No Calamity Befalls Except by Allah's Permission — Whoever Believes Allah Guides His Heart
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وَمَن يُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهۡدِ قَلۡبَهُۥ
— التغابن 11
Verse: "No calamity befalls except by Allah's permission. Whoever believes in Allah — He guides his heart." (64:11)
Combining decree and faith: Calamity comes by Allah's permission — but faith does not make it less painful; it grants the heart stability and acceptance. Faith doesn't prevent grief but prevents despair.
"He guides his heart": The believer when afflicted knows it is by Allah's permission — so accepts and submits; Allah guides his heart to tranquility within the calamity. A special guidance as reward for faith.
Lesson: The difference between the believer and the ignorant in calamity: the ignorant shouts "why me?" the believer says "to Allah we belong and to Him we return — perhaps this is a good I don't yet see."
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/158); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (18/143)
Question: What special guidance does Allah promise the believer when afflicted?
Answer: "He guides his heart" — guidance of the heart to tranquility and acceptance within the calamity; a special guidance given as reward for faith, not available to the non-believer.