Hardships, sorrows, pain, and unexpected accidents are an inevitable part of human life. In\r\nthis temporary world, a few moments of our precious life pass by very peacefully in the thick\r\nshade of comfort, while some moments are spent in the scorching heat of grief.

The Arrival and Removal of Calamities Hardships, sorrows, pain, and unexpected accidents are an inevitable part of human life. In this temporary world, a few moments of our precious life pass by very peacefully in the thick shade of comfort, while some moments are spent in the scorching heat of grief. In the courtyard of this temporary life, happiness sometimes pitches its tent and makes our moments delightful, while at other times, storms of grief and sorrow blow away the nest of our happiness piece by piece. Carrying the bitter and sweet memories of time within it, this rocking boat of life—which is defined by grief and pain—finally anchors at the shore of death. Why is this journey of life so difficult? Why do calamities surround a human being? God loves His creation thousands of times more than a mother does, so why does He grind them in the mill of trials? To find the answer to this question, we must fundamentally bear in mind that Allah Almighty has mentioned His attribute of being Hakeem (The All-Wise) in many places throughout the Holy Quran. A Hakeem is a Being whose every single action is full of purpose and wisdom. Therefore, His wise decisions and intelligent commands are also behind the arrival of disasters and trials. What are the causes, reasons, and wisdoms behind why calamities descend upon us? In the light of the knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah, scholars have identified five main reasons: The first reason for the arrival of calamities is to test a believing servant. Allah is the Knower of the Unseen (Allam-ul-Ghuyoob), but to make it clear to the people of the world whether His servant remains patient or shows impatience when hardship hits, He continues to test them in different ways. Allah Almighty states: ِت َوال َّث َم َرا س᠒ ُنف َواْ َلأ ِل ْم َوا ِّم َن اْ َلأ ص᠘ ْق َن َو عᖔ᠒ ُج ᠔ل ِّم َن ا᠔ل َخ ْو ِف َوا ᠏ ᡽ ْ ᣎᢕ َش ᚽِ م َو᠐ل َن ْ᠑ ᘘل َوَّن ᝫ᠑ (Al-Baqarah: 155) Translation: "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits." The second reason for the arrival of disasters is to serve as an expiation (wiping away) of a Muslim's sins. By placing a person in hardship, Allah Almighty gives the punishment for sins right here in this world, thereby saving them from punishment in the Hereafter. It is narrated by Hadrat Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) in the two authentic books of Hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: َخ ْن ِم بھا ُ ᡓ ح ᣎٰᡨالشوک ِة َُ ᛓشا َ ᜯ᠑ہا إ َّ᠐ ᢻک َّف َر اᕝ ٍن ْز ُح َᢺ َو مٍّ َھ َᢺ َو ٍب َص َو َᢺ َو ٍب َص َن َما ُِ ᘍص ْᛴ ُب المسل ُم من طاᘍا ُه Translation: "No pain, illness, worry, or grief afflicts a Muslim—even if it is a thorn that pricks him—except that Allah wipes away some of his sins because of it." In another narration reported by Hadrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), these words of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمare recorded: ھا َق َر َو ُᒾجر ᜇما ُت َح ُّط الش ٖہ ِت َح َّط عنہ من َس ِّቯᘮ Translation: "Allah sheds away his sins (due to this calamity) just as a tree sheds its leaves in autumn."The third reason for experiencing accidents and pain is to raise the status of righteous and pious people. Reading the biographies of the Prophets, the friends of Allah (Awliya), and the pious predecessors reveals that they faced extremely tough situations and difficult stages in their lives. It is narrated by Hadrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sunan atTirmidhi that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمwas asked: أ َش ُّد ًَ ᢾَ ᗷئ؟ س᠒ لنا أ ُّی ا Translation: "Which people faced the most severe trials?" The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمreplied: الانᘮᙫاء ثم الامثل فالامثل Translation: "The Prophets faced the most severe trials, then those who are closest to their way, and then those who are closest to their way." Despite these highly respected personalities being the closest and most beloved to Allah, hardships came upon them so that Allah Almighty could bless them with even higher ranks in His presence. In Musnad Ahmad, Muhammad bin Khalid narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather, that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: َول ᡧᣚِ ْو أ ٖہ ِل ما ᡧᣚِ ْو أ ٖه ِجسد ᡧᣚ ُ ᡓ عملہ ابتلا ُه اᕝ ᗷِ إ َّن العَ ᘘد إذا َس ََ ᘘق ْت ᠐لہ ِم َن ا ᕝِ ᡓم ᣂᡧ ᡧل ًة ᠐ل ْم َی ْ᠑ ᘘل ْغ َھا ِد ٖه ثم َص ٗᣂَ َᢔه ع ᣢذل ជح ᣎᡨ ِ ᡓᕝ ُی ِْ ᘘل َغ ٗہ الم ᣂᡧ ᡧل َة ال َ ᣎᡨس ََ ᘘق ْت لہ ِم َن ا Translation: "When Allah decrees a high status for a believing servant that he cannot reach through his own deeds alone, Allah tests him with some physical or financial hardship, or through some grief and worry concerning his children. Then, Allah grants him the strength to be patient, until the servant (by being patient through these trials) reaches the high status that was already decreed