WE WILL BE TESTED IN THIS LIFE By Joseph Islam

TRIALS

75.36 "Does man think that he will be left aimless / in vain / uncontrolled (without a purpose) (Arabic: Suda(n))?"

Situations will be presented, where we will be tested and choices between right and wrong will have to be made. Many adverse situations will have to be borne with patience.

29.2 “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested?”

29.3 “We did test those before them, and God will surely make evident those who are true from those who are false / liars”

To differentiate the truth from falsehood underscores a very important purpose to creation itself.

21.16-18  "And We did not create the Heavens and the Earth and what is between them for mere play / sport. If We intended that We take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)!  Nay! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! falsehood does perish! and woe to you for which you ascribe!"

MANKIND WAS CREATED TO TOIL AND STRUGGLE

90.4 "Certainly We have created man into toil / struggle hardship (Arabic: kabad)"

Situations will be created to test our resolve to enable us to make the best decisions or to bear with patience.

47.31 “And We shall try you until We make evident those who strive among you and persevere in patience; and We shall test your affairs”

SOMETIMES THE TESTS WILL BE VERY SEVERE

2.214 “Or do you think that you shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When will the help of God come?" Ah! Indeed, the help of God is (always) near!”

WE WILL BE TESTED WITH WEALTH, CHILDREN AND HEALTH

8.28 "And know that your wealth and your children are but a trial; and that it is God with Whom lies your highest reward.

3.186 "Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and in yourselves; and ye shall certainly hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil, then that will be a determining factor in all affairs"

However, no trial will be given to one which is greater than one can bear. Our Creator knows the extent of our limits.

2.286 "On no soul does God place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:)

"Our Lord! condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou did lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our protector; help us against those who stand against faith."

SUFFERING AND CALAMITIES

No calamity can occur without the will of God.

64:11 "No kind of disaster (Arabic: Musibatin) can occur, except by the permission of God: and if any one believes in God, He guides his heart: for God knows all things"

These disasters even befell the Prophet.

9:50-1 If good befalls you, it grieves them, and if disaster (Arabic: Musibatun) afflicts you, they say: Indeed we had taken care of our affair before; and they turn back and are glad. Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our protector": and on God let the Believers put their trust.

6:65 "Say: He has the power that He should send on you a chastisement from above you or from beneath your feet, or that He should throw you into confusion, (making you) of different parties; and make some of you taste the fighting of others. See how We repeat the communications that they may understand"

SOME OF THEM WILL BE CLEARLY DUE TO WHAT WE HAVE EARNED

4.78-79 "Wherever you are, death will find you out, even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!" If some good befalls them, they say, "This is from God"; but if evil, they say, "This is from thee" (O Prophet). Say: "All things are from God." But what has come to these people, that they fail

to understand a single fact?  "Whatever good, (O man!) happens to you, is from God; but whatever evil happens to you, is from thy (own) soul. and We have sent thee as a messenger to (instruct) mankind. And enough is God for a witness"

Note the phrase "all things are from God" which denotes God's supreme authority, His knowledge and will. With regards evil, a specific clarification is given in the very next verse.

IN HARDSHIP, PERSEVERE WITH PATIENCE

Luqman's advice to his son:

31:17 "O my son! keep up prayer and enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you; surely these acts require courage"

11:10-11 "And if We make him taste a favour after distress has afflicted him, he will certainly say: The evils are gone away from me. Most surely he is exulting, boasting; Except those who are patient and do good, they shall have forgiveness and a great reward"

YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOOD IN A SITUATION THAT MAY APPEAR BAD TO YOU

As an example, one may be required to fight in case of self defence, utter oppression and for justice. This is no different from modern day troops that defend their borders or fight to eliminate oppression.

2.216 "Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and God knows, while you do not know"

THROUGHOUT YOUR TRIALS REMEMBER GOD AND DON'T WORSHIP HIM ON A NARROW MARGIN

22.11 "And among mankind is he who worships God on the verge so that if good befalls him he is content with it, but if a trial befalls him, he falls away utterly. He loses both the world and the Hereafter. That is the sheer loss"

WITH EVERY DIFFICULTY, THERE WILL BE RELIEF

94.5 "So, indeed, with every difficulty, there is relief"

94.6 "Indeed, with every difficulty there is relief"

CONCLUSION

Throughout one's trial, one must exercise the best choices, upholding truth and justice and bearing with patience.

103.1-3 "By the (passage) of time Surely! man is in a state of loss, except those who believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience"

2:156    The ones who, when afflicted with adversity, they say: "We are to God and to Him we will return."

Source:www.quransmessage.com