How can Allah be the Bringer of Harm and the Bringer of Benefit?

Regarding Duʿaʾ al-Jawshan and the expressions in it.. I say that Duʿaʾ al-Jawshan is among the supplications transmitted from the Ahl al-Bayt (a), and it is a great supplication; it is also recommended to write it on the shroud of the deceased so that it may be a mercy for him and spaciousness in his grave..

As for the phrase (O Bringer of Harm, O Bringer of Benefit—yā Ḍārr, yā Nāfiʿ), these two names are among the Most Beautiful Names of Allah by which Allah has asked us to call upon Him. The meaning of (al-Darr) is that in Allah's hand is the determining of all harm and benefit that befalls a person, and He, the Exalted, is the Creator of what harms and what benefits. When we call upon Allah by this name, we affirm the truth that in Allah's hand are the keys of the heavens and the earth, and in His hand is all that benefits and all that harms; that is why we cry out to Him and take refuge in His mercy, the Exalted..

The Commander of the Faithful (a) says: (A servant does not find the taste of faith until he knows that what has befallen him could not have missed him, and what has missed him could not have befallen him, and that the Bringer of Harm and Benefit is Allah Almighty).

The Exalted has said in this sense: “Say, ‘I have no control over any benefit for myself, nor [over] any harm except what Allah may wish.’” (Qurʾan 7:188).

But Allah is not a bringer of harm in the sense that we attribute to human beings when they behave badly or cause corruption on the earth; rather, it is the harm that is a trial for a person, with the aim of purification and testing, so that afterwards he may attain lofty degrees for his patience.. This harm is benefit itself, because it qualifies a person for lofty ranks.. That is why we always find the two names (al-Darr al-Nafiʿ) coupled together: He is the Bringer of Harm, the Bringer of Benefit through His harm to His servants.

So glorified and exalted is He; we ask Him to remove harm from us and to grant us in full the rewards of the patient..

As for the evil that is attributed to man in the Holy Qurʾan, such as the words of the Exalted: “Whatever affliction that may visit you is because of what your hands have earned, and He excuses many [an offense of yours].” (Qurʾan 42:30).

This is by way of causation: a person's deeds affect him, and yet Allah excuses much and does not bring all the consequences of our actions upon us; rather, He holds them back by His mercy.. For He is the Determiner of everything and the Knower of it, as He, Almighty, has also said:

“No affliction visits the land or yourselves but it is in a Book before We bring it about—that is indeed easy for Allah—” (Qurʾan 57:22)

In sum, Allah has ordained a set of trials for man that are in reality in his interest, because they are trial and testing, and he is recompensed for them in the Hereafter with the best recompense. On the other hand, Allah has ordained for man a set of trials that occur through man's bad conduct, as a result of his actions, and he can overcome them through good deeds: supplication changes one's state, and charity wards off affliction..

And Allah is the Master of knowledge and of success.