Test grateful ungrateful.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
assalamu
alaikkum,
On what basics, the life has been given to a human in earth. I can see, lot of
non muslims also getting excellent life. I could see lot of good muslims
suffering a lot. So what is the criteria, to have a better life in the earth?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Test grateful
ungrateful
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah
Al Mulk verse 2:
He (Allah) created death and life that He may test
you, to see which of you is the best in deeds.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah
Anbiyaa verse 35:
35 Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by
evil and by good (only) by way of trial: to Us must ye return.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah
Ale-Imraan verses 185-186:
185 Every soul shall have a
taste of death! And only on the Day of
Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the fire, and admitted to the Gardens will have
attained the object (of life): for the
life of this world is but goods, and
chattels of deception.
186 Ye (O Believers) shall
certainly be tried and tested in your possessions, and in your selves; and ye shall certainly hear much that will
grieve you from those who received the Book before you (Jews and Christians), and from the ‘mushriks’ (those who worship
many gods). But if ye persevere
patiently and guard against evil, then
that will be a determining factor in all affairs.
Allah Says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 185-186:
141 Allah's
object also is to purge those that are true in faith, and to deprive of blessing those that resist
faith.
142 Did ye
(O Believers) think that ye would enter
heaven without Allah testing those of you who strove hard (in His
cause) and remained steadfast?
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 214:
214 Or do ye (O
Believers) think that ye shall enter the
Gardens (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away
before you? They encountered suffering, and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the
Messenger and the believers who were with him,
cried out: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah!
Verily the help of Allah is (always) near!
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.549 Narrated by Abdullah
Allah's Messenger, the true and truly
inspired said, "(as regards your creation), every one of you is collected
in the womb of his mother for the first forty days, and then he becomes a clot
for another forty days, and then a piece of flesh for another forty days. Then
Allah sends an Angel to write four words: He writes his deeds, time of his
death, means of his livelihood, and whether he will be wretched or blessed (in
religion). Then the soul is breathed into his body.”
Your
Question: On what basics, the life has been given to a human in earth.
Every condition, good or evil, that is placed on every
individual is based on the ‘Qadr’ or Decree of the Lord Most Majestic Most
Supreme Alone, to test and see who amongst man is grateful for the favors
bestowed upon them by their Lord and who amongst them is ungrateful.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 76 Surah
Dhahr verses 2-6:
2 Verily We created man from a drop of mingled sperm in order to
try him: so We gave him (the gifts) of hearing and sight.
3 We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful
(rests on his will).
4 For the rejecters We have prepared chains
yokes and a Blazing Fire.
5 As to the righteous they shall drink of a
cup (of wine) mixed with ‘Kafur’
6 A fountain where the Devotees of Allah do drink making it flow in
unstinted abundance.
Dear and beloved brother in Islam, the life of this short
and transitory world is but a test and a trial from the Lord…..the real place
to receive rewards and punishments is only the Hereafter.
The All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord bestowed two things upon
His best creation (ie. mankind) which He did not bestow upon any in His Supreme
Creation, and thus put mankind to a test:
Whoever amongst man studies and ponders over the
innumerable wonders and Signs in the various creations of the Majestic Lord,
and uses his bestowed intelligence and power of reasoning to understand his
mission of creation, recognize His Supreme Lord and Creator, and of his own
‘free will’ chooses to submit his will to the Will of his Creator, and chooses
to live his life in accordance with the guidance of his Creator, passes the
test of life and is promised the Eternal Mercy, Grace, and Rewards of Allah Subhanah.
And whoever amongst man uses his bestowed intelligence and
power of reasoning to do everything else but does not recognize or denies his
Supreme Creator, refuses to submit his will to the Will of His Creator, and of
his own ‘free will’ chooses to live his life in accordance with any guidance
other than that of His Supreme Creator, miserably fails the test of life and
will have a severe accounting in the Presence of His All-Mighty and Majestic
Lord on an Inevitable Day.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verses 155-157:
155 Be sure We shall test you with something of fear, and
hunger, some loss in goods, or lives, or the fruits (of your toil); but give
glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.
156 Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and
to Him is our return."
157 They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy; and
they are the ones that receive guidance.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.1
Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (saws)
said: "When Allah wants to be good to someone, He tries him with some
hardship."
Abu Hurairah reports that Allah's Messenger
(saws) said: "For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that
afflicts a Muslim -even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn - Allah
removes some of his sins."
