The Quran teaches us that the only purpose of granting us
this second life on earth is for God to test all
humans, whether they are going to choose Him or Satan as
their only Lord and Master:
[46:3] We did not create the
heavens and the earth, and everything between them
except for a specific purpose, and
for a finite interim. Those who
disbelieve are totally oblivious to the warnings given
to them.
[76:2] We created the human from
a liquid mixture, from two parents, in order to
test him. Thus, we made him a hearer and a
seer.
[76:3] We showed him the
two paths, then he is either appreciative, or
unappreciative.
[51:55] And remind, for the
reminder benefits the believers.
The Purpose of Our Existence
[51:56] I did not create the
jinns and the humans except to worship Me alone.
[51:57] I need no
provisions from them, nor do I need them to feed Me.
The Most Merciful granted us forty years to mature
spiritually and cast our choice (46:15). Those who
receive their guidance before the age of forty are
rewarded for their good deeds and their souls are going
to benefit from this early start.Those who are late but
fortunate to meet the deadline are not accounted for
their heedless years. Those who continue in a straying
path, and die surrounded and trapped by their sins, are
the disbelievers.
After choosing our own lord, God or Satan, another
divine, non-negotiable system becomes effective -
testing and distinguishing the believers and exposing
the disbelievers whether they are idol worshipers,
hypocrites or even atheists. Like a chemical reaction,
our true colors are unveiled and recognized when we go
through certain experiences and situations in life. .
Based on the strength and quality of our belief, or lack
thereof, we are provoked by specific kinds of stimulants
at certain measures that expose our true convictions.
God is the only entity that is fully aware of our
strengths and weaknesses. He designs and introduces
custom-made packages for each soul. Whether through
health, wealth, fear, sickness, hunger, disaster, war,
death, oppression, evil or goodness, we must all go
through this sifting system:
The Test is Mandatory
[29:2] Do the people think
that they will be left to say, "We believe," without
being put to the test?
[29:3] We have tested those
before them, for GOD must distinguish those
who are truthful, and He must
expose the liars.
For the believers, the testing system serves to
distinguish them, and toughen their faith in order that
they may be able to withstand more challenges,
steadfastly persevere, and thus be purified and attain
higher ranks:
[3:140] If you suffer hardship,
the enemy also suffers the same hardship. We alternate
the days of victory and defeat among the people.
GOD thus distinguishes the true believers, and
blesses some of you with martyrdom. GOD dislikes
injustice.
[3:141] GOD thus toughens
those who believe and humiliates the
disbelievers.
Our Claims Must Be Tested
[3:142] Do you expect to
enter Paradise without GOD distinguishing those among
you who strive, and without distinguishing those who are
steadfast?
[2:155] We will surely test you
through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and
crops. Give good news to the steadfast.*
For the weak believers, it could be a learning
experience, an opportunity to repent and ask God to do
better or be stronger - not hesitant or reluctant:
[47:31] We will certainly put you
to the test, in order to distinguish those among
you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must
expose your true qualities.
The Weak Believers
[8:5] When your Lord willed
that you leave your home, to fulfill a specific
plan, some believers became exposed as
reluctant believers.
[8:6] They argued with you
against the truth, even after everything was explained
to them. They acted as if they were being driven to
certain death.
Moment of Death
Predetermined
[3:154] After the setback, He
sent down upon you peaceful slumber that pacified
some of you. Others among you were selfishly
concerned about themselves. They harbored
thoughts about GOD that were not right - the same
thoughts they had harbored during the days of
ignorance. Thus, they said, "Is anything up to us?"
Say, "Everything is up to GOD." They
concealed inside themselves what they did not reveal
to you. They said, "If it was up to us,
none of us would have been killed in this battle."
Say, "Had you stayed in your homes, those destined
to be killed would have crawled into their death
beds." GOD thus puts you to the test to
bring out your true convictions, and to test what is
in your hearts. GOD is fully aware of the innermost
thoughts.
[3:155] Surely, those
among you who turned back the day the two
armies clashed have been duped by the devil.
