Drought
A man came to al-Hasan al-Basri and complained about drought. Al-Hasan said to him, "Seek forgiveness from Allah."
Poverty
Another man came to him and complained about poverty. Al-Hasan said, "Seek forgiveness from Allah".
Desire for a Child
Another came to him and said, "Pray to Allah to grant me a child." Al-Hasan replied, "Seek forgiveness from Allah".
A Curious Remark
Someone present remarked, "Different people came with different complaints, and you advised them all to seek forgiveness from Allah!"
The Basis
Al-Hasan responded, "I did not say this on my own; it is based on the words of Allah in the story of Prophet Nuh: 'Seek forgiveness from your Lord. Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance, and He will provide you with wealth and children, and He will give you gardens and rivers.'"
(Nuh 71:10–12)