"Do the people think that they will be left
to say, "We believe," without being put to the test?" [29:2]
God teaches us in the Quran that
Victory belongs to the believers in this life and the in the
Hereafter, 2:62 & 5:69. God also teaches us that
the believers will not be left without being tested.
[29:2-3] "Do the people think
that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the
test?" We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish
those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.
[3:179] GOD is not to leave the
believers as you are, without distinguishing the bad from the good.
[2:214] Do you expect to enter
Paradise without being tested like those before you?
While this article's title talks about BAD things
that may happen to good people, I need to remind the reader that our
definition of what is bad can be totally wrong as we cannot see what
God sees. It is actually the short sighted people and those who are
not true submitters who make a quick judgment that what happened
to someone is bad (or good in this regard). It has been proven
frequently that what seems to be bad in our eyes turns to be a
blessing to that person and vice verse. The test was actually given
as much to those who witness what is happening and make rush
judgment and fail their test while the person who seems to receive the
"bad" incident had enriched his soul and progressed and counted with
the winners.
[2:216] .. But you may dislike
something which is good for you, and you may like something which is
bad for you. GOD knows while you do not know.
In this article I am mainly discussing the testing of
the believers. When bad things happen to someone it is usually one of
two things, either a punishment or a test (4:79, 42:30, 3:165). The
disbelievers may not be punished in this life and allowed to
transgress for a while to accumulate more sins and prepare for their
humiliating defeat in the Hereafter. The believers on the other hand
may be punished quickly in this life to bring them back to the right
path, give them the chance to repent and correct what wrong they may
have done. What seems to be a punishment for us or the people around
us may just be a test to polish our qualities, expose our weakness and
give us a chance to work on it and correct it, and also to see if we
belong to those lucky ones who will steadfastly persevere
while submitting to God ALONE and accepting His judgment in this life
and in the Hereafter.. Throughout the Quran God gives a special rank
in Heaven for those who steadfastly persevere, (2:54, 2:153, 2:155,
2:177, 2:249, 2:250, 3:17, 3:142, 3:146, 3:186, 3:200, 4:25, 7:126,
8:46, 8:66, 10:109, 11:11,11:49, 11:115, 12:90, 13:22, 13:24,
16:42, 16:96, 16:110, 16:126, 16:127, 18:28, 20:130, 21:85, 22:35,
23:111, 25:75, 28:54, 28:80, 29:59, 30:60, 31:17, 32:24, 33:35,
38:17, 38:44, 39:10, 40:55, 40:77, 41:35, 42:43, 46:35, 47:31,
76:12, 90:17, 103:3). Remember that people do not steadfastly
persevere on good life, good health, good wealth, victory, happy
times, but they do it for an adversity and/or lack of any of the
above. We have to remember that death is not by itself a punishment as
all of us will die, but death of someone can be a punishment or a test
for the living others to see how they can accept God's judgment and
submit to Him in the good times and in the bad times, under all
circumstances. Those who go through their test while steadfastly
persevering are the most fortunate believers, they are the lucky ones
despite their difficulties in this life and their perseverance in face
of all the ignorant ones who do not understand God's system.
[41:35] None can attain this except those
who steadfastly persevere. None can attain this except those who are
extremely fortunate.
The Test
Testing the believers will vary. It may be mild and
light or hard and exacting. Sickness, fear, hunger, poverty, death,
loss of power or control, losing a battle, failing an examination,
failing a marriage, failing a business, losing a job or a friend…etc.
are just few examples. Testing may also be in the form of blessings,
wealth, health, knowledge, children, family, security, peace…etc. What
to do with these blessings is a great test. The test may also be
given, by testing us by
one another. The true believers submit to God in all cases and under
all circumstances.
[2:155] We will surely test you
through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give
good news to the steadfast.
[8:28] You should know that your
money and your children are a test, and that GOD possesses a great
recompense.
[3:186] You will certainly be
tested, through your money and your lives, and you will hear from
those who received the scripture, and form idol worshippers, a lot of
insult. If you steadfastly persevere and lead a righteous life, this
will prove the strength of your faith.
Who will be tested?
The Quran shows us that all the believers will be
tested, prophets, messengers, saints, righteous people, all will be
tested.
[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.
Abraham, the prophet, who was called God’s friend was
put to an exacting test.