This reflects some of the (evil) works they had
committed. GOD has pardoned them. GOD is Forgiver,
Clement.
God's system definitely exposes the disbelievers. They
are put in the spotlight to be exposed to the public
- the community they live in and belong to. God must
sift away the bad from the good:
Hadith & Sunna:
Fabrications by the Prophet's Enemies
[6:112] We have permitted the
enemies of every prophet - human and jinn devils - to
inspire in each other fancy words, in order to deceive.
Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You
shall disregard them and their fabrications.
Important Criterion
[6:113] This is to let
the minds of those who do not believe in the Hereafter
listen to such fabrications, and accept them,
and thus expose their real convictions.*
The System*
[22:52] We did not send before
you any messenger, nor a prophet, without having the
devil interfere in his wishes. GOD then nullifies what
the devil has done. GOD perfects His revelations. GOD is
Omniscient, Most Wise.*
The Hypocrites Drop Out
[22:53] He thus sets up
the devil's scheme as a test for those who harbor doubts
in their hearts, and those whose hearts are hardened.
The wicked must remain with the opposition.
[3:166] What afflicted you the
day the two armies clashed was in accordance with GOD's
will, and to distinguish the believers.
[3:167] And to expose the
hypocrites who were told, "Come fight in the
cause of GOD, or contribute." They said, "If we knew how
to fight, we would have joined you." They were closer to
disbelief then than they were to belief. They uttered
with their mouths what was not in their hearts.
GOD knows what they conceal.
We know that God is fully aware of our choices and
decisions of the past, present and future. Our video
tape is already in a master record with Him. He knows
all the tiniest details of our true qualities,
convictions, and claims. God is in no need of testing
the believers or exposing the disbelievers. Who is in
need then? What is the benefit or the purpose of
testing/distinguishing the believers and exposing the
liars? To whom are the liars exposed?
[20:7] Whether you declare your
convictions (or not) He knows the secret,
and what is even more hidden.
For this life, as indicated in the above verses, there
is a benefit in testing and distinguishing the true
believers/exposing the liars: stronger souls, an
opportunity to set the righteous example as believers,
and awareness of who are the disbelievers. The behavior
of the sedentary and hypocrites in following
lessons cannot be ignored, and is portrayed for us to be
aware of them:
The Sedentary
[9:42] If there were a quick
material gain, and a short journey, they would have
followed you. But the striving is just too much
for them. They will swear by GOD: "If
we could, we would have mobilized with you."
They thus hurt themselves, and
GOD knows that they are liars.
[9:43] GOD has pardoned you:
why did you give them permission (to stay
behind), before you could distinguish those who are
truthful from the liars?
[9:44] Those who truly
believe in GOD and the Last Day do not ask your
permission to evade the opportunity to strive with their
money and their lives. GOD is fully
aware of the righteous.
[9:45] The only people
who wish to be excused are those who do not really
believe in GOD and the Last Day. Their hearts are full
of doubt, and their doubts cause them to waver.
[9:46] Had they really wanted to
mobilize, they would have prepared for it thoroughly.
But GOD disliked their participation,
so He discouraged them; they were told, "Stay behind
with those who are staying behind."
[9:47] Had they mobilized
with you, they would have created confusion, and would
have caused disputes and divisions among you.
Some of you were apt to listen to them. GOD is fully
aware of the transgressors.
[9:48] They sought to
spread confusion among you in the past, and confounded
matters for you. However, the truth ultimately prevails,
and GOD's plan is carried out, in spite of them.
[9:49] Some of them would say,
"Give me permission (to stay behind); do not impose such
a hardship on me." In fact, they have thus
incurred a terrible hardship; Hell is surrounding the
disbelievers.
[9:50] If something good happens
to you, they hurt, and if an affliction befalls you,
they say, "We told you so," as they turn away rejoicing.
[9:51] Say, "Nothing happens to
us, except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord
and Master. In GOD the believers shall trust."
