حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

The way of the early Muslims with trials and tribulations: On the authority of Layth, he said: I told Talhah bin Musarrif, may God have mercy on him, on the authority of Tawus that he disliked groaning, so no groaning was heard from him during his illness until he died! [Ibn Abi Al-Dunya Encyclopedia 4/63].

The way of the early Muslims with trials and tribulations: Ibn al-Sammak, may God have mercy on him, wrote to al-Rashid, offering his condolences on the death of his son: “To proceed: If you can make your gratitude to God when He took him greater than your gratitude when He gave him, then know that when He took him, He secured His gift for you. Had he survived, you would not have been safe from his trials. Do you see your grief at his passing and your anguish over parting from him? Would you be content with this life for yourself, and would you be content with it for your son? He has escaped the distress, while you remain suspended in danger. Know that the calamity is twofold if you despair, but it is only one if you are patient. Do not compound the two for yourself.” [Uyun al-Akhbar 3/59]

The situation of the Salaf with trials and tribulations: A member of the family of Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn, may God have mercy on him, fell ill and he was distressed over him. Then he was informed of his death and was relieved. So he was asked about that, and he said: We call upon God for what we love, so if what we hate happens, we do not go against God in what He loves. [Uyun Al-Akhbar 3/62].

The attitude of the early Muslims towards trials and tribulations: On the authority of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, may God have mercy on him, he said: I do not like the pangs of death to be easy for me because it is the last thing by which a Muslim’s sins are expiated. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/229].

The situation of the Salaf with trials and tribulations: Saeed bin Jubayr, may God have mercy on him, said: The trials continued to befall my companions until I saw that God had no need of me, until the trials befell me. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/106].