[2:155-6] Surely We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and diminution of goods and lives and fruits; yet give good tidings to the patient; * those who, when they are struck by an affliction, say, 'Surely we belong to God, and to Him we will return'.
He tried them by blessing in order to make their gratitude manifest and He tried them by tribulation in order to make their patience manifest. He caused that which was [already] known of their state to enter into existence, marked them with the record that He had decreed, and established them with the attribute He [already] knew. He tried them with fear within which there was a clearing of their breasts, and by hunger within which there was a cleansing of their bodies, and by diminution of goods within which was a purification of their material blessings (niʿma). Through the afflictions suffered by the lower selves, their wages were magnified before God, and through the blight of fruits, their recompense was doubled from God.
Yet give good tidings to the patient meaning those who do not oppose His decree in what He brings to pass.
It is said He asked fear of them in their seeking to avoid His punishment; then the suffering of hunger in their desiring His nearness and generosity; then the diminution of goods by giving alms and renouncing [the goods] in their looking to what is better than [goods] in obtaining knowledge of Him; and lives (anfus), in their submitting them to worship of Him; and fruits, in their supporting the abandonment of that which they hope for in abundant material blessings. Yet give good tidings to those who are patient in seeking the beautiful in His decree and yielding to the flow of His power.
The demands of the Unseen will either be through wealth, the self, or near relations. Whoever devotes wealth to God will have salvation (najāt). Whoever exerts the self for His decree will have degrees (darajāt). Whoever is patient with the misfortunes of near relations will have recompense and stations of nearness (qurubāt). Whoever does not hoard the spirit from Him will have perpetual intimate communications (muwāṣalāt).
Those who, when they are struck by an affliction face the matter with patience and even gratitude. Nay, [they are] even exultant, boastful.
Whoever views things as property belonging to the Real sees himself as a stranger between Him and His decree, for the One who brought forth creation has more right over created beings than they do themselves.
It is said that one who looks to the misfortunes testifies to his self as belonging to God and [returning] to God. The one who looks to the One Who causes the misfortunes knows that what will be is from God, so he is a servant through God. What a difference between one who belongs to God and one who is through God. The one who belongs to God is patient and firm, while the one who is through God has relinquished free choice (ikhtiyār) and determination (ḥukm). If [God] strengthens him he is strong and if He effaces him he is effaced. If He causes him to move, he moves and if He causes him to stay still, he is still. He is annihilated from his free choices (ikhtiyārāt) and is moved this way and that (muṣarraf) in the grip [of God].