Affliction

                         Affliction

  Affliction is an adornment for the believer and a mark of honour
  for the man of intellect, because facing it directly needs stead
  fastness and firm-footedness, both of which confirm belief. The
  Prophet said, 'We, the company of the prophets, are the people
  who have the hardest trials, then after us come the believers,
  then the others like them.'

  Whoever tastes the food of affliction while under God's protec-
  tion enjoys it more than he enjoys God's blessing. He yearns for
  it when it is not there, because the lights of blessing lie under
  the balance of affliction and trial, and the balance of affliction
  and trial lies under the lights of blessing. Many are delivered
  from affliction and then destroyed in blessing. God praised none
  of His bondsmen, from Adam up to Muhammad, until He had
  tested him and seen how he fulfilled the duty of worship while
  in affliction. God's marks of honour come, in fact, at the last
  stage, but the aSictions themselves come in the beginning.

  Whoever leaves the path of affliction is ignoring the lamp of
  the believers, the beacon of those near to God, and the guide for
  those on the right path. There is no good in a slave who complains
  of a single trial preceded by thousands of blessings and followed
  by thousands of comforts. Whoever does not show the patience
  required in affliction is deprived of thankfulness in the blessings
  he reccives. Similarly, whoever does not give the thankfulness
  owed for blessings is denied the patience owed in affliction. Who-
  ever is denied both of them is an outcast.

  Ayyub said in his supplication, 'O God, verily seventy comforts
  and ease did not come to me until You sent me seventy afflictions.'
  And Wahb ibn Munabbih said, 'Affliction to a believer is like a
  bit to a horse and a halter to a camel.' 'Ali said, 'Steadfastness
  in relation to belief is like the head to the body. The head of
  steadfastness is affliction, but only those who act righteously
  understand that.