for him by Allah." The fourth reason for facing unfavorable conditions is to warn and wake up a careless human being. Allah sends calamities upon a servant to strip away the blanket of heedlessness and turn them back toward His worship and obedience. Allah Almighty states: َون ُع ِج ْر َی ْم ُہ ᡐل َع ᠐ ل ᠒ َᣂᢔ اْ َلأ ᜯ᠔ ِب ا اْ َلأ ْد ُ ᣍٰ َᡧدو َن ا᠔ل َع َذ ِب ا َو᠐ل ُن ِذَ ᘍق َّن ُہم ِّم َن ا᠔ل َع َذ (As-Sajdah: 21) (Note: The text mentions Ahzab: 42, but this verse is from Surah As-Sajdah: 21) Translation: "And We will surely make them taste the closer punishment before the greater punishment, so that perhaps they may return." The final and most common reason for life’s complications, hardships, and calamities is human misconduct, immorality, disobedience to God, and turning away from the rulings of Islamic law (Shariah). When Allah becomes displeased with His servant because of their sins, He closes the doors of His mercy upon them and removes peace and comfort from their life. A sign of this is that despite having all the means and resources for happiness and joy, the heart remains restless. The Creator of the universe has revealed this reality multiple times in His sacred word. Allah Almighty states:ْم ᠑᜛ᘍ ِد ْᘍ َما ᠐ک َس َْ ᛞت ᠐أ ᘘِ َف ٍة َ َو َم᠐ ቯأ َصا َᝫ᠑ ᗷم ِّمن ُّم ِصᘘᚑ (Ash-Shura: 30) Translation: "And whatever affliction visits you is because of what your own hands have earned." In another place, He states: ْع َ ٰᣥ ᠐أ ِة َم َٰᘮ ِق ᠔ل َو َم ْن ᠐أ ْع َر َض َعن ِذ ᠔ک ᠒ری َفِإ َّن ᠐ل ُہ َم ِعᛴ َشة َضن᜛ا َوَن ْح ُᣄُ ُᡫه َی ْو َم ا (Ta-Ha: 124) (Note: The text mentions verse 142, but this verse is actually 124) Translation: "And whoever turns away from My remembrance—indeed, he will have a depressed (narrow) life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind." The Holy Quran mentions past destroyed nations and communities in numerous places, and the reason given for their destruction is always their rebellion, disobedience, and deviation from the teachings of the Prophet of their time. The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمhas also highlighted in his sayings how different sins cause different calamities to descend. In Sunan Ibn Majah, it is narrated by Hadrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: "O Muhajireen (Emigrants)! There are five things that when you are afflicted by them—and I seek refuge with Allah that you should live to see them: 1. Whenever open lewdness (immorality) becomes widespread among a people, the plague and such diseases will spread among them which were never heard of by them or their ancestors. 2. The people who refuse to pay Zakat will be deprived of rain from the sky, and were it not for the sake of the animals, not a single drop of water would fall. 3. The people who cheat in weights and measures will be gripped by famine, severe shortage of provisions, and the oppression of rulers. 4. When their leaders make decisions contrary to what Allah has revealed, an enemy will be given power over them, who will take away what belongs to them. 5. When people abandon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet, Allah will cause them to fall into internal civil war and mutual strife." Regarding the solution to problems and the removal of calamities, Islamic law (Shariah) encourages performing four actions that help lighten grief and comfort the heart. 1. Reciting Istirja: The very first action upon hearing any sorrowful news is to recite Istirja, which is: ” وانا الیہ راجعونᕛ "( “اناTo Allah we belong and to Him we shall return"). The true essence of this is to openly declare that one willingly and happily accepts Allah's decree. 2. Practicing Patience (Sabr): The second action is to maintain self-control and avoid entertaining any corrupt thoughts about Allah Almighty or uttering any inappropriate words with one's tongue. This is called Sabr (patience). 3. Offering Prayer and Supplication: The third action for the afflicted person is to offer Salat-ulHajah (the prayer of need) and then supplicate with deep humility and lowliness, while respecting all the proper etiquettes of prayer.4. Giving Charity (Sadakah): The final guidance is to make arrangements to give charity according to one's financial capacity. If one has nothing to give at that moment, they may make a vow (Nazr) to give it later. Even after doing all this, if no way out of the difficulty seems visible, one should understand that Allah Almighty has either stored the reward for it in the Hereafter or has protected them from a much larger calamity by giving them a smaller one. It is narrated by Hadrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sunan at-Tirmidhi that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: َی َو ُّد أ ْھ ُل العافِ ᘮة یو َم القᘮام ِة ح ْ ᘍُ ᣌَᡧ ᢕع َٰ ᣗض ْت ᣚᡧالدنᘮا ᗷالمقارᗬض ر᠒ ُق أ ْھ ُل ال ᠒ ᘘلائ الثوا َب لو أ َّن جلو َدھم ᜇانت Translation: "On the Day of Resurrection, when the people who faced trials are given their rewards, the people who lived in ease and safety in the world will wish that their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors during their worldly life."