الضار
Allah azza wa Jall said in Surah Yoonus 49 (English translation):
(10:49) Tell them: ‘I have no power to harm or benefit even myself, except what Allah may will.*57 There is an appointed term for every people; and when the end of their term comes, neither can they put it off for an hour, nor can they bring it an hour before.*58
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Exp. notes *57 & *58:
*57. This is to say, I never said that I will sit in judgment on you and inflict torment on those who do not believe in me. Therefore, I am not in a position to tell when the threat will be made good. As the threat has been held out by Allah, He will pass His judgment on you when He wills, and in whatever way He wills, for everything depends on His will.
*58. That is, Allah passes His judgment on individuals and communities after the expiry of the term that He Himself has set and He alone knows how long it lasts for a community. He is not hasty in giving rewards or punishments. When He sends His Messenger to deliver His Message, He allows sufficient time to each individual and to each community to consider it and ponder over it and mend his (or its) way, during the appointed term. The period of the term may extend to centuries in the case of a community and He knows best how long it should be.
When that term, which is based on justice, expires, and that person or community does not repent of its rebellious conduct, then Allah passes His judgment. When the time of the judgment comes, it is neither advanced nor delayed even by a single hour.
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Allah Ta’ala tests us taking away one benefit and giving harm and then
taking away harm and giving benefit to see what is the reaction of the abd (servant) in different circumstances.
Allah Azza wa Jall said in surah Al-Nahl (An-Nahl) verse 53 to 55. Their translation is here:
(16:53) Every bounty that you enjoy is from Allah; and whenever any misfortune strikes you, it is to Him that you cry for the removal of your distress*46
Exp. Note *46
*46. That is: the fact, that you run to Allah for help in your distress and not to anyone else, is a clear proof of the Oneness of Allah, which (this fact of the Oneness of Allah) has been embedded in your own hearts. At the time of your affliction, your true nature, which had been suppressed by the gods you had forged, involuntarily comes to the surface and invokes Allah, for it knows no other god or lord or master, having any real power. (For further details please refer to (E.Ns 29 and 41 of Surah Al-Anaam).
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(16:54) But as soon as He removes the distress from you, some of you associate others with their Lord*47 in giving thanks,
Exp. note *47:
*47. That is, at the time of showing gratitude to Allah for removing his affliction, he begins to make offerings also to some god, goddess or saint to show that Allah’s kindness to him was due to the intercession of his patron, for he imagines that otherwise Allah would not have removed his distress.
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(16:55) that they may show ingratitude for the bounties We bestowed upon them. So enjoy yourselves for a while, soon you will come to know (the truth).
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You can see the above three verses and the exp. notes to understand the behavior of unjust human beings. So Allah, as Ad-Daarr will cause some harm to the person. Then the person will cry to Allah for the removal of the trouble. This is because due to his nature (fitrah) he /she understand that only One Allah can remove the trouble from him /her. Then Allah Azza wa Jall will remove his trouble and will benefit him/her. And then he/she, in paying thanks to Allah, associates others with Allah and thus give the proof of committing shirk. So they become punishable and Allah is reminding in the verse 55 (its translation is above) the truth which shall be known to everyone in the Hereafter on the Day of Judgment. That truth is clearly explained in the Holy Quraan and Sunnah that Only Allah is the Giver of harm and benefit. Therefore, seek help only from Allah. In case you associated other partner with Allah and you died with shirk, you shall be punished in Hell forever!!!
Surah Al-Nisaa (An-Nisaa) verse 123 (Translation):
(4:123) It is neither your fancies nor the fancies of the People of the Book which matter. Whoever does evil shall reap its consequence and will find none to be his protector and helper against Allah.
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When the Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) read the above verse of the surah Al-Nisaa (An-Nisaa), Abu-Bakar rAa became very much worried. He said, “Who among us is free from making mistakes? So everyone will be harmed!!!”
The Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) said:
“غفر الله لك يا ابا بكر “
“May Allah forgive you o Aba Bakar”
Then the Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) explained to him like, “ don’t you become sick? Don’t you get surrounded by worries? Don’t you come across troubles /difficulties?”
He answered, “why not”.
Then the Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) told him that these are the harms which are inflicted on Muslims to wipe out their sins.
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(And Allah knows best about the exact conversation between Muhammad salla Allaho alaihi wa sallm and Abu Bakar rAa)
Thus a Muslim may face harm due to some sin or mistake and the harm or trouble inflicted upon him/her will clean them from the sins. The harm may be a type of sickness or some other trouble.
Then there are very good, God-fearing Muslims who suffer from harms etc. Even the prophets alaihim salaam, (who were very innocent), suffered illnesses and troubles!!!
This is because in such cases the harm/trouble etc. cause their ranks to become very high!!!
