Imam al-Ṣādiq33 (a) wrote a letter to his cousin ʿAbdu’l-lāh
ibn al-Ḥ asan ibn al-Ḥ asan al-Muthannā, great-grandson of Imam al-Ḥ asan (a). He had a well-known case with the Abbasid caliphs, where he and his family were imprisoned in a very dire situation. The Imam (a) was deeply affected by this situation when he learned about it.
Sayyid Ibn Ṭ āwūs34 narrates this letter with a sound chain of transmission, narrating it with its chain from Shaykh al-Ṭ ūsī, from al-Mufīd,35 from al-Ṣ adūq,36 from Ibn al-Walīd, from al- Ṣaffār, from Muhammad ibn al-Ḥ usayn ibn Abī al-Khaṭ ṭ āb, from Muhammad ibn Abī ʿUmayr, from Isḥ āq ibn ʿAmmār.
This chain is sound without any doubt, and the narration is
considered reliable.37 Hence, the importance of this message lies in what can be learned from it.
Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) wrote to ʿAbdu’l-lāh ibn al-Ḥ asan, may Allah be pleased with him, when he and his household carried the message of condolence for what had happened to him:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
To the righteous successor and the noble offspring, from the son of his brother and his cousin.
While you, your family, and those who are with you bear a
unique burden in what has befallen you, rest assured that you are not alone in this sorrow, sadness, grief, and heartache. I was affected by the same panic, anxiety, and intense grief as you were. However, I returned to what Allah, the Most Exalted, has commanded the righteous in terms of patience and offering consolation. He told His Prophet:
Then the Imam continued to mention about 16 different verses that speak about patience in the Noble Quran. After that the letter said,
Know, my dear uncle and cousin, that Allah, the Most Exalted, has never cared about the worldly harm to His friends, not even for a moment. Nothing is dearer to Him than affliction that is met with patience and perseverance.
Indeed, He, blessed and exalted, has never cared about the worldly blessings for His enemy, not even for a moment. If it weren't for that, His enemies would not kill His friends, terrorize them, or prevent them [from their goals], while
His enemies remain safe, secure, and victorious.
If it weren't for that, Zakariyyā would not have been killed, and Yaḥyā would not have been have sought refuge against injustice and aggression that came for the sake of harlot. If it weren't for that, your grandfather, Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib (a), would not have been killed when he stood for the command of Allah Almighty against injustice, nor would your uncle, al-Ḥusayn ibn Fāṭimah (a), have faced persecution and aggression.39 [...]
This is why Allah says in His Noble Book,
And if it were not for that, it would not have been mentioned in the hadith that: When Allah loves a people or a servant, He tests them severely. They shall not escape a hardship except that they fall into another hardship. [...]
And if it were not for that, it would not have been mentioned in the hadith: There are no two draughts that are more beloved to Allah Almighty than those taken by His believing servant in this world: a draught of anger that he suppresses, and a draught of sorrow upon encountering a calamity which he endures with good consolation and anticipation of reward.
And if it were not for that, the companions of the Messenger of Allah (sa) would not have prayed against
those who wronged them, asking for long life, good health, and abundant wealth and offspring. And if it were not for that, we would not have seen that when the Messenger of Allah (sa) singled out someone for mercy and forgiveness, he was martyred.
Then, at the end of the narration, the Imam says to his cousin:
So, you – O’ uncle, cousin, and members of my extended family, and my brothers – must be patient, content, submissive, and entrust yourselves to Allah, the Majestic and Mighty. Be pleased with patience upon His decree, adhere to His obedience, and submit to His command.
May Allah grant us and you patience, seal our lives and yours with reward and happiness, and save us and you from every ruin, by His power and strength. Indeed, He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. And may Allah bless the chosen one among His creation, Muhammad the Prophet, and his family.41 This narration is authentic in its chain, meaning that its chain of narrators are credible and we must therefore accept it.
Moreover, the content of the narration is corroborated by a
plethora of other narration that carry the same meaning.
We must understand our responsibilities towards such a narration. It is an authentic narration stating that if Allah loves a servant, He tests him. And we must reflect upon ourselves; are we being tested and how!
In the end, what is the real meaning of this narration? What should we take away? We should ponder deeply.
If we are not being tested, it means that Allah has granted us what we desire. He, the Almighty, has given us health, well- being, freedom, and the ability to move and go wherever we please. He has never made us truly hungry in the literal sense.
Allah (swt) has blessed us with countless types of blessings that cannot be enumerated.
How can we reconcile our situation, our lives, with these narrations?
When Allah loves a people or a servant, He tests them severely. They shall not escape a hardship except that they fall into another hardship.
We may go through days, months, and years without facing adversity. We must reflect on this matter. We fear, God forbid, that the absence of adversity in our lives might be a form of enticement. Allah says,
It's a lure towards a dark fate. Humans ought to contemplate and inquire if the abundance of blessings bestowed upon them could be a form of enticement. It's not just wealth, health, or well-being, but all blessings. Could they be a temporary respite, to be followed by severe punishment in the hereafter? Allah says,
We must delve deeply into this matter and reflect upon it with utmost attention, ensuring that we do not fall into the trap of taking blessings for granted.
It is true that there are certain groups of individuals whom Allah, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, holds in special favor. Despite their lofty status in the Hereafter, they are bestowed with abundant blessings in this worldly life as well.
This narration, cited in Uṣ ūl al-Kāfī,44 sheds light on this divine phenomenon. Abū Ḥ amzah narrates that Imam al- Bāqir (a) said,
Allah, Mighty and Exalted, selects certain individuals whom He protects from tribulations. He allows them to live in well-being, grants them sustenance in well-being, allows them to pass away in well-being, resurrects them in well-being, and admits them into Paradise in well-being.45 Reflecting on this, we are prompted to ask ourselves: are we counted among those whom Allah has favored in this manner? Are we among those who receive His abundant blessings while also securing a lofty status in the Hereafter?
Furthermore, we must ponder whether the blessings bestowed upon us are merely a form of enticement. Does our comfort and abundance in this life serve as a test of our gratitude and devotion to our Creator?
These contemplations compel us to examine our lives deeply
and ensure that we fulfill our duties and responsibilities to the best of our abilities, always mindful of our ultimate purpose and destination.