Page 71 - The Secret Behind Our Trials

This Testing Continues until Death
truth and those who lie. While Muslims show strength and determi-
nation in times of difficulty and frustration, those who are weak re-
veal themselves and turn away from religion. An example of this
happened in the time of our Prophet (saas) when there was a war be-
tween the Muslims and the unbelievers. According to the Qur'an,
some Muslims showed weakness at this time and became over-
whelmed with anxious thoughts, thinking other than the truth
about Allah. In this time of difficulty, Satan tried to make these
Muslims leave the true path:
Those of you who turned their backs on the day the two
armies clashed—it was Satan who made them slip for what
they had done. But Allah has pardoned them. Allah is Ever-
Forgiving, All-Forbearing. (Surah Al `Imran, 155)
This occurrence contains an important lesson for believers:
Allah has promised that people must be tested in order to separate
the good from the evil, and the only way to endure these difficult
moments is to have a strong and sincere belief in Him. Certainly,
Allah makes things easier for His devout servants, steadies their
feet, and places a sense of well-being and security in their hearts in
all times of difficulty. But we must not forget that His promise to test
all people in this world and separate the good from the evil is sure:
Or did you suppose that you would be left without Allah
knowing those of you who have strived and who have not
taken anyone as their intimate friends besides Allah, His
Messenger, and the believers? Allah is aware of what you
do. (Surat at-Tawba, 16)
Do people imagine that they will be left to say: "We believe"
and will not be tested? We tested those before them so that
Allah would know the truthful and would know the liars.
(Surat al-`Ankabut, 2-3)

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