Overcoming tests from Allah

Allah, Glory be to Him, says in the Quran: "Do men think that they will be left
alone on saying, 'We believe,' and that they will not be tested? We did test those
before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are
false" (Quran, 29: 2-3).

By virtue of being created as human beings, we will be tested. We will be thrown

into countless trials, into situations that may arise unpleasant and awkward, and
into times of difficulty when it seems as though there is little reason to hope.

Tests will come at us from every direction; events will test the very core of our
character and the strength of our beliefs. And these are the tests we cannot
afford to fail. And Allah, Glory be to Him, has not left us empty-handed.

Building our knowledge and our characters as Muslims is the only way to
overcome the mild to the severe trials we will face every day until we die. He
says: "Have you not seen how Allah has given the parable of a beautiful word like
a beautiful tree whose roots are firmly established, and whose branches tower in
the sky? It gives its fruits at all times by the permission of its Lord, and Allah sets
forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember" (Quran, 14: 24-
25).

A "beautiful word" in this verse refers to the Islamic statement of belief: la illaha
ill Allah (there is no being worthy of worship except Allah). And the verse goes on
to refer to a beautiful tree, which illustrates the character of a believer.

According to this verse, a believer is one whose Iman, or faith, is unwavering and
firmly established. He or she cannot be swayed from the straight path by the
winds of trials, no matter how fierce the storm. Knowing and believing that there
is no being worthy of worship except Allah, Glory be to Him, and following His
commandments provides a believer with the stability and confidence he or she
needs to succeed.

A believer's branches also "tower in the sky" like that of the beautiful tree. By this
analogy, a believer's Iman cannot remain hidden. A Muslim cannot claim to have
Iman solely in the heart while not having it show in his or her actions.

Contrary to that, Iman is something so significant that by its nature, it must be

seen by anyone who looks at or interacts with a Muslim. Your Iman raises you up
to a higher moral level, just as the braches of the beautiful tree reach upwards
towards to the sky.

These verses also mention that this tree that is compared with a true believer
"gives its fruits at all times by the permission of its Lord." The tree of Iman is
ever fruitful, unlike a real tree that only gives fruits at certain times of the year.

Your faith and your belief in la illaha ill Allah sustains you night and day, in every
season, during times of ease and times of great hardship. This is the parable of
the believer whose good deeds never take a vacation – they are continuous
throughout the day and the night. The chapter goes on to say "And the parable of
an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth having no
stability" (Quran 14: 26). An "evil word" in this verse refers to disbelief.

The verse describes the powerlessness and volatility of disbelief – it has no basis
and he or she who disbelieves has little stability in life. The trials and difficulties
of life can easily uproot such a person.
May Allah, Glory be to Him, make us be of those who are firmly rooted in their
beliefs.

Islamic history is riddled with examples of Muslims who withstood tests that
would seem unimaginably difficult today.

The Muslims of the past had an abundance of patience and perseverance which
are two important traits of this beautiful tree of Iman.

Two Muslims who were of the most firmly rooted of believers were Sumayyah and
Yasir, may God be pleased with them. After being among the first Muslims and
agreeing to accept Islam in a very tumultuous period, Sumayyah and Yasir along
with their son Ammar were tortured mercilessly at the hands of Abu Jahl. The
family was left unprotected since they had no tribal affiliations in Makkah.

Unable to physically help them at the time, the prophet Muhammad, peace be
upon him, would visit them and say, "be patient, O family of Yasir, because your
promised place is Paradise." He would then turn his face to the sky and say: "O
Lord! Forgive the family of Yasir." The prophet also prayed for the alleviation of
Ammar's suffering by placing Ammar's head in his lap and saying: "O fire! Be cool
and harmless for Ammar in the same manner in which you became cool and
harmless for Ibrahim."

Sumayyah and Yasir were both martyred in the cause of Allah, Glory be to Him,
after refusing to leave their faith which was dearer to them than life itself. The
family was honoured with the best of honours: the prophet's guarantee of their
home in paradise. These are the examples we should take as guides to our own
lives. Too often do we compromise what we believe in to accommodate the
uneducated assumptions of others. Too often do we forget the immense history of
Islam and Muslims.

