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Life is a struggle; man is not always happy and content. Man, being an emotional being, starts questioning his existence and his aim in life. What is the purpose of life? How does one go through life facing the trials and tribulations that can occur time and again? How many times have you wondered if you are the only one going through turmoil or grief? Many times, when we face difficulty or strife, these questions keep coming to mind.
Why does Allah جل جلاله test us? Does He test only those He does not like? These are the questions one might have. The ones that are weak in their faith may go to the extreme of questioning their faith and the mercy of Allah جل جلاله, but this is where one should be firm in their belief. The most beloved to Allah جل جلاله, His Prophets and Messengers, were all tested in some way or the other in their lives. Calamities befell the Prophets and the righteous persistently, and Allah جل جلاله, may He be exalted, made it an honor for them by means of which they attained the highest status in Paradise.
So, we should search for the answers in the proper places, which is advocated by Allah جل جلاله and His Prophet. All the solutions to all our problems will be found in the Holy Quran and Hadith.
References from the Holy Quran:
Firstly, Allah جل جلاله tells us the purpose of our existence is only to worship Him and Him alone.
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship me.
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 56
And so, the sole purpose of our existence is to worship Allah جل جلاله. He has also created us to test us, this life is only a test for each and every person created on this earth.
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.
Surah Mulk, verse 2
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ
Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried?
But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.
Surah Al-Ankabut verse 2 and 3
Keeping this in mind we must first thank Allah جل جلاله for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us and always keep praising and thanking Him. The most important blessing He has given us is the blessing of being a Muslim. This blessing which He gave us – without us asking
for it is like a treasure which we must thank Him for every single second of our existence. Allah جل جلاله choose you and me for this special blessing whereas there are still millions of people who are not yet guided.
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’
Surah Ibrahim verse 7
Alhamdulillah, all praise is due to Allah جل جلاله. So, we must go through life thanking Allah جل جلاله for all His blessings and praising Him expecting his mercy. But life is not constant we have ups and downs, trials and tribulations, phases of immense happiness and phases of immense grief. And this is also told to us by Allahجل جلاله in the Quran,
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.
Allah says He will test us, with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, loss of live, loss of fruits but He also tells us that He will give good tidings to those who are patient.
الصَّابِرِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ
Surah Baqarah verses 155- 157:
Allah جل جلاله tells us that those who are tested and are patient receive the blessings and mercy from Him, and they are rightly guided.
Allah جل جلاله not only tests us with grief and hardships, but wealth and prosperity can also be a test for a person. Allah جل جلاله will question each one as to how they spent their wealth and prosperity — whether it was in Allah’s cause or leading them towards the wrong path. Thus, you must always remember that you will be tested either by something evil, such as scarcity or insecurity, or something good, such as wealth and prosperity.
One thing that reassures us are the verses in the Holy Quran. Allah جل جلاله says that He will test us, but He will not put on us a burden more than we can bear.
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran:
وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَٰبٌۭ يَنطِقُ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
“And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.”
(Surah Al-Mu’minun (The Believers) 23:62)
And He repeats this in the following Surahs:
- Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:233
- Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:286
- Al-An’am (The Cattle) 6:152
- Al-A’raf (The Heights) 7:42
Such is the comfort our Creator gives us when we undergo trials. We know that we can bear what we are going through because the promise is from Allah جل جلاله Himself that we will be tested, but not beyond our capability. That brings so much comfort to someone who is going through a very hard time — they can be reassured that this phase will also pass, and that not only will they come out of that test by the will of Allah جل جلاله with patience and forbearance, but Allah جل جلاله will reward them immensely for their patience in a manner which He finds suitable.
People by nature love what can harm them and hate what is good for them. We do not know what Allah جل جلاله has planned for us, and we might not like or even hate it. But Allah جل جلاله knows if that is good for us — He alone has the divine knowledge.
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran:
وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّۭ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“…But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.”
Surah Baqarah verse 216
You do not know the reasons of Allah’s plan. If He has afflicted you with something you do not like you must accept His decree and be thankful to Him. You must win Allah’s pleasure. If you are discontent you might earn His wrath and then you would have failed His test. Remember that with the greatest trials you will gain the greatest rewards.
Allah جل جلاله also tell us in the Holy Quran to seek aid through Him with patience and steadfastness, and He will surely help us. Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 153
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ
“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah].”
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 45
What more can we ask for in times of hardship? With patience, prayer, and Allah’s help, we can overcome the trials and hardships that we face in life.
These tests are a blessing for a believer. Allah جل جلاله reassures that the reward for a patient believer is immense.
Allah جل جلاله says in the Holy Quran:
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۗ وَأَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةٌ ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
“Say, ‘O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.’”
Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 10
Subhan Allah! Let us all resolve to be patient throughout all our trials and tribulations, and expect rewards without account from Allah جل جلاله.
References from the books of Hadith
When we look through the books of Hadith:
In Riyadh as Salihin – The Book of Miscellany (Hadith 37), Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief, or mental worry, or even the pricking of a thorn, but Allah جل جلاله will expiate his sins on account of his patience.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلَا وَصَبٍ وَلَا هَمٍّ وَلَا حُزْنٍ وَلَا أَذًى وَلَا غَمٍّ، حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا إِلَّا كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ
(متفق عليه)
The hadith mentioned above brings immense relief and joy to a believer when he is struck with a calamity. How strange is the case of the believer! When he is struck by a discomfort, even as little as the pricking of a thorn, Allah جل جلاله will expiate his sins on account of his patience!
