them: but how (terrible) was My rejection (of them)! How many populations have We destroyed, which were given to wrong-doing! They tumbled down on their roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and neglected, and castles lofty and well-built?” (Surah Al-Hajj 22: 42-45)

Allah, the Most High, says concerning the past nations:

So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hasib (a violent wind with showers of stones), and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah (torment — extremely loud noise ), and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow, and of them were some whom We drowned. It was not Allah, Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves. (Surah Al-`Ankabut 29: 40)

Trials or tests of Allah serve a different purpose:

Firstly, they serve to test the patience and Iman

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.) (Surah Al Baqarah 2: 155)

“You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves…., but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious – see V.2:2) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs, and that is from the great matters, (which you must hold on with all your efforts).” (Surah Al Imran 3: 186)

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test). (Surah Al Ankabut 29 : 2-3)

Concerning trials, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If Allah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever has patience will have patience, and whoever is anxious will be anxious.” (Reported by al-Imam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jami’, 1706).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: “The extent of the reward will be in accordance with the extent of the trial. If Allah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever is content will have contentment, and whoever is angry will have anger.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2320; Saheeh al-Jami’, 2210).

Allah tests the one who committed sins with trials or calamity so as to examine the sincerity of His slave, and if the person falls in line. The trial also serves as the means of requital and immediate punishment in this world, so that Allah forgives His slaves on the day of resurrection. So do not despair if you are tried by Allah.

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

This people of mine is one to which mercy is shown. It will have no punishment in the next world, but its punishment in this world will be trials, earthquakes and being killed. ~ Abu Dawud 37/39

The Quran says:

We shall certainly test you, until We ascertain those of you who (sincerely) strive and those who are steadfast (in Allah’s Deen); and We shall test your affairs (to distinguish the liars from the truthful) ~ Quran 47:31

Secondly, the tests is for the goodness of a believer

The other reason for the trials, affliction and calamities in this world is that Allah wants to raise the status of a patient believer. If the believer bears it with acceptance and patience, then he will be recorded in the books with Allah as one of the victorious.

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

If Allah wants to do good to someone, He afflicts him with trials. ~ Bukhari 75/5

Doing good to a believer means raising the believer in the rank in the hereafter. The Prophet (pbuh) also said:

A man will be tested according to his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is solid, his test will be more severe, but if there is any weakness in his religious commitment, he will be tested according to his level of religious commitment. And calamity will continue to befall a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him. ~ Tirmidhi 2398

Calamities befell the Prophets and the righteous persistently. The Messengers and Prophets such as Adam (a.s), Ibrahim (a.s), Yunus (a.s) and others, including Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) were tested to the extreme. Allah tested Adam (a.s) with expulsion from Paradise, and He tested Yunus (a.s) with being swallowed into the belly of the fish. Ibrahim (a.s) had to undergo four great tests by Allah. But by means of these tests, Allah raised them in status because of their patience and seeking reward with Him.

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

If a certain status has previously been decreed by Allah for a person, and he does not attain it by his deeds, Allah afflicts him in his body or wealth or children. ~ Abu Dawud 3090

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

Nothing befalls a believer, a (prick of a) thorn or more than that, but Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, or erase a bad deed. ~ Bukhari 5641 | Muslim 2573

The Quran says:

Or do you think that you shall enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When will the help of Allah come?” ~ Quran 2:214

During trials or affliction Allah advises His slaves, “… and be patient over what befalls you.” ~ Quran 31:17

Most certainly you will face tests in your wealth and in your persons. You will definitely hear much painful abuse from those who have been given The Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if you are patient and fear Allah, then that will be the determining factor in all affairs. ~ Quran 3:186

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

On the Day of Judgement, when the people who were tried (in this world) are given their rewards, the people who were pardoned (in life), will wish that their skins had been cut off with scissors while they were in the world. ~ Tirmidhi 36/100

The following outlines how one may tell whether a given event is a punishment or a trial:

