Asma bint Shameem
Whenever we go through a hardship or suffer a calamity, we say this is a test from Allaah. When we lose our job or a loved one or we get sick, we acknowledge that this is a trial from the Almighty. And surely, that is true. However, we fail to realize that even when we did not lose our job, even when we did not lose a loved one and even when we did not suffer any hardship or calamity, we are still under a trial from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala.
Yes, that's right. When we are at ease, enjoying good health and sitting cozily in the comfort of our homes, driving our cars, enjoying the company of our families and spending time with our friends, we are still being tested. In fact, this test is harder to pass than the test of hardship.
Allaah says:
“and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to Us you will be returned” (al-Anbiya’ :35)
Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala, in His Infinite Wisdom, is testing us with all the innumerable blessings He has bestowed upon us, to see how we react to those blessings. Will we be thankful and obedient to the One Who gave us these blessings in the first place and submit to Him or will we be arrogant and disobedient and forget Allaah.
Allaah says:
And we tested them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn
back." [Surah al-Araaf:168]
Abd al-Malik ibn Ishaq said, “There is no one that is not tested with health and prosperity to measure how thankful he is.”
So if you have a comfortable life and money, He is testing you .... Where are you spending this money? Is it on haraam? Will you spend it all on vain desires of this dunya, arrogantly competing with each other, coveting what others have? OR will you be grateful to Him for giving you all these blessings, obeying Him and spending in His path, giving Zakaat and sadaqa?
"Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world's life; but with Allaah is the excellent return (Paradise)." (Surah Aal-Imraan: 14)
And if He has blessed you with children, He is testing you to see how you will deal with them. Are you giving them a good Islaamic upbringing? Do you give them their rights? Do you treat them fairly? Will you earn from haraam just to please them?
"And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allaah is a mighty reward." (Surah Anfaal: 28)
And if Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala has given you health and time, He is testing you to see how you will spend it. Do you spend hours in front of the TV, watching movies or sports, wasting yourself away? Do you throw it away shopping, sleeping or just wandering, chatting with your friends hours on end? Or do you take advantage of this time and use it to improve yourself as a Muslim? Do you utilize it to learn the Deen of Allaah and then teach it to others? Do you spend it in what Allaah likes and stay away from what He does not?
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
"Take advantage of five things before five other things: from your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your richness before your poverty, your free time before you become occupied, and from your life before your death." (al-Haakim--Saheeh)
And similar are all His blessings that He has bestowed upon you so that He may test you with them.....to see if you are the slave of your desires or the slave of the Almighty.
If He has given you power... are you just and fair?
If He has given you fame...are you boastful and arrogant or do you humble yourself to the Lord of the Worlds?
If you are a woman......do you flaunt the beauty He gave you everywhere or do you protect yourself with the Hijaab?
Do you use the eyes that He gave you......to read the Qur'aan or do you use it to look at haraam.....?
And the tongue that He gave you....do you use it for His remembrance?
Do you use it to speak the Truth and uphold justice, enjoining good and forbidding evil or you use it to tell lies, backbite and spread gossip?
And the hands and limbs and faculties that He gave you......do you use them for His obedience....to serve Him and comply with His orders? Or you employ the very blessings that He gave you to disobey Him and disregard His orders?
"This Day, We shall seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn." (Surah Yaseen: 65)
"When they reach it (Hellfire), their hearing, eyes and skins will testify against them for what they used to do." (Surah Fussilat: 20)
So, wise are you, if you realize that all the wealth you have, the health that you enjoy, the families and friends that you have, the easy, good times that you take pleasure in, are all blessings that are, in reality, tests from Allaah. If you are grateful to your Lord, remembering Him in times of ease, thanking Him, surrendering to Him and obeying him, Allaah will pass you in this test with flying colors and bless you even more.
"And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe." (Surah Ibraheem: 7)
And surely, remembering Allah in times of ease and success is far more difficult than remembering Allah in times of difficulty.
However, if difficult times come (and they will surely come), then Allaah will remember you in these times of difficulty just because you remembered Him in times of prosperity.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Remember Allah in times of ease, and He will remember you in times of hardship” ( Ahmad).
And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever is pleased that Allah answers his prayers during hardships and difficulties, let him make much supplication in times of ease.” (Hasan, at-Tirmidhi)
I will end with the words of our beloved Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam). He said: "Take the initiative to do deeds, before trials come like a piece of a dark night (unexpectedly)." (Muslim)
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