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wa-la-qad ʾarsalnā ʾilā ʾumamin min qablika fa-ʾakhadhnāhum bi-l-baʾsāʾi wa-ḍ-ḍarrāʾi laʿallahum yataḍarraʿūna
We have certainly sent [apostles] to nations before you, then We seized them with stress and distress so that they might entreat [Us].
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-‘An’am, Verse 42
How the former disbelievers were seized with distress and affliction – Warning against the approach of the punishment
42. "Indeed We sent (messengers) to nations before you, then We seized them with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves."
The Qur'anic word /ba'sa'/ has been applied in the senses of difficulties, fight, poverty, famine, flood, earthquake, and infectious diseases; and the Arabic term /qarra' / has been used in the Arabic language with the meanings of: 'sorrow, grief, disgrace, ignorance, and failure'. The appointment of Divine prophets, of course, and completing the argument has been a process and a Divine way of treatment in the length of history. So, the history of the past is an example for the coming generations.
Meantime, difficulties are some means for regarding Allah and managing transgressors. Therefore, neither any welfare is a grace nor any difficulty is a wrath. At the time of calamities, the hands are raised up for supplication and asking help. The verse says:
It is cited in Nur-uth-Thaqalayn, vol. 1, p. 717 that Imam Ali-ibn-Abi-Talib (as) said:
"If people invocate truthfully to Allah when calamities fall down upon them, they will be removed from all their difficulties....."