The prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) once said that the people most afflicted, and effected by trials, tribulations and calamities are the prophets (peace be upon them), after them are those who are lesser than them in virtue and righteousness.
The prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said a person would be tested by Allah azza wa jal depending on the level of his Imaan. If a person’s Imaan were strong, Allah would increase testing over him and if a person’s Imaan were weak Allah would lessen his testing.
In this hadith the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) tells us that without a doubt trials and tribulations from Allah azza wa jal would continually test a believer; and in another hadith he (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) says that Allah tests the people He loves with trials and calamities. Therefore in this life on earth there is no escape for us, we will be tested.
Imam Ahmed (may Allah have mercy on his soul) was asked, “When does a servant of Allah find the taste of comfort?” He said, “When he lays his foot in paradise.” When you put your first foot in paradise there will be no more trial, no more calamities and no hardships at all. Unfortunately this life cannot be like that, you will be tested in this life.
People often ask if what they are facing is a calamity, or a test from Allah, or if it is a punishment from Allah, and if it is elevating and raising our status in paradise? We do not have an answer to these questions. However, we know for sure that whatever tasks the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) faced, whatever trials and calamities he (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) went through, they raised and elevated his status by the side of Allah azza wa jal.
But when it comes to us, our hardships and tests may be raising and elevating our levels, but most likely they are a punishment for the things that we did or the sins that we committed or for the mandatory and obligatory things that we missed and did not fulfil.
Therefore, no matter what happens in this world you have to know that this happened because Allah the almighty has decreed it. and once you have this content and satisfaction that whatever happens to you is by the decree of Allah azza wa jal, then things would turn to be much better than you expect and that would, by the grace of Allah azza wa jal, make you go through these trials and calamities with a happy heart and Allah azza wa jal knows best.