Page 19 - The Secret Behind Our Trials

The World Is a Place of Testing
Allah Tries People with Good and Evil
As we mentioned earlier, all people are tested throughout their
lives in various ways. The Qur'an tells us that these trials may be by
means of good or evil:
We did not give any human being before you immortality.
And if you die, will they then be immortal? Every person will
taste death. We test you with both good and evil as a trial.
And you will be returned to Us. (Surat al-Anbiya', 34-35)
People may be tested by all sorts of things. For example, while
enjoying the blessings of abundant wealth, they must be careful to
practice the kind of morality that earns His good pleasure, turn to-
ward Him in all of their intentions and actions, obey His commands,
and follow His advice. If they become caught up in the world's tran-
sitory pleasures, wealth can make them oblivious to reality. But be-
lievers, no matter how many blessings they may enjoy, remain
forever grateful to Allah.
People may also be tested by illness, disaster, pressures from
the unbelievers, hurtful words, slander, entrapment, and cruel
ridicule. But Muslims realize that all of these things are part of their
testing, and so hold on to patience which ultimately leads to good.
As we said earlier, these individuals have made a good trade in
exchanging the life of this world for the life of the Hereafter.
According to the Qur'an, "Know that your wealth and children are
a trial, and that there is an immense reward with Allah" (Surat al-
Anfal, 28), they are aware that their lives and possessions all belong
to Allah, and so any gain or loss never alters their moral character,
their worldview, or their faithfulness to our Lord. Many verses de-
scribe this quality, among them the following:
But the Messenger and those who believe along with him
have striven with their wealth and with themselves. They are

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