Life Is A Test With Answers
But not everyone can find them
As someone who was born in a predominantly Muslim country and was raised in a moderately-practicing family then, I was still searching for the meaning of life in my early twenties.
I was confused about the people who seemed to have a ‘better’ life even though they weren’t necessarily the kindest or the most practicing when it came to religion. They might have had a lot of money, the most elite jobs or networks, perhaps a loving significant other, family, or a large group of friends, and maybe occasionally received compliments about their physical appearance.
But that’s when I learned that the luxuries in life are not an accurate measure of whether Allah ﷻ loves some people more than others; instead, they’re a test.
“…Allah gives the world to those He loves and to those He does not love, but He only gives faith to those He loves.” — Muʻjam Asāmī (342)
When you’re given the opportunity to have more wealth, was it earned ethically? Would you remember to help fulfill the needs of people who are less fortunate than you? Would you remember to be grateful? When you lose wealth, would you still be grateful for what you were given? Or would you immediately forget your blessings and think life is unfair?
Wealth is not believed to be something that fully belongs to us; rather, we are chosen to be trustees of Allah ﷻ—those who have more of it should be responsible for giving it to those in need.
If we had consumed all the wealth ourselves, it could have been taken from us without our will—such as through unexpected illnesses with large hospital bills, house fires, or broken and stolen items, for instance.
It should also be highlighted that this belief applies not just to money, but also to the abundance of blessings we tend to take for granted. Have we made good use of our time? Have we properly nourished the body and soul we were given?
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time.” — Al-Bukhari (6412)
However, I fear that life goes smoothly for me despite the times I have strayed away from the book of guidance to life— the times when I have not been the best person — because feeling like life isn’t a trial would leave me astray, moving even further away from Allah ﷻ.
“A man is tried according to his religion; if he is firm in his religion, then his trials are more severe, and if he is frail in his religion, then he is tried according to the strength of his religion. The servant shall continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sins.” — Jami` At-Tirmidhi (2398)
Every turbulence in life is either a test to increase our rank, or whether we realize them or not, a consequence of our immoral actions — and if Allah ﷻ wills, will wash away our sins and reduce our punishment in the afterlife.
One might also think they have constantly tried their best to do good, but instead, life’s challenges get tougher. Allah is Al-Hakim, the One and Only true judge who upholds the uttermost justice. Thus, if the rewards and punishments of our actions in this life are still incomplete, the rest will be fairly compensated in the afterlife.
“O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter — that is the home of [permanent] settlement.” — Ghafir (40:39)
The more you learn about Islam, the more you’ll think.
Do you really want all the good things in life?
Is this temporary enjoyment worth the cost of the permanent hereafter?
“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.”
— Adh-Dhariyat (51:56)
In the Quran, Allah ﷻ mentions that the reason we were created in this world is to worship Him. He gave us a body, soul, and abundant blessings we are responsible for taking care of under His guidance.
“Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allah are above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account.”
— Al-Baqarah (2:212)
Even more than a thousand years after the Quran was written, we still see people being oblivious to the deceptions of being showered with a beautified life, ridiculing those who believe in Islam, and forgetting how everything will be held accountable.
Let this be a reminder for you and me — to rethink our choices when we encounter what may seem to be good things but come at the expense of our closeness to Allah ﷻ.
May Allah ﷻ reward us [with] goodness.
Allahumma baarik
اللّهُـمَّ بارِكْ
