Difficulties may bring one closer to Allah

﴿أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِی حَاۤجَّ إِبۡرَ ٰ⁠هِـۧمَ فِی رَبِّهِۦۤ أَنۡ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ﴾

”Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had given him the kingdom?” (Quran 2:258)

Shaykh Ibn ’Uthaimeen, may Allah be pleased with him, commented on this ayah in his tafsir saying:

إذا رأى الإنسان نفسه استغنى فقد يطغى ويزيد عتوه -والعياذ بالله- وعناده، ولهذا أحيانًا تكون الأمراض نِعمة من الله على العبد، والفقر يكون نعمة، والمصائب تكون نعمة

“When a person finds himself self-sufficient he may become tyrannical and increase in rebellion and stubbornness. It is due to this that illness, poverty and trials can at times be a blessing from Allah for the servant.

لأن الإنسان إذا دام في نعمة وفي رغد وفي عيش فإنه ربما يطغى وينسى الله عز وجل. هذا الذي آتاه الله الملك انظر ماذا أثمرت هذه النعمة عليه؟ أنكر الله عز وجل

This is because if a person is always (living a life of) blessings, luxury and comfort he may transgress and forget Allah the Mighty and Exalted. Look at the one (mentioned in the ayah) whom Allah gave a kingdom; what did these blessings cause him to do? He denied Allah the Mighty and Exalted.”

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