Page 38 - The Secret Behind Our Trials

THE SECRET BEHIND OUR TRIALS
separate the good from the evil, and gives very good and wise ad-
vice on this matter. When asked what the purpose of Satan and
wickedness is, he concludes that some very important reasons lie
behind every frustration, deprivation, and wickedness. The most

important of these is the separation between a "coal-like" disposi-
tion and a "diamond-like" disposition.
He uses this example to show that every kind of difficulty and
frustration brings out the best in a person. The trials of this world
bring to light each person's bad aspects and so provide the opportu-
nity to correct them. For example, a serious illness may reveal an in-
dividual's timidity or spiritual weakness. Thus, when a woman
becomes aware of her weakness, she immediately remedies it. So,
the illness allowed her to see her mistakes and to correct them
within this short lifetime. After this misfortune, one more impurity
will be done away with, and her moral character will be improved.
Take the example of a man with a life-long reputation for being hon-
orable but then goes bankrupt and resorts to illegal means to get
money. This shows how misfortune can reveal a person's bad as-
pects. But if this individual does not commit a sin and compromise
his honor despite his need for money, then his deprivation will
show that he is really pure and devout.
In his Letters, Beddiuzzaman gives examples of the wisdom of
showing patience in situations that will later turn out for the good.
He writes: So, the creation in the universe of wickedness, hurt, trials, evil
and suffering is not something bad or ugly; these things have been created
for a very important purpose. …in the world of human beings advance and
decline are endless. There is a great distance between the Nimrods and
Pharaohs on one hand and the saints and prophets on the other. So to dis-
tinguish between the coal-like base spirits and diamond-like spirits

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