In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Life is a series of tests. Everyday we are put to tests. In fact, right at this moment we are being put to test. No one who lives on this earth and no one will leave this world without being tested.
When the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) was asked which people are afflicted with the toughest of tribulations, he said,
The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is strong, he will be tested more severely, and if his religious commitment is weak, he will be tested in accordance with his religious commitment. Calamity will keep befalling a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.[at-Tirmidhi]
We will be tested with evil, something that hurts, and with good, something pleasant and that makes us happy. Either way we are required to be patient and thankful to Allah.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥[Qur'an, Al-Anbiya' 21:35]
Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. (35)
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:155]
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155)
Among the many tests, children and wealth are two of the most difficult ones in this era. Many of use failed miserably.
إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥[Qur'an, Taghabun 64:15]
Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward. (15)
No doubt, our children are a constant trial. So, He may know our ability of (correct) upbringing of our children. Whether they are young or adult, single or married, good or bad, dependent or independent, we are being tested. We have to recognize that when our children are good and successful, our pride and ego are also being put to test. Are we going to toot our own horn or are we going to remember Allah, thank Him and be grateful to Him? When our children are disobedient and difficult, our patience are being tested the most. Are we going to throw in the towel or be angry or are we going to recognize our mistakes and try to correct them? Many of us have failed miserably in the tests of our children. The deterioration of morals in the society gives testimony to how many of us have failed as parents.
Similarly, wealth is a test from Allah to His slaves, so that He may know who among us are generous and will spend this blessing, give charity and pay zakah for His sake. Many of us fail miserably in this area as well. In these days of great material bounty, millions have little opportunity to lift themselves from the abyss of poverty and 1 billion children are living in poverty. Amid the great abundance that exists, however, the poor often have little opportunity to improve their lot in life. When refugees are driven to starvation because of war, when stores of food rot because of political manipulation, and when market forces push the cost of life’s necessities to levels that the poor cannot pay, are we there to help these most vulnerable people and the impoverished humans?
Remember, "The world is the prison of the believer, and a Paradise for the non-believer." [Muslim]
So the truthful believer has patience upon what afflicts him in the world so that it becomes for him the everlasting delights, and the non-believer is delighted in the world as if it is his paradise, and it becomes his everlasting punishment on the day of reward.
May Allah make us of those who are truthful, grateful and patient. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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