Page 34 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

32 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

The body a person has is also granted for the very same
purpose:

We created humanity from a mingled drop to test him,
and We made him hearing and seeing. (Surat al-Insan:
2)
People are tested by different means, one of the most
important of which is the difficulties that Allah creates and
sends to people. This is related in the Qur’an as follows:
We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hun-
ger, loss of wealth, life, and fruits. But give good news
to the steadfast. (Surat al-Baqara: 155)
The Qur’an contains many examples of how the pro-
phets and messengers, or their followers, were tested. The
reactions they received from their families or those around
them, the threats and pressures they met, as well as the
mockery and slander to which they were exposed, and
their errors are all tests. The attitude expected of believers
t
b
u
a
e
…
when confronted with such difficulties is to say, “…beauty
y
“
f
d
s

g
a
e
t
s
e
”
s
s
a
n
t

i
n
l lies in showing steadfastness” (Surah Yusuf: 18) and to
i
e
s
n
w
i
o

s
h
persevere, never suspecting Allah’s mercy and closeness
for a moment and in the knowledge that all difficulties can
be overcome with His help.
As well as difficulties, blessings are also sent to test
man. With the blessings He grants, Allah tests a person’s
maturity and his devotion to Him.
The goal here is to prove that the believer is unfettered
by facile arrogance on arriving at a level of well-being (this
is a core feature of an unbelieving society). When such
people acquire fame or fortune, they often become spoiled