How is one to distinguish whether an affliction is a punishment from God or a trial signifying His love, considering the Hadith: "Indeed, when God loves a servant, He tries him," and does this include deficiencies in acts of worship, such as night prayers?

The abundance of calamities that afflict a person falls into two categories:

First: When they befall a righteous, patient Muslim, they are a test for the expiation of sins and the elevation of their rank, and are not an indication of Allah’s wrath. This is based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "Whomever Allah wishes good for, He puts him through some hardship."

Second: When they befall a disobedient, discontent Muslim, they are punishments and warnings from Allah in this world before the Hereafter, as in His (the Almighty’s) saying: "And We will surely let them taste some of the lesser punishment before the greater punishment that perhaps they will return."

Among the punishments that may befall a Muslim is a deficiency in the acts of worship and obedience that they were accustomed to, without a valid excuse. This is a punishment of deprivation from perfection and advancement in the ranks of the righteous.