Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
What is the ruling regarding a person who expresses displeasure when a calamity befalls him?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
When a calamity strikes, people respond in different ways. These responses can be categorized into four levels:
This is when a person reacts with discontent toward the calamity. This displeasure can appear in different forms:
❀ Displeasure in the heart
﴿وَمِنَ النّاسِ مَن يَعبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلى حَرفٍ فَإِن أَصابَهُ خَيرٌ اطمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِن أَصابَتهُ فِتنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلى وَجهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنيا وَالءاخِرَةَ﴾
(Sūrah al-Ḥajj: 11)
“And among the people is he who worships Allah on the edge; if good befalls him, he is content with it, but if a trial befalls him, he turns on his face (to disbelief). He loses both this world and the Hereafter — that is the clear loss.”
❀ Displeasure through speech
❀ Displeasure through actions
In this state, a person bears the calamity though he dislikes it, yet refrains from showing discontent.
الصَّبْرُ مِثْلُ اسْمِهِ مُرٌّ مَذَاقَتُهُ
لٰكِنْ عَوَاقِبُهُ أَحْلٰى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ
“Patience, like its name, has a bitter taste,
But its outcome is sweeter than honey.”
Ruling: Patience is wājib (obligatory), as Allah ﷻ commands:
﴿وَاصبِروا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصّـبِرينَ﴾ (Sūrah al-Anfāl: 46)
“And be patient; indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
In this state, a person is content with the decree, neither resenting the calamity nor feeling it as a burden.
The highest level — the person thanks Allah even in times of calamity.
«مَا مِنٍْ مُصِيْبَةٍ تُصِيْبُ الْمُسْلِمَ إِلَّا كَفَّرَ اللّٰهُ بِهَا عَنْهُ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5640; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2572)
“No calamity befalls a Muslim except that Allah expiates some of his sins by it — even a thorn that pricks him.”
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Question
What is the ruling regarding a person who expresses displeasure when a calamity befalls him?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
When a calamity strikes, people respond in different ways. These responses can be categorized into four levels:
① Expressing Displeasure
This is when a person reacts with discontent toward the calamity. This displeasure can appear in different forms:
❀ Displeasure in the heart
- A person feels anger toward Allah and resents the trial decreed for him.
- This is ḥarām and can sometimes lead to disbelief, as Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمِنَ النّاسِ مَن يَعبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلى حَرفٍ فَإِن أَصابَهُ خَيرٌ اطمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِن أَصابَتهُ فِتنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلى وَجهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنيا وَالءاخِرَةَ﴾
(Sūrah al-Ḥajj: 11)
“And among the people is he who worships Allah on the edge; if good befalls him, he is content with it, but if a trial befalls him, he turns on his face (to disbelief). He loses both this world and the Hereafter — that is the clear loss.”
❀ Displeasure through speech
- Complaining in a way that shows impatience, uttering words of destruction or doom, crying out in despair — all of these are ḥarām.
❀ Displeasure through actions
- Striking the cheeks, tearing clothes, pulling hair, and other prohibited acts.
- Such actions contradict the obligatory command to be patient.
② Patience (Ṣabr)
In this state, a person bears the calamity though he dislikes it, yet refrains from showing discontent.
- As the poet said:
الصَّبْرُ مِثْلُ اسْمِهِ مُرٌّ مَذَاقَتُهُ
لٰكِنْ عَوَاقِبُهُ أَحْلٰى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ
“Patience, like its name, has a bitter taste,
But its outcome is sweeter than honey.”
- Here, the believer dislikes the calamity but faith prevents him from resentment.
- He understands that whether the calamity came or not, he must accept Allah’s decree.
Ruling: Patience is wājib (obligatory), as Allah ﷻ commands:
﴿وَاصبِروا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصّـبِرينَ﴾ (Sūrah al-Anfāl: 46)
“And be patient; indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
③ Contentment (Riḍā)
In this state, a person is content with the decree, neither resenting the calamity nor feeling it as a burden.
- His strong faith prevents displeasure entirely.
- Preferred view: This is mustaḥabb (recommended) but not obligatory.
- Difference from patience: In riḍā, the coming or absence of calamity is the same in the believer’s heart.
- Patience remains obligatory, while contentment is a higher, recommended station.
④ Gratitude (Shukr)
The highest level — the person thanks Allah even in times of calamity.
- He recognizes that the calamity is an expiation for sins and an elevation in rank.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَا مِنٍْ مُصِيْبَةٍ تُصِيْبُ الْمُسْلِمَ إِلَّا كَفَّرَ اللّٰهُ بِهَا عَنْهُ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5640; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2572)
“No calamity befalls a Muslim except that Allah expiates some of his sins by it — even a thorn that pricks him.”
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
