The harm that one faces in calamity is to the extent of [the...

The harm that one faces in calamity is to the extent of [the loftiness of] one’s rank. 18ـ بِقَدْرِ عُلُوِّ الرَّفْعَةِ تَـكُونُ نِكايَةُ الوَقْعَةِ. It is with great difficulty that lofty ranks and perpetual bliss are attained. 19ـ بِالتَّعَبِ الشَّديدِ تُدْرَكُ الدَّرَجاتُ الرَّفيعَةُ والرَّاحَةُ الدَّائِمَةُ. The trial of a man is proportionate to his faith and religion. 20ـ بَلاءُ الرَّجُلِ عَلى قَدْرِ إيمانِهِ وَدينِهِ.

The tribulation of a man is in his submission to avarice and [false] and hope. 21ـ بَلاءُ الرَّجُلِ في طاعَةِ الطَّمَعِ والأمَلِ. Reward descends in proportion to the hardship [that one bears]. 22ـ تَنْزِلُ المَثُوبَةُ عَلى قَدْرِ المُصيبَةِ. Three things are from the greatest tribulations: a very large family, an overwhelming loan and unrelenting sickness. 23ـ ثَلاثٌ مِنْ أعْظَمِ البَلاءِ: كَثْرَةُ العائِلَةِ، وغَلَبَةُ الدَّيْنِ، ودَوامُ المَرَضِ.

The reward for hardship is proportionate to the patience exhibited in it. 24ـ ثَوابُ المُصيبَةِ عَلى قَدْرِ الصَّبْرِ عَلَيْها. Continual strife is from the greatest tribulations. 25ـ دَوامُ الفِتَنِ مِنْ أعْظَمِ المِحَنِ. Sometimes you may be the cause of your own misfortune. 26ـ رُبَّما دُهيتَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ. To the extent of the hardship, there is reward. 27ـ عَلى قَدْرِ المُصيبَةِ تَـكُونُ المَثُوبَةُ.

Every time the value of a thing that is competed becomes great, the difficulty of losing it increases. 28ـ كُلَّما عَظُمَ قَدْرُ الشَيْءِ المُنافَسِ عَلَيْهِ عَظُمَتِ الرَّزِيَّةُ لِفَقْدِهِ. One who does not prepare himself to confront hardships [with patience and supplication], the hardships befall him [while he is unprepared for them]. 29ـ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَعَرَّضْ لِلنَّوائِبِ تَعَرَّضَتْ لَهُ النَّوائِبُ.

One who starts complaining about the hardship that has befallen him is actually only complaining against his Lord. 30ـ مَنْ أصْبَحَ يَشْكُو مُصيبَةً نَزَلَتْ بِهِ فَإنَّما يَشْكُو رَبَّهُ. One who turns his attention away from this world, hardships become easy for him [to bear]. 31ـ مَنْ لَهِيَ عَنِ الدُّنيا هانَتْ عَلَيْهِ المَصائِبُ. One who hits his hand on his thigh in times of hardship has nullified his reward. 32ـ مَنْ ضَرَبَ يَدَهُ عَلى فَخِذِهِ عِنْدَ مُصيبَة فَقَدْ أحْبَطَ أجْرَهُ..

One who exaggerates small hardships, Allah tries him with great ones. 33ـ مَنْ عَظَّمَ صِغارَ المَصائِبِ اِبْتَلاهُ اللّهُ بِكِبارِها. One who faces successive calamities acquires the merit of patience through them. 34ـ مَنْ تَوالَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَـكِباتُ الزَّمانِ أكْسَبَتْهُ فَضيلَةَ الصَّبْرِ.