What is the meaning of the hadith stating that Allah sends a person troubles and misfortunes to elevate his rank?
"Adam has a rank in the eye of Allah; it is not possible to attain it through worshipping. Allah sends him things that he does not like before he reaches that rank." Will you explain the hadith above?
Dear Brother / Sister,
According to a narration from Abu Hurayra, the Prophet (pbuh) said,
“A person has a rank in the eye of Allah but he cannot attain it through worshipping. Therefore, Allah tests that person through things that he does not like - sends him troubles and misfortunes – before he reaches that rank.” (Haythami, Majmauz-Zawaid, h. no: 3741)
- The chain of narrators of the hadith above reported by Abu Yala is sound. (see Majmauz-Zawaid)
- Everything exists in Allah‘s pre-eternal knowledge including who will be in what rank. The choices that Allah’s servants make based on their free will are essential. Those choices are known by Allah too. However, knowledge is not compelling, but determinative. Therefore, it is the person himself that is responsible for the outcome of the choice. It is a manifestation of the measure of justice.
However, Allah sometimes does a favor beyond justice for some of His slaves. He sometimes does that favor for no reason, and sometimes by creating reasons. In the hadith above, an example of the favor that Allah will do by creating reasons based on some wisdom is given.
- The lesson given by the hadith is as follows: People should not object to the divine predestination (qadar) if things that they do not like, such as misfortunes, happen to them. They should think that Allah, who is the most compassionate and most merciful, has predestined something good in them and should read the message given by the following Quranic verse very well:
“…But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.” (al-Baqara, 2/216)
Questions on Islam
- Does the statement "Courtesy (adab) comes before deeds" exist in the religious resources; is it significant?
- Is he who says “la ilaha illallah” saved from the punishment of Allah?
- Are the misfortunes and disasters that hit nations according to the type of the crime that is committed?
- Who said, ‘He who escapes from plague is like the one who escapes from war’?
- Is the following statement a hadith: "Hellfire will not burn a person who says La ilaha illallah"?
- What is Salatan Tunjina supplication, its meaning and virtue? Why do some people turn their hands backwards when it is read? Is it a bid’ah or sunnah to read this supplication after every fard prayer?
- How should we understand the hadiths with a few probabilities?
- Will you explain the hadith, "The best ones among you are the ones who make people remember Allah when they are seen"?
- "If Allah gives a boon to a person, he should increase "Alhamdulillah". If the worry of a person increases, he should say, "Astaghfirullah". Why is it stated in the hadith above that we should say "Astaghfirullah" when “worry increases”?
- When it is said that lifespan is lengthened through sadaqah, does it mean the time of death changes?
