“I am convinced about the veracity of my opinions, but I do consider it likely that they may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise, I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine, but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafa’i

It is a common and widespread belief among Muslims that they will have a smooth sailing on the Day of Judgement because they are the members of the Ummah of the beloved and admirable Messenger of Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo. Further, most of them are confident that they will receive the recommendation and endorsement (shafaa’) of the Holy Prophet despite the evidence to the contrary in the Holy Text and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. These ayahs are warning us to the contrary. All the communities before us have gone through a period of trial and tribulations before their success. And so shall we. It is in our interest to be prepared for it.

The words of the index ayah are loud and clear. أَحَسِبَ النّاسُ Do people imagine أَن يُترَكوا that they will be left alone أَن يَقولوا آمَنّا on saying “we believe” وَهُم لا يُفتَنو نَ and they will not be tried and tested. 

Mere lip profession in rejected outright. “Belief is not a mere word we say; it is a reality that imposes duties, a trust that carries requirements and a struggle that demands patience and perseverance. It is not enough that people should claim to believe. When they make this claim they are not left alone. They are subjected to tests so as to prove their sincerity and true metal”. Folks will be tested and tried in all walks of life— individual and collective. It should be noted that this warning was issued in Makkah during extremely trying conditions of oppression and cruelty, creating an atmosphere of fear and fright. This prevented many from joining the the new community despite their conviction. A tradition of Khabbab bin Arat related by Bukhari, Abu Daud and Nasai draws the prevailing picture. He says “During the time when we had become tired of our persecution by the mushriks, one day I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) sitting in the shade of the wall of the Kabah. I went up to him and said, O Messenger of Allah, don’t you pray for us. Hearing this, his face became red with feeling and emotion, and he said, The believers who have gone before you had been subjected to even greater persecutions. Some one of them was made to sit in a ditch in the earth and was sawed into two pieces from head to foot. Someone’s joints were rubbed with iron combs so as to withhold him from the faith. By God, this mission will be accomplished and the time is not far when a person will travel without apprehension from Sana to Hadramaut and there will be none but Allah Whom he will fear.” This trial is a prerequisite for all and will involve hardships, losses of life and property and dangers, misfortunes and difficulties. All the believers, including the prophets and pious, have to go through many a trials during their life. An authentic ĥadīth states: “The most severely tested are prophets, then the most pious people, then the ones closest to these, one degree after another. A man will be tested in accordance with his strength of faith. If he proves himself strong, the severity of his test is increased.”

According to many narrations, this verse was revealed in the background of the harassment faced by the companions of the the Holy Prophet from the infidels at the time of Hijrah; many were terrified by the heart breaking sufferings at the hands of the disbelievers. It generated many doubts and mistrust in the minds of the noble sahaabaa such as: If this is the way of God, why is it so difficult? If its invitees are God’s messengers, why is it so risky to accompany them? If we stand up for God, why do these obstacles stand in our way? However, this message extends to all times and not confined to a particular period. “The sense is that the pious, saints and scholars will face the trials and tribulations in all times” says Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Al-Qurtubi (Arabic: أبو عبدالله القرطبي (d. 1272) an Andalusian jurist, Islamic scholar and muhaddith, well known for his Tafsir al-Qurtubi.

Nasr Sayyid Hussein et al, in their modern tafseer “The Study Quran” divulge  a very powerful meaning . They maintain that the fact that human beings will be tried is “inherent” in the Divine concept and purpose of Creation itself as per the following two ayahs. After declaring^[3]

“Blessed be He in Whose hands is Dominion; and He over all things hath Power” in the first ayah, the second makes a categorical statement:

“He who has created death as well as life, so that He might put you to a test [and thus show] which of you is best in conduct, and [make you realize that] He alone is almighty, truly forgiving”.

On this broad Quranic theme, the authors quote al-Tustarī, (Persian: سهل شوشتری) a Persian Sunni Muslim scholar and author of his well-known Tafsir as saying very succinctly “Truly affliction is a doorway between the people of spiritual knowledge (ahl al-maʿrifah) and God” meaning that through affliction and forbearance true knowledge of God can be attained”.

