Meaning & Explanation
Ad-Darr is the One who creates distress and harm when He wills, according to His wisdom. No harm befalls anyone except by His permission. He uses affliction as a test, a purification, or a punishment - always with divine wisdom.
Quran References
2 versesContext: Only Allah can remove distress
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ
“And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him”
Context: Both good and harm are from Allah
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“And if He touches you with good - then He is over all things competent”
Exemplifying Story
quranAyyub's Patient Endurance
Reference: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83-84
Prophet Ayyub was blessed with wealth, health, and many children. Then Allah tested him with devastating losses - his wealth was taken, his children died, and his body was afflicted with painful illness. Through all of this, Ayyub remained patient. Finally, he called out: "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful." Allah responded: "So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers." Ad-Darr had tested him, and then removed all distress.
Ad-Darr tests whom He loves. Ayyub's distress became the means of his eternal honor. Trust that the One who permits harm is also the One who removes it.