Tafseer of verses 155-157 of Surat al-Baqarah

The Believer is Patient with the Affliction and thus gains a Reward

Allah informs us that He tests and tries His servants, just as He said in another Ayah:

[وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّى نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّـبِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَـرَكُمْ ]
(And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the cause of Allah) and As-Sabirin (the patient), and We shall test your facts (i.e., the one who is a liar, and the one who is truthful).) (47:31)

Hence, He tests them with the bounty sometimes and sometimes with the afflictions of fear and hunger. Allah said in another Ayah:

[فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ]
(So Allah made it taste extreme of hunger (famine) and fear.) (16:112)

The frightened and the hungry persons show the effects of the affliction outwardly and this is why Allah has used here the word `Libas’ (cover or clothes) of fear and hunger. In the Ayat above, Allah used the words:

[بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ]
(with something of fear, hunger,) meaning, a little of each. Then (Allah said),

[وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الاٌّمَوَالِ]
(loss of wealth,) meaning, some of the wealth will be destroyed,

[وَالاٌّنفُسِ]
(lives) meaning, losing friends, relatives and loved ones to death,

[وَالثَّمَرَتِ]
(and fruits,) meaning, the gardens and the farms will not produce the usual or expected amounts. This is why Allah said next:

[وَبَشِّرِ الصَّـبِرِينَ]
(but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient).)

He then explained whom He meant by `the patient’ whom He praised:

[الَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّـآ إِلَيْهِ رَجِعونَ ]
(Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”) meaning, those who recite this statement to comfort themselves in the face of their loss, know that they belong to Allah and that He does what He wills with His servants. They also know that nothing and no deed, even if it was the weight of an atom, will be lost with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. These facts thus compel them to admit that they are Allah’s servants and that their return will be to Him in the Hereafter.

This is why Allah said:

[أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَتٌ مِّن رَّبْهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ]
(They are those on whom are the Salawat (i. e., who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His mercy,) meaning, Allah’s praise and mercy will be with them. Sa`id bin Jubayr added, “Meaning, safety from the torment.”

[وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ]
(and it is they who are the guided ones.) `Umar bin Al-Khattab commented: “What righteous things, and what a great heights.

[أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَتٌ مِّن رَّبْهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ]
(They are those on whom are the Salawat from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His mercy) are the two righteous things.

[وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ]
(and it is they who are the guided ones) are the heights.”

The heights means more rewards, and these people will be awarded their rewards and more.

Source: Tafsir of Ibn Khatir