Are All Afflictions Because of What Your Hands Have Earned?
The truth (exalted is He) says: “And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much”. (Ash-Shura 42:30)
Human becomes confused when a disaster strikes him, whether it was because of himself, by not seeking the reasons.
Or was it something that Allah the Almighty destined for him, as Allah the Almighty only chooses good.
How can we reconciliate between the human belief and what Allah the Almighty has destined?
As for the question about the verse “And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned”:
It’s as when he the Almighty said: “Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by (reason of) what the hands of people have earned”
Disasters are due to the deeds and the acts
But the disaster might be exclusive or general.
And the reason might exclusive or general.
The evidence for that is the saying of Allah the Almighty: “And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively”
A person might feel that he didn’t commit any sin.
As he has few sins, or when he commits sins, he repents
So, he wonders: why this disaster strikes me?
Their deeds might be the reason for this
“And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively”
Secondly: seeing yourself free from sins is the reason for this disaster
Because if a person believes this, he will admire himself, and he will be rude to his lord.
Then he will say, o my lord I didn’t deserve such adversity and punishment.
The belief of a human that he is infallible is the reason for committing sins
He who claims to be infallible is the evanescent that didn’t not reach infallibility.
Human must be aware of himself
Who amongst us didn’t commit sins?!
One might say: disasters and adversities stroke even the prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), didn’t they?
We say: yes, they stroke even the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
Adversities and disasters strike the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to raise his status.
As he (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) have achieved every high and beautiful status.
From that which human can reach.
You must have hardships in order for you to achieve patience
That’s why the prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was harmed during his call.
They didn’t accept his call, they didn’t believe him, they called him a magician, a liar, a poet, and crazy.
They through the fetus of the she-camel over him while he was prostrating under the ka’baa
This is great harm
Yet, he maintained patience
Also, the diseases that he had, is more severe than what we might have by the double.
As he (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I have as much fever as two men of you have”.
When he left this world when he was dying (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
He suffered from the death throes as no one else suffered
Why?
In order for him to reach the highest level of patience
According to Allah’s destinies and ways.
So, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) went through what he had of adversities and disasters, that we believe it was only to perfect his status in patience
And in order for him to be patient and grateful.
I swear by Allah, he reached the highest level of gratitude
As he used to pray at night until his feet swells, and his legs were sore.
And when people talked to him about that, he said: shouldn’t I be a grateful servant!
So, he reached the highest level of patience, and gratitude.
may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.