Tradition

ثَلاثٌ يُمْتَحَنُ بِهَا عُقُولُ الرِّجالِ هُنَّ المالُ وَ الْوِلايَةُ و الْمُصِيبَةُ

Imam ‘Ali (‘a) is narrated to have said: “There are three things through which the intellect of great men is tested: wealth, position, and calamities.”1

Brief Commentary

The tests of God are a means of allowing human beings to grow and reach perfection in their day to day lives. These tests are never set in stone and they are administered in a multitude of different ways. At the same time, there are three things that are the most important when it comes to the people and these are issues related to wealth, social position, and calamities. How will an individual react when given a sum of wealth; will they lose control and begin to act in all sorts of extravagant and excessive ways?

How will a given person act when given a high-ranking social position; will they forget who they really are and become arrogant and prideful? How will someone act when faced with a calamity or difficulty in life? Will they sit in a corner and become utterly despondent, losing their sense of thankfulness towards God? These are the three most important things which human beings are tested with in their lives.

• 1. Ghurar al-Hikam, Root Section: Thulath.