Assalaamu 'alaykum

As we drown in the comfort of wealth, health, happiness, company of family/friends & safety everyday, one thing we must frequently be mindful of is the fact that Allaah ta'aala could take them away in a second - In the blink of an eye - & not necessarily to punish us but rather to pour His mercy upon us & guide us closer to the right path.

Trials & hardships in Islaam aren't always a bad thing or a punishment... The prophet Muhammad salla Allaahu alayhi wassalam said that Allaah tests those whom he loves & the more he loves them, the higher & harder the trial will be, this is because Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala will pour rewards & mercy without measure upon those whom endured the most hardships in this life. If only we were to see how highly Allaah 'azza wa jal will favour those whom patiently persevered, we would wish that our body parts were sliced off to get that which they do. The anbiyaa (messengers & prophets) were all tested with the most severe trials & at the same time, they are the best of Allaah's creation & the most beloved to Allaah. By pondering upon this, we come to realize that these tests are a form of Allaah's love & care for us - the hopelessness & despair we feel during the midst of a tribulation may make it hard to see & understand why Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala would test us in such a way, however, if we deal with them in a correct manner - understanding with full conviction that He does not give us more than we can take, use the pain as a medium to get closer to our Creator & seek knowledge about the lives of the anbiyaa & pious predecessors, it will make it easier to understand why we are experiencing what we are & the end result of the trial would feel closer & appear sweeter, making it easier for us to get over the initial rage or pain.

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

" And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealthand lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return." Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. "
(2: 155-157)


Trials are a means of purification. A means which cleanses our soul & if we deal with them in the manner prescribed by the Qur-aan & Sunnah, we will flourish out of them as better & improved Muslims with a broader outlook on life, inshaaAllaah. SubhaanAllaah, apart from my own personal trials - I myself, by the bounties of Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala have been given the chance to watch & experience close hand, various shapes & forms of trials which friends/family undergo around me, whether that be the long absence of missing children, death of loved ones, diagnosis of deadly illnesses & disease, loss of huge wealth, & so on. By Allaah, the creator of the heavens & earth, I have not seen anyone afflicted with a trial except that they become amazingly happier, productive, better & more successful beings from every aspect of life, provided that they were patient & relied themselves upon their Lord with full trust, hope & continuously obeyed His commands. One important thing which we MUST keep in mind during hard times is that this life is truly nothing in comparison to the hereafter, & what we do HERE - in this limited, restricted world - will determine where we end up THERE - in the infinite life of the hereafter which has in it that which the eye has never seen, that which the ear has never heard & that which the heart has never felt.

On dealing with a trial, we have two choices. Either we seek Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala through it & make it a means of purification for us, a path to paradise. Or we isolate ourselves from everyone & allow the shaitan to take advantage of us - pulling us further away from the path of Allaah.


Our dear brother & teacher Navaid Aziz tackles this concept in a clear & motivational manner, may Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala reward him & remove from him all hardships in this life & the next, ameen.

I ask Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala to make the Qur-aan the delight of our hearts, the light of our breasts & the remover of our pain, sorrow & discomfort, aameen!