2. The servant is reminded of his sins so that he can repent and: 4. A person humbling himself and submitting himself before

tum back to Allah, Mighty and Magnificent. 1 55 3. The heart becomes soft after having been coarse and hard. One of the Salaf said, 'A person could fall ill and as a result bring his sins to mind. Then, by virtue of his fear of Allah, they would break up and disperse like flies and Allah would forgive him.'

Allah, Mighty and Magnificent. Indeed such a state is more be­ loved to Allah than many deeds of obedience. 5. They lead a person's heart to return to Allah, to stand at His door, implore Him and to be submissive before Him. This is one of the greatest benefits of tribulation. All ah has censured those who are not submissive to Him at times of hardship, & "' > � .... ..... ........ � uy�i.._, "We seized them with the punishment, but they did not go low before their Lord; nor will they humble themselves." 1 4 "We sent Mes sengers to nations before you and afflicted their nations with hardship and distress so that hopefully they would humble themselves." 15 14 al-M11'mimin (23): 76 15 al-An'tim (6): 43 1 56 One of the previous Scriptures states, 'Allah puts a servant to trial because He loves to hear his humble entreaty.' Sa'Id ibn 'Abdu'l-'Aziz said, 'Dawiid ('alqyhis-saldm) said, "Glory be to the One who causes a person to supplicate when faced with tribulation. Glory be to the One who confers gratitude to a person in a state of ease."' Abii Ja'far MuJ:iammad ibn 'Ali passed by MuJ:iammad ibn al­ Munkadir who was in state of intense grief. He asked after him and he was told that he was burdened by debt. Abu Ja'far said, 'Has the door of supplication opened for him?' They said, 'Yes.' He said, 'A servant is truly blessed if, when in need, he frequently invokes his Lord, no matter what that need.' Some of them, when supplicating at times of adversity, would not want a quick response for fear that the state (of need of their Lord) that they found themselves in would end. Thabit said, 'When the believer invokes Allah, Allah entrusts Jibril to fulfil his need saying, "Do not hasten in meeting his need for I love to hear the voice of My believing servant.'" This is reported as a l:iadith of the Prophet (;I) but all its routes are qa'If.16 One of the Salaf saw the Lord of Might in a dream and said, 'My Lord, I have invoked You so much but without response!' He replied, 'I love to hear your voice.'