Trials and Tribulation

  بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Those who follow Allah's religion are the ones who will attain the complete felicity:

Guide us along the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored; not [the path] of those whose portion is anger nor those who have gone astray. Surah Fatiha: 6-7

The ones whom Allah has favored are the ones who will be the most successful. 

The author starts by mentioning that people often see believers being afflicted with trials and tribulation and the disbelievers, on the other hand, attaining leadership and wealth in this life. This causes people with weak knowledge and question the Creator's actions towards his servants. It's been reported that a person used to say - there is none that harm the creation more than the Creator. This statement is simply not the reality and rather uttered by someone who is completely ignorant of their Creator. 

As you go through this post, there are evidences from the Quran that explain why a person goes through trials and why is it important that the believer has the right knowledge and understanding so that he is able to get through these trials. 

The false thoughts and statements regarding the trials faced by the believer, are built upon two foundations:

1. The servant thinks well of himself and his religious practice, because he believes that he has fulfilled every obligatory action that Allah has commanded him to do. Therefore, he believes that he is more worthy of receiving the bounties from Allah and not deserving of trials in this world than his opponent (whom he deems is less in status than him). 

2. He believes that Allah, the Most Glorious, cannot aid the follower of the True religion and cannot appoint for him any success in this world, and rather is subjected to a life of oppression, by default. 

This is the speech and ideologies of the ignorant people! People who claim that they are scholars and support these thoughts are deluded and corrupted by deception. 

On the other hand, if a person thinks that by following the True religion, he will be forced to undergo severe amounts of trials and tribulation, it is obvious that he will lose the desire to follow this religion. It's sad to see people who have been deceived by this false notion not implement the religion fully. It is also known that the servant only becomes happy and fulfilled when he actually knows the bliss of which he desires, loves to attain that bliss, and knows what actions that lead to it. But, knowing what one desires is not enough to attain that desire if it's not accompanied with action. Most of the time, having a firm resolve to do something without being patient (whilst doing it), is fruitless. Allah says in the Quran:

By time, truly man is in loss - except for those who have faith do righteous deeds and urge each other to truth and urge each other to steadfastness. Surah Asr: 1-3

Referring to the first foundation, when a person starts to believe that he is completely fulfilling the obligations upon him and avoiding the prohibitions, he is ignorant of the True religion and of the great right that Allah has over him and what is required of him. This person might be leaving the actual obligations whilst focusing on what he thinks is obligatory. One of the most common misunderstandings is that obligations of the limbs is the most important.* But what is more important are the obligations of the heart. For example, they leave enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, whilst having the ability to do so, because they assume that by doing so, they leave matters that don't concern them. This action of theirs arises from the lack of knowledge they possess. The cure for ignorance is seeking the right knowledge. 

If he believes that oppression and a difficult lifestyle lies in store for the believers and victory for the disbelievers, then he is ignorant of Allah's promise and his threat. If we look at the texts of the Quran, Allah never guaranteed victory for falsehood, even if the person following it believes it to be correct. Honor, nobility, victory, and supremacy is only for those who adhere to the faith, as Allah mentions in the Quran:

You will be uppermost if you were believers. Surah Ali Imran: 139

But all might belongs to Allah and to his messenger and to the believers. Surah al-Munafiqun: 8

Allah is the Protector of those who have faith. Surah al-Baqarah: 257

Allah also mentions that he defends those who have faith [al-Hajj: 28]. So if the defense is lacking, then it's because of our own weakness in faith. 

Total support and victory is for those who believe,

We will certainly help our messengers and those who have faith both in the life of this world and on the Day the witnesses appear. Surah al-Ghafir: 51

Allah threatens the people who oppose the Prophet and believers with punishment,

Those who oppose Allah and his Messenger, such people will be among the most abased. Allah has decreed, "I will be victorious, I and My Messengers." Surah al-Mujadila: 20-21

Allah mentions in Surah al-Anfal Verse 9, 

Oh you who have faith! If you have Taqwa of Allah, He will give you discrimination and erase your bad deeds from you and forgive you. 

