Affliction

You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to Allâh, but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs, and that is from the great matters, [which you must hold on with all your efforts].

AFFLICTION
The Messenger of Allaah said: "Nothing of fatigue, illness, distress, worry, grief or harm befalls a Muslim, not even a prick from a thorn, but Allaah will accept it as expiation for some of their sins."

According to a report narrated by Muslim: "No illness, fatigue, sickness or grief befalls the Muslim, not even worries, but it will be an expiation for some of his sins."

The one who is distressed or worried should know that whatever psychological pain afflicts him/her is not wasted, but serves a purpose in increasing their hasanaat (good deeds) and expiating their sayi'aat (bad deeds). The Muslim should realize that if it were not for disasters and afflictions, we would come empty-handed on the Day of Resurrection, as some of the salaf (early generations of Islam) pointed out, which is why they would rejoice when misfortune struck just as we rejoice at times of ease.

When a person understands how the disasters that befall them in order to expiate for their sins, they will rejoice and be of good cheer, especially if that happens to them straight after they has committed a sin, as happened to some of the Sahaabah (companions of the Prophet Mohammed), may Allaah be pleased with them. `Abd-Allaah ibn Mughaffal (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a man met a woman who had been a prostitute during the time of Jaahiliyyah (Ignorance i.e. before Islam). He started to joke with her, then he touched her. She told him, "Watch it! Allaah has destroyed shirk - polytheism (once `Affaan said: has destroyed Jaahiliyyah) and has brought us Islam." The man went away, and walked into a wall, cutting his face. The Prophet came along, so the man told him what had happened, and he said: "You are a slave for whom Allaah wishes good. When Allaah wishes good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for his sin; when He does not wish good for His slave, he withholds the punishment until the matter is settled on the Day of Resurrection, when all of his sins will be brought forth together."

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When Allaah wishes good for His slave, He hastens to bring about their punishment in this world, and if He does not wish good for them, He withholds the punishment until they are dealt with on the Day of Resurrection."

"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching;
And consult with them in ways that are best and most gracious."[16:125]

Our empire stretched between the East and the West. We lead the way for mankind...Then we let go of Islam...and grabbed hold of nationalism.

Nationalism gave birth to many wars.....much killing.....and global devastation!!!