Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- It's Test Time

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

We are being tested all the time. You just have to recognize them and try to overcome them. It's a form of good deed which you will be rewarded immensely inshaa Allah.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Affliction will continue to trouble the believers, men and women, in their bodies, their families, and their property until they meet Allah Almighty purified of every wrong action."

There are two very difficult tests in this world -- extreme difficulty and extreme luxury.

Extreme difficulty are things like serious calamity, earthquake, famine, poverty, violence, etc. Such difficulty can knock the senses out of the one being afflicted and he can lose his faith.

Extreme luxury is when everything is easy -- you open the fridge, all kinds of food are looking at you; you turn on the tap, hot/cold water started to flow at the exact speed you wanted. When you have too much luxury you can easily take things for granted and when suddenly you have one thing less or slightly below the standard you are used to, you get upset. You stop being grateful and this is a loss of faith.

The owner of the two gardens in Surah Kahf was tested with extreme wealth and he lost it.

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ﴿٣٥﴾ وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا ﴿٣٦

And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, "I do not think that this will perish - ever. (35) And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return." (36)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:35-36]

With a little reflection, many of us are like that whether we realize it or not, lost in our possessions and delusion. Today is an opportunity to change that about us.

Be grateful with everything you have or don't have.

Whether you are blessed with good health or experiencing a down turn due to sickness, aches and pains, make the Qur'an your companion. Spend a good amount of time with the Qur'an daily (listening, reading, learning, memorizing). Do extra prayers and recite new verses of the Quran that you are learning or memorizing. If people around you are not doing it, don't mind if you are alone in this. A lot of times people don't want to follow Allah's guidance because they are afraid they won't be happy. But Allah guarantees those who follow His guidance will not have fear in this life and the next life. You may be the only one in your family who prays, reads Quran or memorize Quran. Don't stop. Keep going. Don't feel alone.

Be grateful for the blessing of guidance. Following this Deen (Islam) and guidance is very personal and a brave initiative. And nobody outside Allah's guidance can enjoy tranquility and peace. When you do follow Allah's guidance, He will give you new company -- in this dunya (world) you get the company of believers and in the akhirah (Hereafter) Allah will enter you in the company of the righteous.

May Allah grant us 'afiya and the company of the righteous in this life and the next.

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:10]

Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam