Nobody can deny that when there is grace then it has no value in the heart and people gain no satisfaction from it ; they are not even thankful about it and sometimes they do not even think if it exists or not:

If man does not fall sick then this well being and health will not be given any importance and will not be recognized as a grace of God. If there are no earth quakes then there is no realization about the safety in which men dwell peacefully throughout the year.

When light and darkness succeed each other then only are they recognized; and if man is not troubled by the mishaps then he will not be able to recognize the peace he is living in.

According to one fine interpretation some mishaps are the shadows of life’s brightness and man is not able to discern things without them. Intellectual today say that if a globe is kept in the center of a circular room and is surrounded by light then it will not be seen. This is because of the circular shape of the object and the clash of light from all sides that man is not able to see it. This is the case of God’s grace. If things are always in the same conditions in the same style then they will not be recognized.

These graces of God on the one side are for the benefit of man and on the other side are the means to get closer to Him. The logical thing is that it should be subject to changes so that both the objectives are achieved. We find very subtle and great references to this in the verses of the Qura’n (though not openly) that the importance of the bounties is evident when the grace is withdrawn or limited and some of the instances are as follows:

Verse 63 of Surah Anam says, “Say, “Who is it that delivers you

From the dark recesses of the land and sea when you call upon Him secretly with humility? “We will truly show our gratitude if he only delivers us from these (hardships).”

Yes these people so long as they were not subjected to the darkness of the desert and the sea did not know the importance and greatness of peace.

But when these graces were withdrawn then they thought about the one who is the cause of all creation and grace and they expressed their thankfulness to Him.

Verse 10 of Surah Hud says:

“But if We give him the taste of our favors after adversity has touched him, he is sure to say, “All sins have departed from me” Behold! He falls into exultation and pride.”

The Qura’n mentions a peaceful life after adversity to enhance the importance of His bounties and become the cause of people’s thankfulness but the proud and selfish people interpret this as something else.

Verse 103 of Surah Al Imran says: “And remember with gratitude God’s favor on you, for you were enemies and He joined your hearts with love so that by His grace you became brothers.”

In this verse the Qura’n enhance the importance of the grace of unity and unison of hearts; it reminds us about the time when this grace was not found at all and the fire of hypocrisy and enmity was burning all. This grace was described to the Muslims so that they may compare both and realize the importance of this favor.

Islamic traditions tell us about some painful events and some of them are as follows: In the famous Hadith of Mufazzal Imam Jafar Sadiq is reported to have said:

“Every person good or bad is subjected to these tribulations but God has declared them as the means of reformation for every group. The good people remember the bounties because of these painful events and are grateful but the power of their evil is broken when the sinners are subjected to hardships and they tend to reform” (1)

1. Behar-ol-Anwar vol. 3 page 139