Divine Trials and Humans’ Reactions
The Holy Quran says: “We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient.”
What are the means for this test? The Quran says one’s life and properties are the means for the trial.
“You shall be tried in your wealth and yourselves,...” (Verse 186 of Surah Al Imran)
People are also tested through sweet and bitter events. “We test you with both hardships and blessings.” (Verse 35 of Surah Al-Anbiya)
God tests humans with different things such as fear, hunger, famine, loss of properties, loss of loved ones, receiving blessings and losing blessings.
People have different reactions to these trials and to hardships and adversities.
Some people, when facing hardships, start crying, complaining and questioning God’s justice and wisdom. God says about them in Verse 20 of Surah Al-Ma’arij: “When they are afflicted, they complain.”
Another group endure the difficulties with steadfastness and say: “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” (Verse 156 of Surah Al-Baqarah)
And there is a third group of people who not only remain patient but also thank God when they face hardships or losses. In the Ziyarat Ashura Supplication, we read: “O Allah, all praise be to You; the praise of those who thank You for their misfortunes.” Yes, enduring hardships and achieving martyrdom on the path of God is the greatest wish of men of God and when they reach their wish, they thank God.
There is still a fourth group of people who go toward hardships and adversities with awareness and love. In the early years after the advent of Islam, when Muslim lacked the means equipment for fighting, some companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) would go and ask him to give them the required equipment so that they could take part in the battles against unbelievers and the Prophet (PBUH) said he did not have those equipment to give them. The Quran says about them: “Those who come to you, (Muhammad), asking to be taken to the battle, but you cannot find the necessary means for them, are exempt from the duty of fighting for the cause of God, even though they leave you with their eyes flooded with tears because of not being able to help the cause of God.” (Verse 92 of Surah At-Tawbah)
So people have different capacities and show different reactions to adversities and difficulties.
