Can the misfortunes that hit us be atonement for our sins?

- We are in a test. Disasters, diseases and misfortunes happen to us. Will they be atonement for our sins?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- Troubles are the elements that add life to life because a trouble-free, uniform and monotonous life is more like a dead body than a living one. It is closer to non-existence than existence. Life gains motivation and progress through difficulties.

“Patience and prayer are two good weapons of the believer.” This saying is narrated as a hadith. (see Kanzul-Ummal, III/272, h.no: 6505).

Patience is a power of endurance that gives us resistance against hardships and difficulties. It is emphasized in the hadith that those who do it truly are believers because the power of endurance of man is limited. Patience is a truly unique weapon in the hands of a person who believes in Allah, who will increase his power, who is ready everywhere with His knowledge and who overcomes every difficulty. One can resist against all hardships and overcome all difficulties with patience.

On the other hand, what transforms all problems into joy - like a machine that transforms everything - is belief in the hereafter. He who believes in the hereafter has the power to say “Ya Hu! This will also end,” in the face of the hard tests of the world. He says, “Ya Sabur” (O the Patient One) in the face of all kinds of suffering in order to attain eternal health just like a patient who takes bitter medicine in order to get well.  

What made the Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) attain the sultanate of Egypt from slavery was his patience.

Patience is a weapon against the enemy of haram; it is also a unique weapon to use to fulfill Allah’s commands; in addition, it is also the most powerful weapon against misfortunes.

“My ummah is a nation that has received mercy. They will not be tormented in the hereafter. Their torment/punishment is given in the form of disasters such as mischief / severe tests, earthquakes and innocent killings in the world.” (Abu Davud, Fitan, 7)

Islamic scholars have focused on the meaning of this hadith and tried to make it understandable with different interpretations. The hadith is one of the problematic hadiths with ambiguous meaning.

The problem is this: There are many sound hadiths stating that some people from this ummah, especially those who commit major sins and die without repenting, will go to hell and will later come out of it through intercession or by the grace of Allah (see Awnul-Mabud, the interpretation of the hadith in question)

Attention is drawn to the following points for the solution of this problem:

a. What is meant by the phrase “this Ummah” refers to the people / Companions of the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It does not mean the whole ummah.

b. What is meant by “ummah marhumah” is that they are entitled to more divine blessings than other ummahs. The heavy burdens that were placed on previous ummahs were not placed on this ummah. Otherwise, it does not mean that all of their sins are forgiven because it is against the secret of testing too.

c. There is a hidden simile and comparison in the phrase “They will not be tormented in the hereafter”. In other words, “There will be no punishment ‘as heavy as the punishment of other nations’ for them in the hereafter.”

d. Or, there will be no punishment for most of this ummah. Since the decrees are general, such a style was preferred - in order to open a door of hope.

e. As stated in the verse “Whoever works evil, will be requited accordingly” (an-Nisa, 4/123), every action that is done, whether good or bad, has a reward or punishment. The punishment for the evil done by this ummah is generally given in this world in the form of various troubles, heavy tests and misfortunes. That is the general rule, but some will also suffer their punishment in the hereafter.

f. According to Munawi, the reason for a different practice for this ummah is this: For the previous ummahs, the measure of justice and the standards required by the name of Rabb of Allah, who wants education / to discipline, were in force. For this ummah, Allah’s grace and blessings are in force.

g. What is meant by “ummah” mentioned in the hadith might be a certain group, a class, or a community that does not commit major sins.

h. What is meant by “ummah” mentioned in the hadith is not the one that is addressed by the offer, but the one that accepts it (ummah al-ijabah). In other words, it is the ummah that follows Allah’s commands and avoids His prohibitions.

i. According to Tibi, the main message conveyed in the hadith is that this ummah has received more blessings from Allah than other ummahs, and that every misfortune that hits them in the world, even if a thorn pricking their feet, will be atonement for their sins. Accordingly, if a person suffers troubles and misfortunes in this world - because of his sins - he will no longer suffer punishment in the hereafter:

“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: ‘To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return’:- They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.” (al-Baqara, 2/155-157)

No calamity, not even the pricking of a thorn, remains unrequited; it too has a reward. We see this fact in the following hadith:

 Abu Hurayra narrates:  The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“If a Muslim is hit by any misfortune, trouble, grief, sorrow, torment, or worry, or even if a thorn pricks him, Allah will surely make it atone for his sins.” (Bukhari, Marda,1; Muslim, Birr, 52)

There are many hadiths about patience. We think the following hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad will be enough as an example:

 The Prophet (pbuh) said;

“The judgment/decision that Allah has foreseen for the believers makes me very happy:

If a good thing befalls him, he praises and thanks his Lord. If a calamity befalls him, he praises his Lord and shows patience. In any case - even for a morsel he puts in his wife’s mouth - there is a reward for the believer.” (Ahmad b. Hanbal, 1/173).

The hadith above shows that a believer’s life always revolves around profitable wheels. He shows patience in the face of troubles and receives rewards; he thanks Allah when he is in relief and receives rewards. How happy are the believers who spend their lives in accordance with Allah’s commands!

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