Much that in appearance is harmful is in fact a blessing

 

William James said:

"Our handicaps help us to an extent that we never expected. If Dostoyevski and Tolstoy had not lived painful lives, they would not have been capable of writing their ageless journals. So being an orphan, blind, poor, or away from home and comfort are all conditions that may lead you to accomplishment and distinction, to advancement and contribution. "

 

A poet said:

"Allah can bestow His blessings through trials that are small or large, And He puts some to trial by giving them of His blessings."

 

Even children and wealth can be the cause of misery:

(So let not their wealth 0r their children amaze you [O’ Muhammad]; in reality Allah’s Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world)  (Qur’an 9: 55)

 

Upon becoming crippled, Ibn Atheer was afforded the opportunity to complete his two famous books. Jam’ey al-usool and An-Nihayah. As-Sarakhsi wrote his acclaimed book, Al-Mabsoot, all fifteen volumes of it, while being imprisoned at the bottom of a well. Ibn al-Qayyim wrote Zaad al-Ma’ad while journeying on a riding animal; Al-Qunubi wrote a commentary on Saheeh Muslim while traveling on a boat; Most of Ibn Taymiyah’s Fataawa was written while he was in jail.

 

The scholars of hadith gathered hundreds and thousands of ahaadeeth (hadiths): these were people that were poor, people that were strangers to the word ‘home.’ A righteous person informed me that he was imprisoned for a while, and during the period of his incarceration, he memorized the entire Qur’an and studied forty large volumes on Islamic jurisprudence.

 

Abu al-‘Ulaa dictated his books to others because he was blind. Taha Hussain lost his sight, and forthwith he began writing his renowned journals and books. Many bright people, upon being removed from their positions or jobs, contributed to the world in knowledge and thought much more than they ever previously did in their lives.

 

Francis Bacon said that,

"A little philosophy makes one lean towards disbelief and to delve into philosophy brings the mind closer to religion."

 

(And these similitudes we put forward for mankind, but none will understand them except those who have knowledge [of Allah and His Signs, etc].  (Qur’an 29: 43)

 

(it is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.) (Qur’an 35: 28)

 

(And those who have been bestowed with knowledge and faith will say: indeed you have stayed according to the Decree of Allah, until the Day of Resurrection…) (Quran 30: 56)

 

(Say [to them O’ Muhammad]: ‘l exhort you on one [thing] only: that you stand up for Allah s sake in pairs and singly, ----- and reflect [within yourselves the life history of the Prophet, he is only a warner to you in face of a severe torment.)  (Quran 34: 46)

 

Dr. A. A. Brill said:

"The true believer will never be afflicted by mental sickness."

 

(Verily those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad) ] and work deeds of righteousness, the Most Beneficent [Allah] will bestow love for them [in the hearts of the believers].)

(Quran 19: 96)

 

(Whoever works righteousness, whether male of female, while he [or she] is a true believer [of lslamic Monotheism] verily to him We will give a good life [in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do [i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)  (Qur’an 16: 97)

 

(And verily, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to the straight path.)     (Qur’an 22: 54)