*The Garden of Guidance*
Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
“And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast,” (2:155)
"And give glad tidings to the patient."
“Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning.” (2:156)
And on the authority of Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her):
Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) related to her
that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:
"There is no Muslim who is struck by a calamity
and turns to what Allah has commanded him to say:
“Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning.” (2:156)
'O Allah, with You I seek reward for my calamity,
so reward me for it and compensate me with something better,'
except that Allah will surely reward him for it
and grant him something better in exchange."
She said:
"When Abu Salamah passed away,
I remembered what he had narrated to me from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),
and so I said:
“Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning.” (2:156)
'O Allah, with You I seek reward for this calamity of mine,
so reward me for it.'
But whenever I intended to say:
'And compensate me with something better,'
I would say to myself:
'Can I be granted anyone better than Abu Salamah?'
Yet I eventually said it,
and Allah compensated me with Muhammad (peace be upon him)
and rewarded me for my calamity."
Related by Ibn Majah.
A Benefit:
Maymun Ibn Mihran (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"No servant—whether a prophet or anyone else—ever attained any substantial good
except through patience."