What is the difference between tribulation (al-balāʾ), trial (al-ibtilāʾ), and calamity (al-muṣībah)? Is a Muslim rewarded for patiently enduring what afflicts him, even if it was a consequence of disobedience? And is it permissible to say, "I seek help through Allah and through you"?

"Al-balā’ (بلايا - trials) and al-ibtilā’ (ابتلاء - afflictions) both mean testing and examination, encompassing both good and evil. Whereas al-muṣībah (مصيبة - calamity) refers to what befalls a person from the misfortunes of life, and it is exclusively associated with evil. A Muslim is rewarded for showing gratitude for blessings or for exercising patience during calamities, even if the calamity is a consequence of a sin from which they have repented. It is not permissible to say, 'I seek help from Allah and from you,' or similar phrases that equate a created being with the Creator."