"Or think
you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those
who passed away before you?" [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 214]
Every
believer will have to go through the tests of Eeman in order to attain
victory in this world and Paradise in the Hereafter.
Allah will test every believing
slave according to his level of faith.
Allah said: "Alif-Laam-Meem. Do people think that
they will be left alone because they say: 'We believe,' and will not be
tested?" [Soorah al-Ankaboot (29): 1-3] This is an admonition in the
form of a question, meaning that Allah will inevitably test His believing
servants according to their level of faith, as it is recorded in the authentic
Hadeeth. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
"The people most severely tested are the Prophets, then
the righteous, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested in
accordance with the degree of his religious commitment; the stronger his
religious commitment, the stronger his test." [Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi
(7:78)]
But those who are not
believers will not escape such trials and tests for ahead of them lies a
severe punishment as Allah says: "Or think those who do
evil deeds that they can outstrip (escape) Us? Evil is that which they judge!"
[Soorah al-Ankaboot (29): 4]
"Allah will not leave the believers in the state in
which you are now, until He distinguished the wicked from the good."
[Soorah al-Imran (3): 179] Allah allows a calamity to happen, and during this
calamity His friends become known and His enemies exposed, the patient
believer recognized and the sinful hypocrite revealed.
"Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen." [Soorah
al-Imran (3): 179] meaning you do not have access to Allah's Knowledge of His
creation so that you can distinguish between the believer and the hypocrite,
except by signs that Allah uncovers.