Ibn Mas'ud said: "I visited the
Messenger of Allah (saws) while he (saws) had a fever. I exclaimed: 'O
Messenger of Allah (saws) ! You have a high fever!' He (saws) said: 'My fever is as much as two
among you [might have].' I asked: 'Is it
because you have a double reward?' He
(saws) replied: 'Yes, that is right. No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even
if it is no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins
because of it and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a
tree'."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.545 Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri and Abu
Huraira
The Prophet (saws) said, "No fatigue, no
disease, no sorrow, no sadness, no hurt, no distress befalls a Muslim, even if
it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his
sins for that."
Sahih Muslim Hadith 6244 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah
Allah's Messenger (saws) visited Umm Sa'ib or
Umm Musayyib and said: ‘Umm Musayyib, why is it that you are shivering?’ She said: ‘It is fever and may it not be
blessed by Allah’, whereupon he (the Prophet (saws)) said: ‘Don't curse fever
for it expiates the sin of the posterity of Adam just as furnace removes the
alloy of iron.’
Whatever condition, good or evil, which the Lord bestows
on each individual in the life of this transitory and short world is but a
trial….thus this life is a place to do deeds, it is only in the Hereafter when
the Lord Most High, Most Just will determine who amongst mankind did deeds that
deserve His Mercy, His Grace, His Forgiveness and His Rewards….and who amongst
mankind did deeds which deserve His Wrath, His Anger and His Punishments.
Your
Question: ….I can see, lot of non muslims also getting excellent life. I could
see lot of good muslims suffering a lot.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah
Zukhruf verses 33-35:
33 And were it not that (all) men might become of one (evil) way of
life, We would provide for everyone that blasphemes against (Allah) Most
Gracious silver roofs for their houses, and (silver) stair-ways on which to go
up!
34 And (silver) doors to their houses, and thrones (of silver) on which
they could recline!
35 And also adornments of gold.
But all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life: the
Hereafter in the Sight of thy Lord is for the Righteous.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.1
Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (saws)
said: "When Allah wants to be good to someone, He tries him with some
hardship."
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
1562 Narrated by Sa'd
When the Prophet
(saws) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction (on this earth),
he (saws) replied, "The Prophets; then those who come next to them (in
Taqwa); then those who come next to them (in Taqwa). A man is afflicted in
keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if
there is weakness in his religion, his trial is made light for him."
Your
Question: So what is the criteria, to have a better life in the earth?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 46 Surah
Ahqaaf verse 13:
13 Verily those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and remain firm
(on that Path), on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 277:
277 Those who believe and do deeds of righteousness and establish regular
prayers and regular charity will have their reward with their Lord: on
them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah
Aaraaf verse 35:
35 O ye children of Adam! Whenever there come to you Messengers from amongst
you rehearsing My Signs unto you, those who are righteous and mend (their
lives), on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah
Anaam verse 48:
48 We send the Messengers only to give good news and to warn: so those
who believe and mend (their lives), upon them shall be no fear nor shall
they grieve.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah
Haa Meem verses 30-32:
30 In the case of those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and
further stand straight and steadfast, the Angels descend on them (from time to
time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest) "nor grieve! But
receive the glad tidings of the Garden (of Bliss) the which ye were promised!
31 We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein
shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that
ye ask for!
32 A hospitable gift from One Oft-Forgiving
Most Merciful!"
The one and only way to have a ‘better life’ on this earth
(leave alone the guaranteed rewards of the eternal and everlasting life of the
Hereafter) is to submit oneself and one’s will completely and unconditionally
to the Will of their Lord Creator. It is
only and only those who truly submit their wills to the Will of their Creator
who are truly able to ‘enjoy’ their lives on this earth to its fullest…..if
they are faced with afflictions, they keep their trust and faith in their Lord
and know with absolute conviction that they will have an everlasting reward for
their patience and their faith in the Presence of their Lord….and if they are
bestowed with abundance and favors, they remain humble and are grateful unto
their Lord for His Mercies….thus regardless of what condition the believer
finds himself in, whether it be good or evil, if he fears His Lord and does righteous
deeds, every condition he experiences is a means for him to earn extra rewards
from his Lord Most Gracious, Most Bounteous.
Suhaib ibn Sinan narrated that the Prophet
(saws) said: "How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good
for him in everything, but this is not the case for anyone except for the
believer. When the believer receives any good, he is thankful to Allah, and
gets a reward. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently,
for which he is (also) rewarded."
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
