Aida Masuri Mustafa “Why does Allah keep testing me?”
“Am I so sinful, that Allah keeps sending me tests, after tests?”
Perhaps these are some questions that are often asked by many of us.
Brothers and sisters in Islam, as creations of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala, we will be tested - just as Allah tested all of His Prophets. Our iman does not guarantee that we will live an easy life, protected from all concerns and worries of this dunya. This is sunnatullah (the way of Allah) in this worldly life.
Allah says in the Qur’an: “Indeed, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives, and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient).” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 155]
Look closely at the ayah where Allah says {with something of...}. From the Rahmah of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala, He only tests us a small portion of each. These tests will occur, and when they happen, people will be divided into two - the patient ones, and the impatient ones. The ayah ends with: Give glad tidings to the patient one - so be the patient ones, o brothers and sisters.
What are these glad tidings that Allah speaks of for those who are patient? Allah says in another surah: “Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.” [Surah Az-Zumar 39: 10] Allah has not put a maximum cap on the reward for those who are patient. It is unlimited, unquantified, unmeasurable!
Allah also says: “O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salah (the prayer). Truly, Allah is with As-Sabirun (the patient).” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 153]
Not only does Allah give glad tidings to the one who is patient, He Subhanahu wa ta'ala says that He is also with the one who is patient (with His Knowledge)! When Allah tests us, He does not leave us. So know that we are never left alone with our trials.
Then Allah says: “(The one who is patient is) who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are those on whom are the Salawat from their Rabb, and (they are those who) receive His Rahmah, and it is they who are the guided ones." [Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 156-157]
Who are the patient ones? They are the ones who, when a test befalls them, say: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon - indeed, we are from Allah, and indeed unto Allah, we will return. This sentence is called ‘Istirja‘ in Arabic. The patient ones realize that they themselves, and every single blessing that they have, is from Allah; and they know for a fact that everything will return to Him Subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Those who are patient, and have certainty when they say the words of Istirja’, Allah with grant them three more amazing things:
1. Allah’s Salawat upon them! Salawat in this context includes praise, blessings (barakah), and forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala.
2. Allah’s Rahmah - and among them is feeling peace in one’s heart, even in the midst of a calamity.
3. Guidance from Allah - Allah will guide them in this dunya, so that they will achieve true bliss in the akhirah.
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab, radhi Allahu ‘anhu, commented on this ayah: “What righteous things (i.e. the Salawat and Rahmah from Allah), and what great heights (i.e. the guided ones will be rewarded with even more)!” Allahu akbar!
Brothers and sisters, when we say the words of Istirja’ during hardship, ask Allah to give us something better in exchange as well. This is one of the sunnan (plural for sunnah) of Rasulullah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ). He (ﷺ) said:
“If any servant (of Allah) who suffers a calamity says:
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon
We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return
اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِ
Allahumma jurnii fii musibatii
O Allah, reward me for my affliction
وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
wa akhlif lii khayran minha
and replace it with something better than it.
...then Allah will give him reward for (his) affliction, and would give him something better than it, in exchange.” [Sahih Muslim 918b]
As human beings, we expect a certain form of relief for our hardship, and we feel disappointed when that exact relief we wanted did not arrive. We tend to forget about all the unseen bounties that Allah has given and reserved for us due to our patience - full and unlimited reward from Allah, His Salawat, His Rahmah, His Guidance, a good and better replacement for our hardship, and the promise that He is always with those who are patient (by His Knowledge). Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Allah says: “Verily, along with every hardship is relief.” [Surah Ash-Sharh 94: 5] Even in our hardships, there are always khayr and blessings from Allah. So ponder on these immense bounties that Allah gives to those who are patient when tested.
Brothers and sisters, we are not made to live eternally in bliss in this world, but we are made for Jannah. Therefore, carve our way towards our real and eternal home with patience, because this is where we will finally be able to live in eternal happiness. I end with the following hadith:
Rasulullah ﷺ said that the most miserable people (who experienced the most hardship and difficulties) in the world among the people of Jannah will come on the Day of Resurrection to be dipped in Jannah, then it will be said: “O son of Adam, did you see (i.e. experience) any hardship? Did you have any distress?”
He will say: “No, by Allah, my Rabb! Never did I face any hardship or experience any distress.” [Sahih Muslim 2807]
Just one step into Jannah will make us forget every single hardship, every single sadness, and every single anxiety that we experienced in this dunya.
Allahumma, make us Your believing servants who are patient when tested and make us all inheritors of Your Jannah. Aameen. 🌸
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References:
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir
- Tafsir As-Sa’di
- Tafsir Al-Furqan, by Ustadz Dr. Abdullah Yasin
- Sunnah.com