If the misfortune results from doing an act of obedience to Allah, such as being wounded in jihad, or losing money when migrating for the sake of Allah, or losing a job because of becoming a Muslim or increasing one’s commitment to Islam, then this is a trial. Whoever bears it with patience will be rewarded, but if one reacts angrily then one will earn the wrath of Allah. If the misfortune results from sin, such as sexually-transmitted diseases or illnesses caused by drinking alcohol and taking drugs, and so on, then this is the kind of punishment that comes in this world (as opposed to being deferred until the Hereafter). If the misfortune is connected neither to a good deed nor a sin – such as other kinds of diseases and sicknesses, losing a child, or failing in business – then it depends on the person’s situation. If he is good and devout, it is a trial, and if he is sinful, it is a punishment.

The misfortune may be a punishment to atone for sins, or it may be a trial aimed at raising a person’s status and increasing his hasanat (good deeds/rewards) – this may be determined by whether a person is obedient or disobedient. A person should not praise himself, rather he should criticize himself for his shortcomings and strive to attain perfection. He will benefit from misfortunes in any case, if he has patience and hopes for reward.

Various references from the Quran and Hadith highlighted above proves that requital in this world is not separate from the requital in the Hereafter. Nevertheless, there could be reasons other than the two mentioned above that necessitates trial from Allah and can be looked at by understanding the circumstances of the calamity.

For instance:

If the one who is affected is a Kafir (a Non-Muslim), then his calamity cannot raise him in status. Because the one who did not believe in Allah in this world will have no weight before The Lord of The Worlds on the Day of Resurrection. In fact via trials Allah may want to indicate this kafir slave who the true Lord is — many have reverted to Islam because of this; and through trials some have gone astray.
If the one who is affected is a Muslim who commits sin openly or is a blatant evildoer, then it is most likely that he is being requited and punished with the trial. Because expiation of sins comes before raising in status, and the sinner is in greater need of expiation for his sins than of being raised in status.
If the Muslim is a devoted worshipper, obedient and righteous, and there is nothing between him and Allah but true servitude, gratitude, praise, repentance and submission to Allah, then it is most likely that the trial is a kind of honour and raising in status (recall our note above on the trials for The Prophets).
If the one who is tried by Allah shows displeasure and cribs along, then his trial may not raise him in status, because a believer who is not patient is not a true believer in the eyes of Allah. So in this case it is most likely that the trial is a requital and punishment.
Thus in summary if someone lacks patience, panics and complains then the sign can be considered as punishment and requital. And if someone is patient, does not complain, continues to fulfill the commands of Allah and is engaged in worship, then the sign is erasing of sin and getting raised in the status in the eyes of Allah..

So during the times of trials and suffering one should always think positively of Allah, in all the situations, for whatever comes from Allah is for your good and He is The Protector of the pious and Oft-Forgiving and The Most Merciful. It is said, “Nothing happens except by the will of Allah.“

And for the good news…

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Five are regarded as martyrs: Those who die of the plague, drowning, being crushed, the martyr in the cause of Allah and stomach illness.” ~ Bukhari 56/45 | Tirmidhi 10/99 …

One example: Lets say there’s an earthquake, which is one of the kinds of calamity from Allah. A believer gets crushed under the building and dies as a result. He will be consider as a martyr. Just like an organisation or an army unit has hierarchy, similarly in Islam the status of a Muslim is dependent on his deeds. So the rank of a martyr is very high indeed, and comes after the Prophets and Siddiqs in status.

And here’s the best part.

There will be special category of people who will be admired by the martyrs and the Prophets. They are those who loved each other in this world just for the sake of Allah. Subhan Allah. This is based on the following saying by The Prophet (pbuh),

“Those who love each other for the sake of My Majesty shall be upon podiums of light, and they will be admired by the Prophets and the martyrs.” ~ Tirmidhi 2390

HOW TO OVERCOME ALLAH’S TESTS?

Be patient

O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). Truly! Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). 2: 153

Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is good for him” (Muslim).

Turn to Allah – and make du’a

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. 2:186

{Your Lord has said, ‘Call Me, I will answer you. Indeed those who are disdainful of My worship will enter hell in utter humility.} (40:60)