The second index ayah stresses and elaborates the same point. It says وَلَقَد فَتَنَّا الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم  We have certainly tried those before them فَلَيَعلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذينَ صَدَقوا so Allah will certainly know those who are true وَلَيَعلَمَنَّ الكاذِبينَ and HE will certainly know the liars. In other words, God Almighty employs and utilizes these tests and hardships so that the good and the sincere are distinguished from the bad and the non-sincere.

A technical point needs clarification in this ayah. It says that the trial will allow Allah to “know” the true ones from the liars. But God Almighty is All Knowing, why does HE needs these tests. The answer: HE does not reward or punish HIS beings on the basis of HIS knowledge. This will not be justice. The verdict is delivered only after the crime has been committed. God Almighty tries them not to learn their true natures, but to make their true natures manifest. The eminent scholar Javed Ahmed Ghamdi explains “This means that the divine tradition is that Allah Almighty does not deal with rewards and punishments solely on the basis of His knowledge, but puts people to the test and based on what they do, Heaven and Hell will be given to them”. His mentor, Imam Amin Ahsan Ilahi endorses his view in these words “As far as the knowledge of Allah is concerned, it encompasses everything. He is well aware of who is sincere and who is a hypocrite, but he does not deal with people on the basis of his own knowledge but on the basis of the actions of the people. For this reason, he puts everyone to the test and from this test, the degrees of each are determined”.

The outstanding scholar Sayyid Qutb has defined the different forms of Divine tests employed on humans.  If you are interested, here is the list: “Let us now discuss the general rule that God has set in operation, one whereby believers are subjected to a test so as to distinguish those who are truthful from those who lie. As part of the test, a believer is subjected to hardship by others. …..There is, for example, the test presented by family and loved ones. ……….Another form of test is to see those who are deep in error and follow falsehood reveling in success, with the world at their feet, applauded by the masses, and with no obstacles in their way. Glory comes easy to them and everything in life is theirs to enjoy. Contrast this with the believer who finds himself ignored, unnoticed and undefended. Only a few people like him appreciate the value of the truth in which he believes, but none of these has any say in life. ………..Yet another form is to feel oneself alone in a strange environment. A believer looks around and finds everything and everyone swimming with the sweeping tide that runs contrary to the truth he knows, while he stands alone without support. ………..We see nowadays a different type of test in the form of communities and states where vice is widespread, yet they reflect a progressive society and civilized style of life. In such communities, people find good standards of care and protection. Moreover, despite their turning away from God’s path, such people are both strong and affluent. ……….There is, however, one test that is harder than all the rest. This comes from within, where the lure of desire, enjoyment and pleasure becomes very strong, or at least comfort and security appear too tempting. This makes following the line of faith difficult and the difficulty may be compounded by other obstacles which a believer may have to contend with in his community. ……..The human soul is tested with difficulties and hardships”. 

To be afflicted by trials can also be considered beneficial for believers, as it both manifests their true natures and serves to expiate some of their sins. The Quran says of those who oppose the disbelievers:^[4]

“……………… for, whenever they suffer from thirst or weariness or hunger in God’s cause, and whenever they take any step which confounds those who deny the truth, and whenever there comes to them from the enemy whatever may be destined for them – [whenever anything thereof comes to pass,] a good deed is recorded in their favour.Verily, God does not fail to requite the doers of good!”

 In this regard, the Prophet is reported to have said, “No fatigue, disease, sorrow, sadness, hurt, or distress befalls a Muslim—even if he be pricked by a thorn—but that God expiates some of his sins thereby.” 

This warning of trials has been given repeatedly to the Believers in the Quran whenever an occasion arose.

For example, after the battle of Uhud the Muslims were warned^[5]
“Did ye think that ye would enter Heaven without God testing those of you who fought hard (In His Cause) and remained steadfast?” 

On another occasion^[6]

“[But] do you think that you could enter paradise without having suffered like those [believers] who passed away before you? Misfortune and hardship befell them, and so shaken were they that the apostle, and the believers with him, would exclaim, “When will God’s succour come?”Oh, verily, God’s succour is [always] near!”

In summary, such ayahs declaring a trial are scattered all over in the Quran to emphasize  on the Muslims that trial is the touchstone by which the pure and the impure are judged.

……..and Allah knows best. 

May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding–“fahm”–of our Deen, Aameen.

Dr. Khalid Mitha