This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ﴾
"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."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:155)
In this verse, the address is to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), but other believers are also included. Because those who accept the responsibility of calling to Allah and striving in His cause will face opposition from the people of immorality and wickedness, and those who remain steadfast on the truth and invite others to it will inevitably face trials and tests. This is the Abrahamic tradition. This trial is also necessary so that the false and the true, the patient and the impatient, can be distinguished. Whoever exercises patience, hopes for reward from Allah, and is content with Allah’s decree, Allah gives him glad tidings that he will receive his full reward.
Reference: (Taseer ur-Rahman: 1/87)
So mix with the dust and burn in the fire
Only when you become a brick will the work be done
Do not build a foundation
On the element of these raw hearts
Furthermore, Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا ۚ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ﴾
"So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do."
Reference: (11-Hud:112)
In this noble verse, Allah commands His Messenger and other believing servants to remain steadfast on the true religion under all circumstances. Because this is the greatest means to overcome the enemies of the religion. And He forbids rebellion and disobedience against Allah, as this is the precursor to destruction and ruin. Hasan al-Basri said that when this verse was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Get ready! Get ready!" After that, he was seen smiling at them. The commentator Abu al-Saud says: "Steadfastness includes all fundamental and subsidiary rulings and all theoretical and intellectual virtues. Fulfilling the responsibilities in this regard is extremely difficult. That is why the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said that 'Surah Hud has made me old' (Tirmidhi)."
Reference: (cited in Taseer ur-Rahman: 1/664)
Allah, the Lord of Glory, values His believing servants who remain firm on His path and become examples of patience and perseverance in the face of coming hardships, trials, and difficulties, and He rewards them with great honor and blessings. As He says:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ . نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ . نُزُلًا مِّنْ غَفُورٍ رَّحِيمٍ.﴾
"Indeed, those who have said, 'Our Lord is Allah' and then remained steadfast - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], 'Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request - as accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful.'"
Reference: (41-Fussilat:30-32)
Further He says: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ . أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ.﴾
"Indeed, those who have said, 'Our Lord is Allah' and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally, as a reward for what they used to do."
Reference: (46-Al-Ahqaf:13,14)
This is why the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to be steadfast and patient in trials, and he used to exhort them:
عن سفيان بن عبد الله رضى الله عنه قال: قلت: يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قل لي فى الإسلام قولا لا أسأل عنه أحدا بعدك قال: قل آمنت بالله، ثم استقم
Sayyiduna Sufyan bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): "Tell me something about Islam that I do not have to ask anyone else besides you." He (peace be upon him) said: "Say, I believe in Allah, then remain steadfast."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on Comprehensive Characteristics of Islam, No: 38.
Sometimes the trial is so severe that a person begins to wish for death. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
والذي نفسي بيده لا تذهب الدنيا حتى يمر الرجل بالقبر، فيتمرغ عليه، ويقول: يا ليتني كنت مكان صاحب هذا القبر، وليس به الدين، إلا البلاء .
"By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the world will not end until a man passes by a grave and is overwhelmed with envy and says: 'I wish I were in that grave.' He will not say this because of the protection of religion, but because of the trials of the world."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Tribulations, Chapter: The Hour will not be established until the people of the graves envy, No: 7115 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Tribulations, Chapter: The Hour will not be established until a man passes by, No: 157.
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
وما يزال البلاء بالمؤمن والمؤمنة فى نفسه، وولده، وماله، حتى يلقى الله وما عليه خطيئة .
"A believing man or woman is always tested in their life, wealth, and children until the time they meet Allah, and no sin remains on their body."
Reference: Musnad Imam Ahmad: 2/450 - Sahih Sunan Tirmidhi, Zuhd, Chapter on Patience in Trials, No: 2399
The Prophet of Mercy (peace be upon him) said:
ما من مسلم يصيبه أذى من مرض فما سواه إلا حط الله به سيئاته كما تحط الشجرة ورقها .
"The suffering a Muslim endures due to illness, Allah expiates his sins because of it just as a tree sheds its leaves."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari No: 5660 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Chapter on the Reward of a Believer in Sickness, No: 2571.
عن المقداد بن أسود رضى الله عنه قال: أيم الله! لقد سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول إن السعيد لمن جنب الفتن، إن السعيد لمن جنب الفتن، إن السعيد لمن جنب الفتن، ولمن ابتلي فصبر فواها .
Sayyiduna Miqdad bin Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) says: By Allah! I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: "The fortunate one is the one who is saved from trials, the fortunate one is the one who is saved from trials, the fortunate one is the one who is saved from trials, and the one who is tested and is patient, how excellent is he."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Tribulations, Chapter on Prohibition of Seeking Trials, No: 4263 - Al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, No: 973