[2:124] Recall that Abraham was
put to the test by his Lord, through certain commands, and he
fulfilled them..
[37:105-106] "You (Abraham) have
believed the dream." We thus reward the righteous. That was an
exacting test indeed.
Adam and Eve, were put to the test several times
including expulsion from Heaven, and may have lived through the loss
of their righteous son. Noah lost his son twice, first lost him as a
disbeliever but still loved him, then lost him to the flood while
calling on God to save him. The prophet Muhammed lost his only born
son (Ibrahim) as all historical accounts mentions and was very
saddened by it. Muhammed spent a great deal of his life
struggling with the disbelievers going from one war to another.
Exposed to killings, wounding, loss of friends and loved ones, he was
truely tested. God could have won him the wars while Muhammed staying
home enjoying a peaceful life of a prophet. Noah, Abraham, Lot, Jacob,
Joseph, Moses, Solomon, Jesus, John, Job, Jonah, and Muhammed, were
all given different and difficult tests.
[38:34]
"We thus put Solomon to the test; we blessed him
with vast material wealth, but he steadfastly submitted."
[38:41] Remember our servant
Job: he called upon his Lord, "The devil has afflicted me with
hardship and pain."
The believers were tested to the maximum until shaken
up.
[2:214] Do you expect to enter
Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were tested
with hardship and adversity, and were shaken up, until the messenger
and those who believed with him said, "Where is GOD's victory?" GOD's
victory is near.
When?
Since this is a test, we would not know when, where or
what kind of test we might be given. We do not make the choice, God
does. He is the Almighty, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Testing the believers. Expose the hypocrites
While God is testing the believers, He is also
exposing the hypocrites and confusing the disbelievers and leading
them on in their transgression, blundering. They do not
understand God’s system and think they are right when they are dead
wrong. God
gave us their example in the Quran when He talked about the Battle of
the Parties
in 33:9-12, and about the hypocrites in 9:50-51.
See also 3:118-120, and 22:11
[33:9-12] "O you who believe, remember GOD's
blessing upon you; when soldiers attacked you, we sent upon them
violent wind and invisible soldiers. GOD is Seer of everything you do.
When they came from above you, and from beneath you, your eyes were
terrified, your hearts ran out of patience, and you harbored
unbefitting thoughts about GOD. That is when the believers were truly
tested; they were severely shaken up. The hypocrites and those with
doubts in their hearts said, "What GOD and His messenger promised us
was no more than an illusion!" "
But what did the true believers say?
[33:22]
When the true believers saw the parties (ready
to attack), they said, "This is what GOD and His messenger have
promised us, and GOD and His messenger are truthful." This (dangerous
situation) only strengthened their faith and augmented their
submission.
What should the Believers do?
[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."
[2:156] "When an affliction
befalls them, they say, "We belong to God, and to Him we are
returning."
In face of adversity or hardship, the true believers
are expected to submit. We are being tested to see if we are truly
submitters or not, whether we submit to God during the bad times and
the good times or not. God gave us the correct solution in His book,
the Quran. Submitting to God, means to accept whatever God has given
us or taken away from us, to steadfastly persevere and to wait for
God’s victory. In practical terms, let us put it in steps;
Whenever an adversity or hardship afflict a believer, he/she should:
(1) Should not panic. God does test the believers and
if He is punishing us, it is to get our attention to correct
something wrong we did. He is helping us out instead of leaving us in
the dark. Since we asked for our freedom, He gave it to us and it
is up to us to correct any wrong doing on our own, He only points
things to us and we freely chose.
(2) Check to see if he/she has got
off the right path. Is he/she still worshipping God alone and
following His book. Correct your path and stay with God alone, if you
were not.
(3) Submit to God, by accepting what happened to you
without objecting. See 2:155-157
(4) Implore God to remove the
hardship or adversity. God wants us to implore Him. Do not rush an
answer. God runs everything. See 40:60
(5) Steadfastly persevere, see 2:153,
2:45, 90:17,
2:177 and103:3 and this is the greatest trait
of the true believers. God promised those who steadfastly persevere
great recompense. See 41:35,
23:111, 22:35, 31:17 and
2:155-157.
(6) Believe that God’s promise is the truth and that
victory belongs to the believers, but you have to pass your test.
