extremely fearful of how I would repay him when I did not possess the means. Whilst in this state of worry, I heard a voice from the unseen, ‘Go to such-and-such place, take whatever you find in the sand, repay the food-seller with it, and fulfil your own needs too.’ When I arrived at the location, I found a very large piece of gold on the sand, which I took and fulfilled the full amount owed to the food-seller. (Seerat Ghaus Al-A’zam, p. 44)

Calamities are a means of increase in rank

Dear Islamic brothers! You have heard of the immense hardships and calamities that our Ghaus-ul-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه faced, however, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه would endure patiently, and remain engaged in worship and spiritual efforts with steadfastness, so Allah Almighty granted him sustenance from the unseen. Remember! Allah Almighty sends calamities upon His slaves in order to test them; if they bear patiently, these calamities become a means of them increasing in ranks. Just as Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Whosoever Allah Almighty intends good for, He afflicts him with hardship.’ (Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 4, Hadith 5645)

Sayyiduna Suhayb Rumi رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘The affair of the believer is amazing, for his entire affair is comprised of goodness, and this is only for that believer who is grateful when in a state of prosperity, because this is better for him, and if poverty afflicts him, he is patient, and this is also better for him.’ (Muslim, p. 1598, Hadith 2999)

The Beloved of Allah Almighty صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, ‘When a slave has a rank appointed before Allah Almighty but he cannot reach it through any deed, Allah Almighty tests him through his body, his wealth or his children, then He grants him patience upon these hardships, until he reaches his appointed rank before Allah Almighty.’ (Abu Dawood, vol. 3, p. 246, Hadith 3090)