One of the reasons for calamities and trials is that Allah جل جلاله, may He be exalted, wants to raise in status the patient believer. So He tests him with calamity so that he will bear it with acceptance and patience. Then, he will be given the reward of those who are patient in the Hereafter and will be recorded with Allah as one of the victorious.
We can read about this in the following ahadeeth:
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“I am amazed at the believer, how Allah – the Exalted – does not Will for him something except that it is best for him.”
(Saheeh al-Jami’)
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said:
“If a certain status has previously been decreed by Allah for a person, and he does not attain it by his deeds, Allah afflicts him in his body or wealth or children.”
It was narrated that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“If Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and if He wills bad for His slave, He withholds from him (the punishment for) his sin until He requites him for it on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Narrated and classed as Hasan by at-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as Saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi.)
Sa’id ibn Abi Waqqas reported:
I said, “O Messenger of Allah, which people are tested most severely?”
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“They are the Prophets, then the next best, then the next best. A man is tried according to his religion. If he is firm in his religion, his trials will be more severe. If he is weak in his religion, he is tried according to his strength in religion. The servant will continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sin.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2398, Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani)
Subhan Allah! What more can a believer ask for than to walk upon the earth without any sin?
عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ: “الأَنْبِيَاءُ، ثُمَّ الأَمْثَلُ فَالأَمْثَلُ، يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صَلَابَةٌ اشْتَدَّ بَلَاؤُهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى قَدْرِ دِينِهِ، فَمَا يَبْرَحُ البَلَاءُ بِالعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَمَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ”.
(سنن الترمذي – كتاب الزهد – باب ما جاء في الصبر على البلاء – حديث رقم 2398)
المحدث الألباني: حسن صحيح في صحيح الترمذي
Suhaib reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
“Strange are the ways of a believer, for there is good in every affair of his, and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer. For if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks Allah, thus there is good for him in it; and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is good for him in it.”
Sahih Muslim – The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts, Hadith 2999
عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى صُهَيْبِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (ﷺ):
“عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ! إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ لَهُ خَيْرٌ، وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لأَحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ، فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ، فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ”.
(رواه مسلم)
Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything, and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah, and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently, and that is better for him.”
[Muslim, Hadith 2999]We can clearly see that the difficulties and ease in life are not directly proportional to Allah’s love or displeasure. Many people struggle with hardships, but attributing those struggles to Allah’s anger can break a person’s faith, self-worth, and productivity.
When we study Islam, we learn that nearly every pious person faced immense trials. Yet, Allah, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, was pleased with them and had a higher purpose for their struggles.
As Muslims, we are called to have husn al-dhann (good expectations) of Allah جل جلاله and trust in His divine decree (Qadr). The best hopes are the ones placed in Allah — because people might let you down, but Allah never will.
So, next time you face a test, don’t ask:
“Why am I being tested?”
Instead, ask:
“Is this test bringing me closer to Allah?”Even if you fail by worldly standards, if the test deepens your connection to Allah, that is your true success.
Allahجل جلاله says in the Holy Quran- Surah l- Hajj verse 11
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ ٱطْمَأَنَّ بِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ ٱنقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ خَسِرَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
Sahih International: And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.
It is inevitable that you will be tested. A person will face tests from the cradle to the grave. Death is one of the greatest tests a person can face. When someone dear to you passes away, and you remain patient with Allah’s decree, the rewards are immense.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Allah Almighty says: I have nothing to give to My faithful servant but Paradise if I cause his dear friend to die and he remains patient.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6060
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari
يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: مَا لِعَبْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِ عِنْدِي جَزَاءٌ إِذَا قَبَضْتُ صَفِيَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ احْتَسَبَهُ إِلَّا الْجَنَّةُ
Jabir narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“On the Day of Judgement, when the people who were tried (in this world) are given their rewards, the people who were pardoned (in life) will wish that their skins had been cut off with scissors while they were in the world.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi – Chapters On Zuhd, Hadith 100 (Book 36, Hadith 100)
يَوَدُّ أَهْلُ الْعَافِيَةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حِينَ يُعْطَى أَهْلُ الْبَلَاءِ الثَّوَابَ، لَوْ أَنَّ جُلُودَهُمْ كَانَتْ تُقَرَّضُ بِالْمَقَارِيضِ فِي الدُّنْيَا
What more can a believer ask? We should be grateful to Allah for testing us with hardships. We should be thankful for every single blessing He has bestowed upon us, as long as that test does not lead us away from Him, it will lead us towards Him and towards Jannah, In sha Allah.
I ask that Allah جل keeps us steadfast in our religion. When hardships strike, make the Qur’an your close companion in this life. You will not understand Allah’s wisdom. But remember our Prophet’s words:
“Strange is the case of the believer…And that should bring you comfort and contentment and help you overcome your test.