Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:156

In the description of the patient [those who endure] through His saying: "Those who, when a calamity strikes them, say: 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return,'" there is an indication that the reward is for the one who exercises patience at the moment the calamity strikes, as in the report: "Patience is only at the first shock." A musibah (calamity) encompasses everything that afflicts a person of something disliked, whether in their self, wealth, or family, whether that disliked thing is little or much—even the prick of a thorn, the sting of a mosquito, the snapping of a sandal strap, or the extinguishing of a lamp. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to recite the istirja’ (saying: "Indeed we belong to Allah...") for such things and said: "Everything that harms the believer is a calamity for him, and a reward."

Patience is not merely in the istirja’ by the tongue; rather, patience is with the tongue and the heart—by bringing to mind the purpose for which he was created: the knowledge of Allah Almighty and the perfection of his soul, and that he is returning to his Lord, coming back to Him in eternal abiding, and is departing from this perishing world, leaving it behind with all its flaws. He remembers the blessings of Allah Almighty upon him so that he may see that what He gave him is many times more than what He took from him; thus, it becomes easy for him to accept, and he submits to Him.

Patience is among the unique characteristics of the human being because within him, the intellect and desire contend. The istirja’ is among the unique characteristics of this Ummah (nation). Al-Tabarani and Ibn Marduyah recorded from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "My nation has been given something that no other nation was given: that they say at the time of a calamity, 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.'" In another narration: "This nation was given something at the time of a calamity that the prophets before them were not given: 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.' If the prophets before them had been given it, it would have been given to Yaqub (Jacob) when he said: 'Alas for Yusuf!'"

It is recommended to say after the istirja’: "O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better than it." Muslim recorded from Umm Salamah that she said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) say: "There is no servant who is struck by a calamity and then says: 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return; O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better than it,' except that Allah Almighty rewards him for his calamity and replaces it for him with something better." She said: "When Abu Salamah died, I said as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded me, and Allah Almighty replaced him for me with someone better than him: the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)."

The object of the verb "give glad tidings" (bashir) is omitted; it means: [give them glad tidings] of great mercy and abundant benevolence.