"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 Qur'an references
[2:45]
You shall seek help through steadfastness and the Contact Prayers (Salat).
This is difficult indeed, but not so for the reverent,
[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.
[
2:153] O you who believe, seek help through steadfastness
and the Contact Prayers (Salat). GOD is with those who steadfastly
persevere.
[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.
[
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
[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.
[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.
[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."
[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."
[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.
[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.
[23:111]
"I have rewarded them today, in return for their steadfastness,
by making them the winners."
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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."
[41:35]
None can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can
attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.
[
90:17] And being one of those who believe, and exhorting
one another to be steadfast, and exhorting one another to be kind.
[103:1-3]
By the token of time.
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.