"Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the test?" [29:2]
God teaches us in the Quran that Victory belongs to the believers in this life and the in the Hereafter, 2:62 & 5:69. God also teaches us that the believers will not be left without being tested.
[29:2-3] "Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the test?" We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.
[3:179] GOD is not to leave the believers as you are, without distinguishing the bad from the good.
[2:214] Do you expect to enter Paradise without being tested like those before you?
While this article's title talks about BAD things that may happen to good people, I need to remind the reader that our definition of what is bad can be totally wrong as we cannot see what God sees. It is actually the short sighted people and those who are not true submitters who make a quick judgment that what happened to someone is bad (or good in this regard). It has been proven frequently that what seems to be bad in our eyes turns to be a blessing to that person and vice verse. The test was actually given as much to those who witness what is happening and make rush judgment and fail their test while the person who seems to receive the "bad" incident had enriched his soul and progressed and counted with the winners.
[2:216] .. But you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. GOD knows while you do not know.
In this article I am mainly discussing the testing of the believers. When bad things happen to someone it is usually one of two things, either a punishment or a test (4:79, 42:30, 3:165). The disbelievers may not be punished in this life and allowed to transgress for a while to accumulate more sins and prepare for their humiliating defeat in the Hereafter. The believers on the other hand may be punished quickly in this life to bring them back to the right path, give them the chance to repent and correct what wrong they may have done. What seems to be a punishment for us or the people around us may just be a test to polish our qualities, expose our weakness and give us a chance to work on it and correct it, and also to see if we belong to those lucky ones who will steadfastly persevere while submitting to God ALONE and accepting His judgment in this life and in the Hereafter.. Throughout the Quran God gives a special rank in Heaven for those who steadfastly persevere, (2:54, 2:153, 2:155, 2:177, 2:249, 2:250, 3:17, 3:142, 3:146, 3:186, 3:200, 4:25, 7:126, 8:46, 8:66, 10:109, 11:11,11:49, 11:115, 12:90, 13:22, 13:24, 16:42, 16:96, 16:110, 16:126, 16:127, 18:28, 20:130, 21:85, 22:35, 23:111, 25:75, 28:54, 28:80, 29:59, 30:60, 31:17, 32:24, 33:35, 38:17, 38:44, 39:10, 40:55, 40:77, 41:35, 42:43, 46:35, 47:31, 76:12, 90:17, 103:3). Remember that people do not steadfastly persevere on good life, good health, good wealth, victory, happy times, but they do it for an adversity and/or lack of any of the above. We have to remember that death is not by itself a punishment as all of us will die, but death of someone can be a punishment or a test for the living others to see how they can accept God's judgment and submit to Him in the good times and in the bad times, under all circumstances. Those who go through their test while steadfastly persevering are the most fortunate believers, they are the lucky ones despite their difficulties in this life and their perseverance in face of all the ignorant ones who do not understand God's system.
[41:35] None can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.
The Test
Testing the believers will vary. It may be mild and light or hard and exacting. Sickness, fear, hunger, poverty, death, loss of power or control, losing a battle, failing an examination, failing a marriage, failing a business, losing a job or a friend…etc. are just few examples. Testing may also be in the form of blessings, wealth, health, knowledge, children, family, security, peace…etc. What to do with these blessings is a great test. The test may also be given, by testing us by
one another. The true believers submit to God in all cases and under all circumstances.
[2:155] We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast.
[8:28] You should know that your money and your children are a test, and that GOD possesses a great recompense.
[3:186] You will certainly be tested, through your money and your lives, and you will hear from those who received the scripture, and form idol worshippers, a lot of insult. If you steadfastly persevere and lead a righteous life, this will prove the strength of your faith.
Who will be tested?
The Quran shows us that all the believers will be tested, prophets, messengers, saints, righteous people, all will be tested.
[47:31] We will certainly put you to the test, in order to distinguish those among you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must expose your true qualities.
Abraham, the prophet, who was called God’s friend was put to an exacting test.
[2:124] Recall that Abraham was put to the test by his Lord, through certain commands, and he fulfilled them..
[37:105-106] "You (Abraham) have believed the dream." We thus reward the righteous. That was an exacting test indeed.
