Recently, I came across a post in which the author was wondering how we can know whether a hardship we suffer is a punishment for our sins or merely a test from Allah. We have all probably wondered this at some point or another; I certainly have.
But it occurs to me that it is a mistaken concept, because, in fact, punishment in the Dunya is itself a test. When Allah rebukes you for your wrongdoing, He is guiding you towards self-correction; inviting you to re-commit yourself to Him and His Path, and opening the door to you for repentance and His Forgiveness.
The test is whether or not you will benefit from the punishment, or if you will just remain as you are, perhaps only changed by increasing your own self-pity.
Punishment in the Dunya is a means of averting the far worse Punishment in the Akhirah; a means of absolving you from sins. It seems to me that it is more proper for us to face both tests and punishments in precisely the same way: taubah, istighfar, and re-committing ourselves to worship and service in Allah’s Cause. It is therefore not really important to identify why a hardship has befallen us; it is only important to respond to the hardship in a way that will earn Allah’s Pleasure.