Are You Passing or Failing the Test?

by Asma bint Shameem

Whenever we go through a hardship or suffer a calamity, we say this is a test from Allaah.

When we lose our job or a loved one or we get sick, we acknowledge that this is a trial from the Almighty.

And surely, that is true.

However, we fail to realize that even when we did not lose our job, even when we did not lose a loved one and even when we did not suffer any hardship or calamity, we are still under a trial from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala.

Yes, that's right.

When we are at ease, enjoying good health and sitting cozily in the comfort of our homes, driving our cars, enjoying the company of our families and spending time with our friends, we are still being tested.

In fact, this test is harder to pass than the test of hardship.

🍃Allaah says:

“and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good.

And to Us you will be returned” (al-Anbiya’ :35)

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala, in His Infinite Wisdom, is testing us with all the innumerable blessings He has bestowed upon us, to see how we react to those blessings.

Will we be thankful and obedient to the One Who gave us these blessings and submit to Him or will we be arrogant and disobedient and forget Allaah.?

🍃 Allaah says:

“And we tested them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn

back." [Surah al-Araaf:168]

🍃Abd al-Malik ibn Ishaq said,

“There is no one that is not tested with health and prosperity to measure how thankful he is.”

▪️So if we have a comfortable life and money, He is testing us .... Where are we spending this money?

Is it on halaal or haraam?

Will we spend it all on vain desires of this dunya, arrogantly competing with each other, coveting what others have?

OR

will we be grateful to Him for giving us all these blessings, obeying Him and spending in His path, giving Zakaat and sadaqah?

🍃 Allaah says:

"Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world's life; but with Allaah is the excellent return (Paradise)." (Surah Aal-Imraan: 14)

▪️ And if He has blessed us with children, He is testing us to see how we will deal with them.

Are we giving them a good Islaamic upbringing?

Do we give them their rights?

Do we treat them fairly?

Will we earn from haraam just to please them?

🌿 Allaah is telling us:

"And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allaah is a mighty reward."

(Surah Anfaal: 28)

▪️ And if Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala has given us health and time, He is testing us to see how we will spend it.

Do we spend hours on social media, or in front of the TV, watching movies or sports, wasting ourself away?

Do we throw it away shopping, sleeping or just wandering, chatting with friends hours on end?

Or are we taking advantage of this time and using it for beneficial purposes, and using it to improve ourself as a Muslim?

Do we utilize it to learn the Deen of Allaah and then teach it to others?

Do we spend it in what Allaah likes and stay away from what He does not?

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Take advantage of five things before five other things: from your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your richness before your poverty, your free time before you become occupied, and from your life before your death." (al-Haakim--Saheeh)

And similar are all His blessings that He has bestowed upon us so that He may test us with them.....to see if we are the slave of our desires or the slave of the Almighty.

▪️ If He has given us power... are we just and fair?

▪️ If He has given us fame...are we boastful and arrogant or do we humble ourself to the Lord of the Worlds?

▪️ And as a woman......do we flaunt the beauty He gave us, everywhere in front of men or do we protect ourself with the Hijaab?

▪️ Do we use the eyes that He gave us......to read the Qur'aan, look at halaal, use them for good?

Do we lower our gaze from  looking at haraam.....?

And the tongue that He gave us....do we use it for His remembrance?

Do we use it to speak the Truth and uphold justice, enjoining good and forbidding evil or we use it to tell lies, backbite and spread gossip?

And the hands and limbs and faculties that He gave us......do we use them for His obedience....to serve Him and comply with His orders?

Or we employ the very blessings that He gave us to disobey Him and disregard His orders?

Do remember these faculties will be a witness on the Day when we gather in front of our Rabb:

🍃 Allaah says:

"This Day, We shall seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn." (Surah Yaseen: 65)

🍃 And He says:

"When they reach it (Hellfire), their hearing, eyes and skins will testify against them for what they used to do." (Surah Fussilat: 20)

So, wise are you, if you realize that all the wealth you have, the health that you enjoy, your mind and faculties, the families and friends that you have, the easy, good times that you take pleasure in, are all blessings that are, in reality, TESTS from Allaah.

If we are grateful to our Lord, remembering Him in times of ease, thanking Him, surrendering to Him and obeying him, He will PASS us in this test with flying colors and bless us even MORE.

🍃 Allaah says:

"And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."

(Surah Ibraheem: 7)

And surely, remembering Allaah in times of ease and success is far more difficult than remembering Allaah in times of difficulty.

However, if difficult times come (and they will surely come), then Allaah will remember us in these times of difficulty just because we remembered Him in times of prosperity.

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Remember Allaah in times of ease, and He will remember you in times of hardship.”

(Ahmad; saheeh by al-Albaani)

🍃 And he ﷺ said:

“Whoever is pleased that Allaah answers his prayers during hardships and difficulties, let him make much supplication in times of ease.” (at-Tirmidhi; hasan)

Let us remember the words of our beloved Prophet ﷺ and do our best to live by them.

🍃 He ﷺ said:

"Take the initiative to do deeds, before trials come like a piece of a dark night (unexpectedly)."

(Muslim 118)

And Allaah knows best.