The signs of fortune and the signs of misfortune

Reference: Al-Fawaaid
The signs of the fortune and success of a servant are that:

• Every time he is increased in his knowledge, he increases in his humbleness and mercy
• Every time he is increased in his actions, he increases in his fear and caution
• Every time he is increased in his life, he decreases the amount of attention that he gives to it
• Every time he is increased in his wealth, he increases in his generosity and spending (towards good)
• Every time he is increased in his status and standing, he increases in his closeness to the people – taking care of their needs and being humble towards them.

The signs of the misery of a servant are that:

• Whenever he increases in knowledge, he increases in arrogance and misguidance
• Every time he is increased in his actions, he increases in pride, belittling of the people and having a good opinion about himself
• Every time he is increased in his life, he increases the amount of attention that he gives to it
• Every time he is increased in his wealth, he increases in his stinginess and holding on to it
• Every time he is increased in his status and standing, he increases in his arrogance and pride.

So these matters are trials from Allaah and tests that He tests His servants with. Some people are successful due to these tests whilst other people are unfortunate due to them. Similarly, blessings such as worldly possessions, authority and wealth are tests and trials.
Allaah, the Most High, said:

{…and when (Sulaymaan) saw it (the throne) placed before him, he said: “This is from the favours of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful” } [27:40]

So blessings are a trial from Allaah and a test, through which the one who is grateful shows his gratitude, and the one who is ungrateful shows his ingratitude. Similarly, adversity is also a trial from Him – how Perfect He is.
Thus He tests with blessings just as he tests with calamities.
Allaah, the Most High, said:

{…and as for man, when his Lord tries him and [thus] is generous to him and favours him, he says: “My Lord has honoured me.” But when He tries him and restricts his provision, he says: “My Lord has humiliated me”} [89: 15-16]

علامات السعادة وعلامات الشقاوة

المرجع: الفوائد

علامات السعادة والفلاح أن العبد

· كلما زيد في علمه زيد في تواضعه ورحمته

· وكلما زيد في عمله زيد في خوفه وحذره

· وكلما زيد في عمره نقص من حرصه

· وكلما زيد في ماله زيد في سخائه وبذله

· وكلما زيد في قدره وجاهه زيد في قربه من الناس وقضاء حوائجهم والتواضع لهم

وعلامات الشقاوة أن العبد

· كلما زيد في علمه زيد في كبره وتيهه

· وكلما زيد في عمله زيد في فخره واحتقاره للناس وحسن ظنه بنفسه

· وكلما زيد في عمره زيد قي حرصه

· وكلما زيد في ماله زيد في بخله وإمساكه

· وكلما زيد في قدره وجاهه زيد في كبره وتيهه

وهذه الأمور ابتلاء من الله وامتحان يبتلي بها عباده فيسعد بها أقوام ويشقى بها أقوام وكذلك الكرامات امتحان وابتلاء كالملك والسلطان والمال قال تعالى عن نبيه سليمان لما رأى عرش بلقيس عنده

{هَذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ} [النمل : 40]

فالنعم ابتلاء من الله وامتحان يظهر بها شكر الشكور وكفر الكفور كما أن المحن بلوى منه سبحانه فهو يبتلي بالنعم كما يبتلي بالمصائب قال تعالى

{فَأَمَّا الْإِنسَانُ إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَنَعَّمَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَكْرَمَنِ وَأَمَّا إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَهَانَنِ} [الفجر :15]