1] Every cloud has a silver lining

1]
I have seen on TV many ofthe calamities that have befallen the Muslim
ummah, in Palestine our wounds are bleeding; in Chechnya our bodies
are cut; in Afghanistan our houses are destroyed; in the Philippines
and in Kashmir... and now in Iraq.
Tomorrow only Allaah knows who will be meet this fate...
Are these calamities and these disasters that we see good or bad?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Disasters and calamities have been created for a reason, which none
can fully comprehend but Allaah. Some of the thingsthat Allaah has
shown to us indicate this.
1 - Disasters and calamities are a test of thebeliever's patience.
Allaah says (interpretation of themeaning):
"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as
came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with
severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger
and those whobelieved along with him said, 'When (will come) the Help
of Allaah?' Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allaah is near!"
[al-Baqarah 2:214]
2 - This is a sign of man's weakness and his need for his Lord, and
shows that he cannot succeed unless he realizes his needfor his Lord
and starts beseeching Him.
3 - Calamities are a means of expiation of sin and raising one's
status. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that
pricks him, but Allaahwill record one good deedfor him and will remove
one bad deed from him."
Narrated by Muslim.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Trials will continue to
befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their
children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sin on
them." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2399; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2280.
And it was narrated that Jaabir said: The Messengerof Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "On the Day of
Resurrection, whenpeople who had suffered affliction are given their
reward, those who were healthy will wish their skins had been cut to
pieces with scissors when they were in the world." Narrated by
al-Tirmidhi, 2402. See al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, no. 2206.
4 - One of the reasons for calamities is so that people will not feel
content only with this world. If the world were free of calamities,
man would love it more and feel content with it, and would forget
about the Hereafter. But calamities wake him up from his negligence
and make him strive for the place in which there are no calamities or
trials.
5 - One of the greatest reasons behind calamities and trials is to
warn against falling short in some matters, so that man can make up
for the areas in which he has fallen short. This is like the warning
that is issuedto an employee or student who is falling short. The
purpose behindit is to make him make upfor his shortcomings. If hedoes
that, then all well and good, otherwise he deserves to be punished.
The evidence for that includes the verse (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad).
And We seized them with extremepoverty (or loss in wealth)and loss in
health (with calamities) so that they might humble themselves(believe
with humility).
When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not humble themselves
(believe with humility)? But their heartsbecame hardened, and Shaytaan
(Satan) made fair-seeming to them thatwhich they used to do"
[al-An'aam 6:42]
Another reason... is as a punishment for those who were previously
warned, but did not benefit from the warning and mend their ways,
andpersisted in their sin. Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"...so We destroyed them for their sins ..."
[al-Anfaal 8:54]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And indeed, We destroyed generations before you when they didwrong,
while their Messengers came to themwith clear proofs, but theywere not
such as to believe! Thus do We requite the people who are Mujrimoon"
[Yoonus 10:13]
"And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a
definite order (to obey Allaah and be righteous) to those among them
[or We (first)increase in number those of its population] who lead a
life of luxury. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of
torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with
complete destruction"
[al-Isra' 17:16]
Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaahhave mercy on him) said: "Grief may be
accompanied by that for which a person will be rewarded and praised,
so it may be good in that sense, not that grief is good in and of
itself, such as one who feels sad for falling short in religious
matters or for calamities that befall the Muslims. :->