Adam and Eve, were put to the test several times including expulsion from Heaven, and may have lived through the loss of their righteous son. Noah lost his son twice, first lost him as a disbeliever but still loved him, then lost him to the flood while calling on God to save him. The prophet Muhammed lost his only born son (Ibrahim) as all historical accounts mentions and was very saddened by it. Muhammed spent a great deal of his life struggling with the disbelievers going from one war to another. Exposed to killings, wounding, loss of friends and loved ones, he was truely tested. God could have won him the wars while Muhammed staying home enjoying a peaceful life of a prophet. Noah, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Solomon, Jesus, John, Job, Jonah, and Muhammed, were all given different and difficult tests.
[38:34] "We thus put Solomon to the test; we blessed him with vast material wealth, but he steadfastly submitted."
[38:41] Remember our servant Job: he called upon his Lord, "The devil has afflicted me with hardship and pain."
The believers were tested to the maximum until shaken up.
[2:214] Do you expect to enter Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were tested with hardship and adversity, and were shaken up, until the messenger and those who believed with him said, "Where is GOD's victory?" GOD's victory is near.
When?
Since this is a test, we would not know when, where or what kind of test we might be given. We do not make the choice, God does. He is the Almighty, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Testing the believers. Expose the hypocrites
While God is testing the believers, He is also exposing the hypocrites and confusing the disbelievers and leading them on in their transgression, blundering. They do not
understand God’s system and think they are right when they are dead wrong. God
gave us their example in the Quran when He talked about the Battle of the Parties
in 33:9-12, and about the hypocrites in 9:50-51. See also 3:118-120, and 22:11
[33:9-12] "O you who believe, remember GOD's blessing upon you; when soldiers attacked you, we sent upon them violent wind and invisible soldiers. GOD is Seer of everything you do.
When they came from above you, and from beneath you, your eyes were terrified, your hearts ran out of patience, and you harbored unbefitting thoughts about GOD. That is when the believers were truly tested; they were severely shaken up. The hypocrites and those with doubts in their hearts said, "What GOD and His messenger promised us was no more than an illusion!" "
But what did the true believers say?
[33:22] When the true believers saw the parties (ready to attack), they said, "This is what GOD and His messenger have promised us, and GOD and His messenger are truthful." This (dangerous situation) only strengthened their faith and augmented their submission.
What should the Believers do?
[9:51] Say, "Nothing happens to us, except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In GOD the believers shall trust."
[2:156] "When an affliction befalls them, they say, "We belong to God, and to Him we are returning."
In face of adversity or hardship, the true believers are expected to submit. We are being tested to see if we are truly submitters or not, whether we submit to God during the bad times and the good times or not. God gave us the correct solution in His book, the Quran. Submitting to God, means to accept whatever God has given us or taken away from us, to steadfastly persevere and to wait for God’s victory. In practical terms, let us put it in steps;
Whenever an adversity or hardship afflict a believer, he/she should:
(1) Should not panic. God does test the believers and if He is punishing us, it is to get our attention to correct something wrong we did. He is helping us out instead of leaving us in the dark. Since we asked for our freedom, He gave it to us and it is up to us to correct any wrong doing on our own, He only points things to us and we freely chose.
(2) Check to see if he/she has got off the right path. Is he/she still worshipping God alone and following His book. Correct your path and stay with God alone, if you were not.
(3) Submit to God, by accepting what happened to you without objecting. See 2:155-157
(4) Implore God to remove the hardship or adversity. God wants us to implore Him. Do not rush an answer. God runs everything. See 40:60
(5) Steadfastly persevere, see 2:153, 2:45, 90:17, 2:177 and103:3 and this is the greatest trait of the true believers. God promised those who steadfastly persevere great recompense. See 41:35,23:111, 22:35, 31:17 and 2:155-157.
(6) Believe that God’s promise is the truth and that victory belongs to the believers, but you have to pass your test. Victory is in the way. God’s victory is near. See 30:47, 30:60, 2:155 and 2:214
(7) There are two kinds of victories according to the Quran, victory in this life and the bigger and most important victory in the Hereafter. God has promised the believers both victories. Some of these victories my be in disguise and not apparent to other people. Other victories are obvious and clear. The true believer can identify many victories in his/her life even during the most difficult times or the time of testing. Of the many victories that the believers will see in this life, finding the right path and accepting God alone is the most important one. The believers accept whichever victory or testing comes their way, and always strive to achieve the eternal victory in the Hereafter. 9:50-52
With the help of God and the assurance in the Quran, the true believers will make
the best out of their test or punishment and wait for God’s victory. They are absolutely sure that God’s Victory is near and that God’s victory is their reward.
Praise be to God.
http://www.submission.org/test.htm