One of the reasons we have the gift of Islam is because we stand on the
shoulders of people like Sumayyah and Yasir, may Allah be pleased with them.
People who did not waver, did not compromise their Iman to please others or
even to save their own lives. Just like in our Islamic history, our strength as a
community and as individuals today can only stem from the remembrance of and
obedience to Allah, Glory be to Him. These times are difficult and the pain often
hits close to home. But by holding fast to our belief in la illaha ill Allah , we will
stay firmly rooted, our branches will tower high towards the sky, and our hearts
will never lack sustenance, InshaAllah.

Sources: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Volume 5

Allah tells us that we will be tested. He also makes it clear to us what is expected
from us when we undergo these trials and what our reward will be if we are
successful.

He says: “Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some
loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who
patiently persevere. Those who, when misfortune strikes them, say: ‘Indeed we
belong to Allah and to Him is our return. Those are the ones upon whom are
blessings and mercy from their Lord and it is those who are rightly guided.”
[Sûrah al-Baqarah: 155]

The Prophet (peace be upon him)said: "No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow,
harm or sadness afflicts any Muslim, even to the extent of a thorn pricking him,
without Allah wiping out his sins by it." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No Muslim is
afflicted by harm, whether it is but the prick of a thorn or something worse,
without Allah expiating his evil deeds on account of it and his sins falling away
from him like leaves off a tree.'" [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When Allah desires good for
someone, He tries him with hardships." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]

In reality, the entire Sacred Law is a tremendous blessing for us in this life and
the next.

Obligations that initially seem difficult to fulfill have a polishing effect on the heart
until eventually the one's entire perspective changes. Outward submission leads
to inward submission and heart fills with love and gratitude for Allah.

Obligations are not meant to be hammered out reluctantly; they are meant to be
offered in the spirit of heartfelt gratitude to Allah for the myriad blessings that
each of us has been given. Someone who is realized in this state will do
everything for Allah; "worldly" activities such as eating, drinking, and conversing
with friends are all performed with the intention of drawing closer to Allah.

Such a person will not worry over possible future problems, nor will he grieve
over past difficulties, for he is busy with the One he loves. This is true happiness
and anyone who misses out on it will never know the meaning of contentment.

So know that Allah is testing us because he wants good for us and he wants to
see if we are going to come closer to him or more further away from him.

Shaythan is wanting us to weaken and fail the tests from Allah so will we let
shaythan win? Or will we make the best of these opportunities and get closer to
Allah than we have EVER been?

For if we are patient then Allah is with us so NOTHING can hurt or effect us!

Allah mentions in the Qur'an:

“Indeed Allah is with those who are patient.”

If one is patient, and is among the ones described in the following manner in the
Qur’an (Baqarah, 2: 256)

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihee Raaji'oon

“To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”:-

The Reward for Patience is Paradise

‘Ata ibn Rabah related that he heard Ibn ‘Abbas say: “Shall I show you a woman
of Paradise?” I said: “Yes, indeed.” He said: “A black woman came to the
Prophet, peace be upon him, and said: ‘I suffer from epileptic fits, and because of
these, (at times) my body becomes uncovered. Would you invoke Allah, the
Exalted One, to cure me of this disease? ‘ The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
‘If you wish, you can be patient and you will attain Paradise (for this suffering).
But if you prefer, I will pray to Allah, the Exalted, to cure you of it?’ The woman
said: ‘I will be patient,’ then added: ‘I become uncovered (when I have fits), so
invoke Allah for me that I do not become uncovered. ‘ So the Prophet, peace be
upon him, prayed for her.” [Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, #1a]

So tests and calamitys are a blessing in disguise and Allah wanting us to get
closer to him so if we bare with in with Patience hoping for reward then Allah is
with us and best of all we will get closer to Allah and feel true contentment and
happiness in the heart and we will attain Paradise inshallah!