“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affair is good and this is not for no one except the believer.
If something of good/happiness befalls him he is grateful and that is good for him.
If something of harm befalls him he is patient and that is good for him.
– Saheeh Muslim #2999
Shaykh ibn Qayyim al-Jawzeeyah (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said regarding the state of affairs for the believer:
“One of them is the state of (receiving a) blessing. It’s obligatory upon him (the believer) in this state (to display) the gratitude.
Let the servant contemplate over the statement of Allaah:
” ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُ ۥدَ شُكۡرً۬اۚ وَقَلِيلٌ۬ مِّنۡ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ ”
“Work you, O family of Dâwud (David), with thanks!” But few of My slaves are grateful.” (surah Sabaa: 13)So how many of those whom Allaah has favored them:
“وَإِن تَعُدُّواْ نِعۡمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحۡصُوهَآۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬”
“And if you would count the favours of Allâh, never could you be able to count them. Truly! Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (surah an-Nahl: 18)How many show thanks to Allaah for these favours? Less than a few!
The second: is the state (of being) tested. It is obligatory upon him (the believer) in this state (to observe) the patience.
It is obligatory upon him in this state (to observe) patience. Meaning that Allaah from His overwhelming wisdom He could test the believing servant from the different types of test. It’s obligatory upon him to (observe) patience because this is from the belief in the divine decree and from submitting to the decree of Allaah. Also (the servant must know) that what has befallen him was never going to pass him by. All of that is written in the book of Allaah (al-Lawhul-Mahfooth). Verily Allah doesn’t test him (the servant) to destroy him. He only tests him in order to test his patience and servitude.
Verily there is for Allaah upon the servant servitude in times of hardship just as there is for Him (Allaah) upon the servant servitude in times of happiness. There also is for Him (Allaah) upon the servant servitude in that which he (the servant) dislikes just as there is for Him (Allaah) upon the servant servitude in that which he (the servant) loves. Most of the creation give the servitude in that which they love. However, the matter is giving the servitude in that which there is his hardship.
The third: is the state (of committing) a sin. It is obligatory upon him (the believer) in this state to seek the forgiveness from it (the sin).
Seek the forgiveness with regards to the obligation of turning to Allaah (repentance) displaying ones need for him.”
