The straight path isn't always smooth. In fact,
God describes it as the difficult path (90:10-17.) God cites
the examples for us in the Quran and teaches us that those
who claim to be believers will certainly meet a lot of
challenges and obstacles while trying to carry out God's
commands and strive in His cause. Either through adversity
or Satanic temptations, the ups and downs of our belief is
being tracked throughout this journey on earth. We are to
face it all and the slope of our faith is sometimes upward
or downward, positive or negative.
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?
[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.
[29:3] We have tested those
before them, for GOD must distinguish those who
are truthful, and He must expose the liars.
[3:154] ......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.
[2:155] We will surely
test you through
some fear,
hunger, and
loss of money,
lives, and
crops. Give
good news to the
steadfast.*
The Inevitable Test
[9:16] Did you think that you
will be left alone without GOD
distinguishing those among you who
strive,
and never
ally themselves with GOD's enemies, or the enemies
of His messenger, or the enemies of the believers?
GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
The Inevitable Test
[3:186] You will
certainly be tested, through your money and
your lives, and you will hear from those who
received the scripture, and from the idol
worshipers, a lot of insult. If you
steadfastly persevere and lead a righteous life,
this will prove the strength of your faith.
God doesn't test the disbelievers. The believers are the
only candidates for this privilege.
[6:110] We
control their
minds and their hearts. Thus, since
their decision
is to disbelieve, we leave them in their
transgressions, blundering.
[7:186] Whomever GOD commits to
straying, there is no way for anyone to guide him.
He leaves them in their sins, blundering.
Those who are certain will know God's system and never
question His wisdom. In fact they go through adversity,
dwelling on the positive side and rejoicing in the fact
that The Almighty has chosen them to toughen their
faith, strengthen their foothold and augment their
guidance.
God's Tests Are Never
Unreasonable
[4:66] Had we decreed for
them: "You must offer your lives," or "Give up your
homes," they would
not have done it, except for a few of them.
(Even if such a command was issued,) had
they done what they were commanded to do, it would
have been better for them, and would prove the
strength of their faith.
[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.
[47:17] As for those who
are guided, He augments their guidance, and grants them
their righteousness.
The Satanic views are sometimes very tempting and
deceiving. Satan doesn't give up on us. He changes
his colors, uniquely, in different situations to
appeal to us. He alters his language and logic to
add imaginary validity to his whispers.
[7:16] He said, "Since You have
willed that I go astray,* I will skulk for them
on Your straight path.
[7:17] "I will come to them from
before them, and from behind
them, and from their right,
and from their left, and You will find
that most of them are unappreciative."
When God, The Most Merciful, gives us a flawless (18:1)
and easy to read road map to paradise (54:17), Satan
has to shout that this map is impossible to follow and
hard to understand. When God says it's fully detailed
and good enough for our salvation (6:114,
6:51), Satan will desperately swear that it's
incomplete. When the proofs of the divine authorship of
the Quran are overwhelming (6:157), Satan tries hard to
muddy them or even claim they are inadequate. The more
we focus and learn about Quran, the more Satan
gets furious add adorns other sources in our eyes trying
to instill fear and doubt. Another unchangeable law,
however, is that Satan has absolutely no power over
God's servants and that the door is always wide open for
us to repent, ask for forgiveness and get rewarded for
doing that!
[15:41] He said, "This is
a law that is inviolable.
[15:42] "You have no
power over My servants. You
only
have power over the strayers who follow you.
[16:99] He has no power
over those who believe and trust in their Lord.
[16:100] His power is
limited to those who
choose him as
their master, those who choose him as their god.
[11:52] "O my people,
seek forgiveness from
your Lord, then
repent to Him.
He will then shower you with provisions from
the sky, and augment
your strength. Do not turn back into
transgressors."
[20:82] I am
surely Forgiving
for those who repent,
believe,
lead a righteous life,
and steadfastly remain
guided.
It is God's system that the ride gets rough and
painful sometimes. Our goal is to never slide back
with the disbelievers (3:149) nor to get intimidated
by the ones who have not attained certainty (30:60).
We steadfastly persevere and strive to redeem our
souls and pave our straight path to the
eternal paradise ( 30:44, 28:80). What an awesome
reward!
[94:1] Did we not
cool your temper?
[94:2] And we
unloaded your
load (of sins).
[94:3] One
that burdened
your back.
[94:4] We exalted you to an
honorable position.
[94:5] With pain there is
gain.
[94:6] Indeed, with pain
there is gain.
[50:31]
Paradise will be offered to the righteous,
readily.
[50:32] This is what
was promised to
every
repenter, steadfast.
[50:33] They
reverenced the Most Gracious, in their privacy, and
came wholeheartedly.
[50:34] Enter it in
peace; this is the Day of Eternity.
[50:35] They get
anything they wish therein, and we have even more.
[13:22]
They
steadfastly persevere in seeking
their Lord, observe the Contact
Prayers (Salat), spend from our provisions to them
secretly and publicly, and counter evil with good.
These have deserved the
best abode.
[13:23] They enter the
gardens of Eden,
together with
the righteous among their parents, their
spouses, and their children. The angels will
enter in to them from every door.
[13:24] "Peace be
upon you, because you steadfastly persevered.
What a joyous destiny."
Peaceful Friday, salaam and may God bless you.