[63:1] When the hypocrites come
to you they say, "We bear
witness that you are the messenger of GOD."*
GOD knows that you are His messenger, and GOD bears
witness that the hypocrites are liars.
[63:2] Under the guise of their
apparent faith, they repel the people from the
path of GOD. Miserable indeed is what they do.
[63:3] This is because they
believed, then disbelieved. Hence, their minds
are blocked; they do not understand.
A Chip On Their Shoulders
[63:4] When you see them,
you may be impressed by their looks. And when they
speak, you may listen to their eloquence.
They are like standing logs. They think
that every call is intended against them.
These are the real enemies; beware of them.
GOD condemns them; they have deviated.
[63:5] When they are
told, "Come let the messenger of GOD pray for your
forgiveness," they mockingly turn their heads, and you
see them repel others and act arrogantly.
[63:6] It is the same for them,
whether you pray for their forgiveness, or not pray for
their forgiveness; GOD will not forgive them.
For GOD does not guide the wicked people.
[63:7] They are the ones
who say, "Do not give any money to
those who followed the messenger of GOD, perhaps they
abandon him!" However, GOD possesses the treasures of
the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not
comprehend.
[63:8] They say,
"If we go back to the city, the powerful therein will
evict the weak (and we will be victimized)." (They
should know that) all dignity belongs to GOD and
His messenger, and the believers. However, the
hypocrites do not know.
As for the Hereafter, we all know that we are held
accountable for our records, which utter nothing but the
truth. The believers have nothing to fear. They are
surrounded by peace, joy, and contentment.
Those who have lost their souls will blame and question
their shameful fate. However, they again will be exposed
and shown the proofs of their records. All of their
miserable decisions and actions will be brought forth :
[20:124] "As for the one who
disregards My message, he will have a miserable life,
and we resurrect him, on the Day of
Resurrection, blind."
[20:125]
He will say,
"My Lord, why did you summon me blind, when
I used to be a seer?"
[20:126]
He will
say, "Because you forgot our revelations
when they came to you, you are now forgotten."
[24:24]
The day will come when their
own tongues, hands, and feet will bear witness to
everything they had done.
The Video Record
[41:21] They
will say to their skins, "Why
did you bear witness against us?"
They will reply, "GOD made us speak
up; He is the One who causes everything to
speak. He is the One who created
you the first time, and now you have been
returned to Him."
God exposes them in this life for the
believers, and their exposure, printed
in their own records, will serve as a
testimony against themselves in the
Hereafter. Thus, they can never claim
they were not granted the same freedom
of choice the rest had, or that
they were not given an equal chance of
redemption through warners and
scriptures, nor will their belated
certainty and strong vision benefit them
in the least:
[6:130] O you jinns and humans, did you
not receive messengers from among you,
who narrated to you My revelations, and
warned you about the meeting of this
day? They will say, "We bear witness
against ourselves." They were totally
preoccupied with the worldly life, and
they will bear witness against
themselves that they were disbelievers.
[74:42] "What
brought you to this retribution?"
[74:43] They will
say, "We did not observe the contact
prayers (Salat).
[74:44] "We did not feed
the poor.
[74:45] "We blundered
with the blunderers.
[74:46] "We disbelieved
in the Day of Judgment.
[74:47] "Until
certainty came to us now."
[74:48] The intercession
of the intercessors will never help them.
[50:21] Every soul comes
with a herder and a
witness.
[50:22] You used to be
oblivious to this. We now remove your
veil; today, your vision is
(as strong as) steel.
[18:49] The
record will be shown, and you will see the
guilty fearful of its contents.
They will say, "Woe to us. How
come this book leaves nothing, small or large,
without counting it?" They will find everything
they had done brought forth.
Your Lord is never unjust towards anyone.
The Disbelievers
[69:25] As for him
who is given his record in his left hand, he
will say, "Oh, I wish I never
received my record.
[69:26] "I
wish I never knew my account.
[69:27] "I wish my death was
eternal.
[69:28] "My
money cannot help me. [69:29]
"All my power is gone."
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless you.