Victory is in the way. God’s victory is near. See
30:47, 30:60, 2:155 and
2:214
(7) There are two kinds of victories according to the
Quran, victory in this life and the bigger and most important victory
in the Hereafter. God has promised the believers both victories. Some
of these victories my be in disguise and not apparent to other
people. Other victories are obvious and clear. The true believer can
identify many victories in his/her life even during the most difficult
times or the time of testing. Of the many victories that the believers
will see in this life, finding the right path and accepting God alone
is the most important one. The believers accept whichever victory or
testing comes their way, and always strive to achieve the eternal
victory in the Hereafter. 9:50-52
With the help of God and the assurance in the Quran,
the true believers will make
the best out of their test or punishment and wait for God’s victory.
They are absolutely sure that God’s Victory is near and that God’s
victory is their reward.
Praise be to God.
A.K.
Verses from the Quran references
[2:45] You
shall seek help through steadfastness and the Contact Prayers (Salat).
This is difficult indeed, but not so for the reverent,
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[2:62] Surely,
those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the
converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last
Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense
from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
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[ 2:153] O
you who believe, seek help through steadfastness and the Contact
Prayers (Salat). GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.
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[2:155-157]
We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money,
lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast. When an affliction
befalls them, they say, "We belong to GOD, and to Him we are
returning." These have deserved blessings from their Lord and mercy.
These are the guided ones.
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[ 2:177]
Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west.
Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the
scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to
the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the
beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers
(Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their
word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in
the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful;
these are the righteous
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[2:214] Do
you expect to enter Paradise without being tested like those before
you? They were tested with hardship and adversity, and were shaken up,
until the messenger and those who believed with him said, "Where is
GOD's victory?" GOD's victory is near.
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[3:118-120] O
you who believe, do not befriend outsiders who never cease to wish you
harm; they even wish to see you suffer. Hatred flows out of their
mouths and what they hide in their chests is far worse. We thus
clarify the revelations for you, if you understand.
Here you are loving them, while
they do not love you, and you believe in all the scripture. When they
meet you they say, "We believe," but as soon as they leave, they bite
their fingers out of rage towards you. Say, "Die in your rage." GOD is
fully aware of the innermost thoughts.
When anything good comes your
way they hurt, and when something bad happens to you they rejoice. If
you steadfastly persevere, and maintain righteousness, their schemes
will never hurt you. GOD is fully aware of everything they do.
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[9:50-52] 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.
Say, "Nothing happens to us,
except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In GOD
the believers shall trust."
Say, "You can only expect for us
one of two good things (victory or martyrdom), while we expect for you
condemnation from GOD and retribution from Him, or at our hands.
Therefore, wait, and we will wait along with you."
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[9:50-52] 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.
Say, "Nothing happens to us,
except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In GOD
the believers shall trust."
Say, "You can only expect for us
one of two good things (victory or martyrdom), while we expect for you
condemnation from GOD and retribution from Him, or at our hands.
Therefore, wait, and we will wait along with you."
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[22:11] Among the people there is the one who
worships GOD conditionally. If things go his way, he is content. But
if some adversity befalls him, he makes an about-face. Thus, he loses
both this life and the Hereafter. Such is the real loss.
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[22:35] They
are the ones whose hearts tremble upon mentioning GOD, they
steadfastly persevere during adversity, they observe the Contact
Prayers (Salat), and from our provisions to them, they give to
charity.
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[23:111] "I
have rewarded them today, in return for their steadfastness, by making
them the winners."
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[30:47] We
have sent messengers before you to their people, with profound signs.
Subsequently, we punished those who transgressed. It is our duty that
we grant victory to the believers.
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[30:60]
Therefore, you shall steadfastly persevere - for GOD's promise is the
truth - and do not be intimidated by those who have not attained
certainty.
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[31:17] "O my
son, you shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat). You shall advocate
righteousness and forbid evil, and remain steadfast in the face of
adversity. These are
the most honorable traits.
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[40:60] Your
Lord says, "Implore Me, and I will respond to you. Surely, those who
are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Gehenna, forcibly."
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[41:35] None
can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can
attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.
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[ 90:17] And
being one of those who believe, and exhorting one another to be
steadfast, and exhorting one another to be kind.
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[103:1-3] By
the afternoon.
The human being is utterly lost.
Except those who believe and lead a righteous life, and exhort one
another to uphold the truth, and exhort one another to be steadfast.
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