Page 15 - The Secret Behind Our Trials

The World Is a Place of Testing
of Paradise, while those who chose the way of evil and oppression
will find their reward in the eternal torment of Hell. Allah created
this short life as a testing place, for:
He Who created death and life to test which of you is best in
action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving. (Surat al-
Mulk, 2)

Exchanging Eternal Life for the Life of This World
One of the greatest errors of non-religious people is the idea
that the life of this world is permanent. Unaware that they are being
tested, this world's beautiful things mislead them into thinking that
what they acquire comes about as the result of their own effort and
that they are, therefore, self-sufficient. People who live in unbeliev-
ing societies forget about the life in the Hereafter and so busy them-
selves with trying to attain those things that they think are so
beautiful and valuable. In the Qur'an, Allah tells us about the desire
for these baubles that bind people to this world:
To humanity the love of worldly appetites is painted in
glowing colors: women and children, and heaped-up
mounds of gold and silver, horses with fine markings, live-
stock, and fertile farmland. All of that is merely the enjoy-
ment of the life of this world. The best homecoming is in the
presence of Allah. Say: "Shall I tell you of something better
than that?" Those who guard against evil will have Gardens
with their Lord, with rivers flowing under them, remaining
in them timelessly, forever; purified wives; and the Pleasure
of Allah. Allah sees His servants. (Surah Al `Imran, 14-15)
As this verse makes quite clear, people have many desires. But
obtaining only these objects of desire is of no benefit to them, for
their real life is the Hereafter, where they will remain for all eternity.

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