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mā ʾaṣāba min muṣībatin fī l-ʾarḍi wa-lā fī ʾanfusikum ʾillā fī kitābin min qabli ʾan nabraʾahā ʾinna dhālika ʿalā llāhi yasīrun
No affliction visits the land or yourselves but it is in a Book before We bring it about—that is indeed easy for Allah—
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Hadid - Verse 22
22. No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Tablet before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah.
The world of existence is well-measured and prior to becoming existent, all phenomena have been recorded. Thus, to lay further emphasis on refraining from mundane attachments and not being affected by worldly possession and loss, the blessed Verse says:
"No calamity befalls on the earth or in you but it is inscribed in the Preserved Tablet before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah."
Calamities like earthquakes, floods, tempests, and different blights and also human afflictions like death, ailments, and undesirable occurrences have all been pre-ordained and recorded in the Preserved Tablet aiming to test mankind in encountering vicissitudes. However, it is worthy of note that the calamities mentioned in the blessed Verse in question are solely inevitable ones beyond human control. The same theme is reflected elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an8:
"And whatever of misfortune befalls you is the consequence of what your hands have earned. And He is Oft-Forgiving."
The twain blessed Verses interpret each other reflecting that afflictions befalling man fall into two categories, the first of which include numerous chastisements and atonements of sins, e.g. injustice, treason, deviation, and neglect, constituting the consequence of our deeds. The second category includes the inevitable afflictions beyond human control affecting individuals and societies aiming at trials. These two categories are discrete. Thus, many Prophets, friends of God Almighty, and pious believers were afflicted by such calamities for their trial or promotion of exalted states such that those who are nearer unto Divine Threshold suffer further calamities.
There is a precise philosophy for such afflictions which were mentioned above in discussions on theology, Divine Justice, and afflictions. In this vein, it is narrated that upon Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-‘Abidin's (as) arrival in shackles and fetters at Yazid's meeting, the latter turned to the Imam (as) and recited Verse 30 from Surah al-Shura9:
"And Whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He is Oft-Forgiving,"
sarcastically connoting that the afflictions of their family are the consequences of their deeds. However, the Imam (as) refuted his claim by saying that the blessed Verse had not been revealed about them, but another blessed Verse had been sent down as per which God Almighty had preordained such afflictions for them for the upkeep of the Islamic faith.10 It is worthy of note that afflictions befalling the unjust aim at warning them, but those befalling believers are the means of trial and growth and those befalling Allah's friends aim at promotion of their exalted states.11
According to another tradition:
"Afflictions of the unjust are for warning them, those befalling believers are for trial, and those befalling Allah's friends are for promotion of their states."
It is noteworthy that:
"And verily it is easy for Allah"
reflects that recording so many afflictions in the Preserved Tablet is facile for Allah. The Preserved Tablet indicates Divine Omniscience reflected in the world of creation and the system of causality governing it.
Footnotes