Topic: al-'Uthaimeen: When afflicted with calamity, people divide into four levels


yasin3683    -- 17-06-2009 @ 3:03 AM
  Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah

When afflicted with calamity, people divide into four levels, by Shaykh al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah)  

Lowest level (Discontent)  

a- In the heart - as if angry with Allaah - and so he rails against what Allaah has ordained for him [This is haram; could lead to kufr]

b- Invoking woe, destruction [Haram]  

c- Physical - tearing clothes, slapping cheecks [Haram]


Second level (Patience)

So he considers it heavy, yet he bears it, although he hates it should occur and his eeman protects him - by Allaah's Permission - from discontent. So it happening and not happening are not the same to him. This is wajib (obligatory), because Allaah commanded us to be patient: Surely, Allaah is with those who are As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). (Al-Anfal 8:46)


Third Level (Acceptance)

That a person accepts misfortune, so that its presence or absence is the same. Its (the calamity's) presence is not hard on him, and this is preferred, although not wajib.


Fourth Level (Gratitude)

This is the highest level. It is by thanking Allaah for the misfortune which has befallen because he knows that this misfortune is a cause of his sins being remitted and it might be a cause of his reward being increased. The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There is no misfortune that afflicts a Muslim except that Allaah remits a sin from him because of it, even the prick he receives from a thorn."  


Source: Fataawa on 'Aqidah, pp. 193-194

Subhanak Allaahuma wa bihamdika ash-hadu anlaa illaaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk  

If I said anything correct, then it is from Allaah (subhanahu wa taa'ala), and if I erred, then that is from me and shaytan.  


dksadiq    -- 20-11-2009 @ 9:44 PM
 
Praise be to Allah for this Calamity

quote:
It is reported that Shurayh - Allah have mercy on him - said, "If I am afflicted with a calamity, I praise Allah for it four times: I praise Him because it wasn't worse than it was, I praise Him when He gives me the patience to bear it, I praise Him for enabling me to say al-istirja' ('To Allah we belong and to Him we will return'; see Al-Baqarah: 154-156 ) in hope of a great reward, and I praise Him for not making it a calamity in my religion."

Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala', in his biography of Shurayh Al-Qadi.
From SayingsOfTheSalaf


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