EVERY BELIEVER WILL BE TESTED

EVERY BELIEVER WILL BE TESTED It is clear that this life is filled with calamites, tests and trials. Every believer will be subjected to many of these calamities, tests and trials. Sometimes these trials are manifested in himself, sometimes in his wealth, and sometimes with his beloved ones. These preordainments are from the One who is All-Wise and they touch the believer in various ways and manners. If a believer does not have the correct understanding regarding the manner of dealing with trials and tribulations he may err seriously. This is especially true when facing difficult and burdensome calamities. Many people are ignorant of the wisdom behind facing trials and tests. They may not understand that Allaah does not intend to punish us through tests; rather Allaah creates an opportunity to earn His Mercy. The believer should look at the matter of `ibtilah (being put to tests) and trials through the textual proofs from the Qur'aan and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet أ•أ،أ¬ أ‡أ،أ،أ¥ أڑأ،أ­أ¥ أ¦أ"أ،أ£, in order to stand firmly grounded regarding these matters. Yes, it is a test and a trial. Every day we are tested in this life. Our wealth is a test; the spouse is a test; the children are tests; poverty, wealth, and richness are tests and health and illness are tests. We are tested in everything which we possess and encounter in this life and until we meet Allaah the Most High. Allaah أ"أˆأچأ‡أ¤أ¥ أ¦أٹأڑأ‡أ،أ¬ says in Surah al-Anbiyaa', verse 35: {Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to Us you will be returned.} [Al-Anbiyaa' 21:35] And Allaah أ"أˆأچأ‡أ¤أ¥ أ¦أٹأڑأ‡أ،أ¬ said in Surah al-Ankaboot, verses 2 -3: {Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test).} [al-Ankaboot 29:2-3] Therefore both the healthy and the ill are tested. The one who was healthy did not know until he was touched by a trial, and the one who was ill did not feel that he was being tested until he was cured. No one is safe from this due to his prestige or his status. This does not prevent the matter of testing as we remember from the authentic hadeeth, narrated by al-Bukhaaree where the Prophet أ•أ،أ¬ أ‡أ،أ،أ¥ أڑأ،أ­أ¥ أ¦أ"أ،أ£ said: "The most intense in terms of testing are the prophets and then the like and then the like."[1] Amongst us there is no one who possesses the ability to reject the tests. The faithful, patient, persevering individuals, who anticipate their reward from Allaah أ"أˆأچأ‡أ¤أ¥ أ¦أٹأڑأ‡أ،أ¬ are the successful ones amongst the tested. Also from amongst us are those who are tested but they fail due to their weak faith and their objection to Allaah أ"أˆأچأ‡أ¤أ¥ أ¦أٹأڑأ‡أ،أ¬; we seek refuge in Allaah أ"أˆأچأ‡أ¤أ¥ أ¦أٹأڑأ‡أ،أ¬ from such a state. May Allaah's Mercy be upon al-Fudayl bin `Iyaad who said, "As long as the people are in a state of good welfare, once tested, they will return to their realities. The believer will go to his faith and the hypocrite will go to his hypocrisy."[2]     O Allaah! I ask You for guidance, piety, safety and well-being, and contentment and sufficiency."  (Allaahummaa innee as'alukal-hudaa wat-tuqaa wal-`afaafa wal-ghinaa).  [Related by Muslim, no 2721]