There are some bright examples in the Islamic traditions which contain the link between the educative factor and the tribulations of life. We find that these traditions establish what we have learnt from the Qura’n and the Hadith.
In one sermon of the Nahjul Balagha we read that Amirul Mumineen said:
Go0d the almighty tests his subjects for their misdeeds by lessen the production of fruits, stops His grace and closes the doors of the treasure of his rewards so that the repentant may repent, and those who want to give up rebellion and disbelief may do so and those who want to learn a lessen may learn some moral and he wants to stop from sin may do so.” (1)
In another Hadith we learn that Amirul Mumineen said: the trial and tribulations are the means to teach the unjust, for the believer it is a test, for the apostles it is a stage, and for the saints it is a sing of greatness. (2)
Imam Jafar Sadiq has said: forty days do not pass before the believer is subjected to tribulations so that he may learn and change his ways” (3)
Imam Jafar Sadiq is reported to have said in another Hadith:
When the Holy God wants to give well being to someone then subjects the man to hardships after he sins so that he may repent and when He does not want any one to reform He bestows His bounties after he sins so that he may forget to repent and continue in his sinful ways. This what God has said, “We are taking them by stages to punishment and they do not know and though they sin We give them our grace.”(4)
We end this discussion with a quote from Imam Ali and he said, “When you discern that God is sending hardships after sin the he has re-awakened you but if He gives bounties after sins then this is like a punishment stage. (5)