The discrimination in this verse means nobility, aid, victory, and light that distinguishes truth from falsehood. 

In another place, Allah says,

Whoever has Taqwa of Allah - He will give him a way out and provide for him where he does not expect. Whoever puts his trust in Allah - He will be enough for him. Allah always achieves His aim, Allah has appointed a measure for all things. Surah at-Talaq: 2-3

Ibn Majah and ibn Abi ad-Dunya record on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, 

Were the people to act by this verse, it would suffice them. 

Allah mentions in Surah an-Nisa Verse 79, 

Any good thing that happens to you is from Allah. Any bad thing that happens to you comes from yourself. 

This is why Allah has ordered His Messenger and the believers with following what is revealed to them, which is to obey Him and wait for His promise. He ordered them to ask for forgiveness and to have patience because the servant will always fall into some type of deficiency or extremism.

There are 11 principles that the Shaykh mentions in the book that need to be understood. 

1. The Muslims are afflicted with less harm than what the disbelievers are afflicted with (in terms of evil, trials, tribulations, and harm). 

2. When the believers are afflicted with something, they place themselves in the state of Rida and Ihtisaab**, this lightens the burden of their tribulation. Each time they see the return of their efforts, it becomes easier to bear the difficulty. As for the disbelievers, they are not able to do this and even if they show patience, their patience is like the animals (not fruitful).

3. When the believers are afflicted, they are afflicted in accordance to their level of faith, actions of obedience and sincerity. 

4. The more love becomes firmly embedded in the heart, the easier it becomes for the lover to endure harm and adversity in pursuit of pleasing his beloved. 

5. What is seen of the disbeliever, the sinner and the hypocrite gaining ascendency, might and position is far less than what is gained by the believer.

6. The believer facing tribulation is like medicine, it removes a disease from him. If he would've endured that disease, it would've destroyed him, or at least diminished his reward and ranking. 

The Prophet said, 

There is no decree that Allah determines for the believers except that it is good for him, and this only applies to the believer. If he meets with times of ease and plentitude, he thanks Allah and that is good for him. If he meets him with times of adversity, he is patient and that is good for him. 

The ones who were the most tested among the believers are the Prophets, then the closest to them. Each person was tested according to their religion. 

7. When the believer is afflicted with trials in this world, he should know that trials are a natural part of this life. Even children and animals face this, as determined by the wisdom of the All-Wise. 

8. When the believers are being overcome and defeated by their enemy, there is great and profound wisdom which no one knows in detail except Allah. 

If the Muslims were always victorious, they surely would become vainglorious and insolent. Were the Muslims always defeated and subjugated, never would this religion be established and never would their be a land ruled by the truth. Allah has willed that the Muslims will be victorious sometimes and defeated other times. 

Allah loves that His servant show Him complete servitude in terms of ease and difficulty. In the same way the body only becomes firm through experiencing heat and cold, hunger and thirst, is the same way trials and tribulations make a believer's heart firm. 

9. Allah created the heavens and the Earth, and everything in it so that he could test us with it. 

Allah says in the Quran, 

He who created death and life to test which of you is best in deed. Surah al-Mulk: 2

In a similar verse Allah mentions, 

We will test you until we know the true fighters among you and those who are steadfast and test what is reported of you. Surah Muhammad: 31

10. Man is a social creature, he must live amongst other people and he will always be in a state of conforming with them or opposing them. 

11. The tribulation that the servant is afflicted with affected one of four things - himself (either by death or something less), his property, his honor, or his family (or those beloved to him). 

Indeed, martyrdom is the most noblest and easiest form of death. I pray that Allah accepts me as a martyr. 

Allah says in Surah al-Ahzab Verse 17, 

Say: "who is going to shield from Allah if He desires evil for you or desires mercy for you?" They will find no one to protect or help them beside Allah. 

This is a summary from the Book by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, along with some of my own commentary

*They grieve at leaving a bodily obligation yet have no concern for the obligation of the heart. It is as though they are grieving for a lesser sin than at a greater sin. 

**Ihtisaab is being expectant of reward from Allah.