*HARDSHIPS BENEFIT THE BELIEVER*
Allah عزوجل has decreed that, in this life, hardships and disasters strike both believers and non-believers. For a non-believer, they are inconveniences that hinder him from proceeding with his normal involvment in the wordly life. For a believer, on the other hand, they are instances of rest and rememberance, tests that promise great rewards, and indications of atonment and expiation of sins.
Regardless of how little is the harm that strikes a believer, it carries with it good news of forgivness and elevated rank ( in Jannah ). The Righteous Predecessors used to be pleased when a hardship afflicted them, seeing it as a token of Allah's forgivness and benevolence.
*EXPIATION OF SINS*
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
" Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah سبحانه وتعالى burdened with no sins. "
[ Tirmithee ]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
" Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity"
[ Bukharee and others ]
SIGN OF EEMAN
Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه and Ka'b Bin Maalik رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
" The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake - until it is uprooted all at once."
[ Bukharee and Muslim ]