Paradise Is Not Cheap
This world is an exam centre
This life is full of tests. These tests are not the regular exams that happen in school or university rather these tests are created by God for humans. However, everybody has been given a different test. Some are suffering from illness. While others are suffering from emotional problems. A rich person is going through a test, and a poor person is also going through a test.
Sometimes these tests are of patience and gratitude. If a person does not utilize his money in the right way, then he fails the test by showing ingratitude towards God’s blessing. On the other hand, If a poor person complains all the time about his deprivation, then he fails the test by showing impatience.
Whereas other times, these tests are of accepting God’s will and trusting God. In life sometimes we do not get what we wish. So, we end up being sad, we are not ready to move in the direction that God has chosen for us, which is a representation of not accepting the will of God and not trusting God, and in another way, it is nothing but failing the test. Some people, despite suffering from physical disability, are content and happy and are gaining a high score on the unseen test by being grateful to God.
Now, questions come in mind: What are these tests? why God tests us? And what benefit one can get from these tests?
God has promised in the Quran that He will test every human being. Imagine if God did not make this life test then everybody would do whatever he wishes without realizing the fact that he is answerable to God for all his bad deeds.
One should realize this fact that this life is not a paradise. The only paradise is the perfect place where a person can get whatever he wishes. Everybody can not go to paradise as this would be unfair to all the good human beings. So, tests are kept by God to give rewards to those people who pass the test and punishment to those who fail the test. Therefore, paradise is not cheap. There are efforts required to be done in this world to achieve that paradise and a good life in this world.
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed — and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving –(67:2)
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (2:155)
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him, we will return.” (2:156)
Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. (2:157)
Every human being is naturally inclined to worship one God and do righteous deeds, human being violates his soul and do bad deeds. Every test is the opportunity to get closer to God and to know God.
Two responses are mainly given by people in times of distress which are: In a difficult time, either a person turns towards God and seeks His help along with taking the required action or a person complains to God by uttering bad words or disrespectful words.
Whereas, God says in the Quran that He sends calamities to guide the person’s heart. If a person’s heart is guided correctly, then he is content and peaceful, and able to make the right decisions.
No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah . And whoever believes in Allah — He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things. (64:11)
When a person does not turn to God, he becomes unstable, unpeaceful and he requires the approval of people in taking decisions which ultimately leads him to dependency on humans; the person ends up doing slavery to mortal. Unfortunately, many people lose this opportunity by becoming ungrateful and not asking for help from God. Even God says in the Quran that human beings worship weak things and don’t realize the power of true God.
O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allah will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for that purpose. And if the fly should steal away from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued. (22:73)
They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. (22:74)
Quran is for all human beings and it can be concluded from the above passage that every human being is tested by God, and all the tests are a call of God to humans, to rely on God and seek His help, and get closer to Him more than ever before.
However, In the case of a believer (one who believes one God and last messenger Prophet Muhammad PBUH). For him, the test of life is harder than others, and he is tested as gold goes through higher temperatures for purification. To God, the believer is like the gold ( as in verse 29:2 fatanah word is used, which in Arabic means to burn gold at high temperatures to remove impurities).
All the believers who passed before were tested as prophet Muhammad went through so many hardships. He lost his children, wife, and much more. This is why Michael H. Hart in his book (The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History ) mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the best human being. Therefore, for a Muslim, Prophet Muhammad is the role model and inspiration.
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,”When is the help of Allah ?” Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (2:214)
Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? (29:2)
But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars (29:3)
Being a believer does not mean one is not going to live a good life rather it means that throughout the tests of life the believer will become a better person spiritually, psychologically, and emotionally, and He will not lose the good of this life as God promises in Quran
Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). (16:97)
This life is a test. So, one should think about the long term consequences before doing bad deeds. One may get temporary benefits by doing bad deeds. However, he will lose contentment, peace, success in the hereafter as well as the happiness of life.
