سورة البقرة

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Allah tests His sinful servants by reducing their yields, holding back blessings, and closing the treasuries of good things — so that a repenter may turn back, a sinner may cut himself off from disobedience, one who takes admonition may take heed, and one who restrains may block the path of disobedience against the servants of Allah.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The Prophets are the most severely afflicted of people, then the awsiya (successors), then those closest to them [in this order the many afflictions reach them]. The believer too is afflicted according to the measure of his good deeds. Whoever's religion is sound and whose deeds are more excellent, his affliction will be greater. Allah the Exalted has not made this world a reward for any believer, nor a place of punishment for any disbeliever. And whoever is weak in his religion and feeble in his good deeds, his afflictions will be few. Trial and hardship reach the pious believer faster than rain reaching low ground and hollows.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): O Jabir! The meaning of this verse is both particular and general. As for the particular, it is hunger in Kufa, which Allah singles out for the enemies of the Family of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and destroys them by it. As for the general, it is in Sham, where the people will be struck by such fear and hunger as they have never experienced before. The hunger of the people of Sham is before the rising of al-Qaim (may Allah hasten his noble relief), and their fear is after his rising.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): وَ لَنَبْلُوَنَّکُمْ [And We will most certainly try you] means that We [certainly] test you [believers] before the appearance of the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his noble relief).

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Before the rising of al-Qa'im (may Allah hasten his noble relief), there must inevitably be a year in which people go hungry and are struck with severe fear on account of war, loss of wealth, lives and produce; this matter has been stated in the Book of Allah. Then the Imam recited this verse: وَ لَنَبْلُوَنَّکُمْ بِشَیْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَ الْجُوعِ وَ نَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوالِ وَ الْأَنْفُسِ وَ الثَّمَراتِ وَ بَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِینَ [And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) wrote to Abdullah ibn al-Hasan, when he and his family were taken away, [consoling him] over the calamities that had befallen him and his family: "...To proceed: if, on account of the calamities that have reached you [your companions were killed] and you and your household were left alone, know that you have not been singled out with grief, anger, despair, and inner pain and sorrow like the grief, sorrow and heat of the calamity that I too have been stricken with. But in this state I have returned to what Allah has counselled the Allah-fearing to do — that they be patient and bear mourning and calamity with grace. For Allah has said: وَ لَنَبْلُوَنَّکُمْ بِشَیْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَ الْجُوعِ وَ نَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوالِ وَ الْأَنْفُسِ وَ الثَّمَراتِ وَ بَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِین [And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient] ... and examples of this in the Qur'an are many. O my uncle and O my cousin! Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, does not mind subjecting His friends to the trials of this world for a short while, and nothing is more beloved to Allah than the patience [of the believer] in the face of trials, hardships and afflictions. And Allah, Blessed and Exalted, does not mind letting His enemies enjoy the blessings of this world for a short while; for were it not so, His friends would not [have to endure that] His enemies kill them, terrify them and hinder them, and [in that case] His enemies would be safe, secure, superior and possessed of power."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): They are struck with severe fear on account of being killed.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): With fear of the kings of Banu Fulan (Banu Abbas); and hunger by the rising of their prices; and loss of wealth, by the stagnation of trade and the market and scarcity of profit; and loss of lives, by widespread and swift deaths; and loss of produce, by the scarcity of grain and cultivation.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Whoever endures adversities with patience and does not complain to anyone; does not show anguish and restlessness and does not disclose his secrets — he is counted among the patient, and his portion is what Allah has said: وَ بَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِینَ [And give good news to the patient] — that is, give them the glad tidings of Paradise and forgiveness.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: One day I and five groups of our companions came in to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). We said: 'O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Until when shall we remain in this famine?' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'O son of Mas'ud! You will always be in this famine [as long as you live]; give thanks to Allah, for indeed I have read the Book of Allah which was sent down upon me and upon the prophets before me, and I did not find anyone entering Paradise except the patient ones! Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا یَأْتِکُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِینَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْساءُ وَ الضَّرَّاءُ وَ لَنَبْلُوَنَّکُمْ بِشَیْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَ الْجُوعِ وَ نَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوالِ وَ الْأَنْفُسِ وَ الثَّمَراتِ وَ بَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِینَ [Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while there has not yet come upon you the like of what came to those who passed away before you? Distress and affliction touched them... And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient].' We said: 'O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Who are the patient ones?' He said: 'Those who are patient in obedience to Allah; who refrain from sin; who earn lawfully; who spend in moderation and put forward the surplus of their wealth in charity — so these are the ones who succeed and prevail. O son of Mas'ud! Upon them is [incumbent] humility, gravity and dignity, tranquility, reflection, gentleness, justice, teaching, taking heed, foresight, taqwa (piety), beneficence, refraining from sin, love for the sake of Allah, hatred for the sake of Allah, returning the trust, observing justice in judgments, upholding testimony, aiding the people of truth, opposing and standing against the people of falsehood, and pardoning the one who has wronged them. O son of Mas'ud! These are the ones who, when they are afflicted, are patient; when something is given to them, they are grateful; when they judge, they are just; when they speak, they are truthful; when they make a covenant, they fulfill it; when they do wrong, they seek forgiveness; when they do good, they rejoice; and وَ إِذا خاطَبَهُمُ الْجاهِلُونَ قالُوا سَلاماً [when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace] (Furqan/63) [and pass by with indifference and nobility]; وَ إِذا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا کِراماً [and when they pass by vain talk, they pass by nobly] (Furqan/72); الَّذِینَ یَبِیتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّداً وَ قِیاماً [those who spend the night before their Lord prostrating and standing] (Furqan/64), and they speak kindly to people.'

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The good news to the patient is the good news of the hastening of the relief (faraj).