During difficult circumstances our heads are clouded by a multitude of thoughts running wild, colliding with one another, shredding apart only to connect and form new ones, and then the cycle repeats. Our minds are in constant churn wanting to come up with answers to make sense of it all, which are usually translated into questions:

When trials are great, it is common for such questions to touch the tongues. They take a huge toll, demanding a great sacrifice at a time we feel we are unprepared. They have a tendency to affect several aspects of our life, sometimes it is our work, personality and attitude, other times relationships with those closest to us, or our faith, and sometimes it is all the above.

No one can belittle the suffering we go through. These trials place us in a difficult spot and the greatest of them challenge who we are, what we believe, and how we respond. There are two main ways we respond to the challenges of life, intertwined to how we perceive Allah and understand the purpose of this life:

1. With frustration

Knowing we are not in control of the situation causes frustration, and when things don't turn out the way we want it turns into anger. Unfortunately in this recourse anger further fuels frustration, creating a cycle which eventually transforms into despair, resentment, and depression. Getting frustrated and stressed out does not help resolve the situation, nor does getting angry and falling into negativity.

Unfortunately Satan plays on these negative emotions, and uses the moments of weakness when our heads are clouded to go against The Most Merciful by attributing blame to Allah. Nothing pleases Satan more than having us follow in his footsteps.

[Satan] said, "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]." [Quran 7:16-17]

When Allah tested Iblees (a prior name of Satan) the All-Knowing revealed the arrogance hidden in his heart to everyone, which led him to be rejected and expelled out of Paradise. Prophet (pbuh) said: “No one will enter Paradise in whose heart is an atom’s weight of arrogance and no one will enter Hell in whose heart is an atom’s weight of faith... Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” [Saheeh at-Tirmidhi] Satan blamed Allah for making him fall in error, however, Satan chose to disobey Allah, dared to be arrogant when no one is worthy of having pride except Allah, and chose not to seek Allah's forgiveness. Instead he asked for life till the Day of Judgment and made it his mission to mislead Adam and his children --- interestingly those who follow him will be his companions, accompanying him in the Fire.

Gratitude

Satan astutely noted the ones who follow him are the ungrateful ones, and by blaming Allah we are not only falling into his trap, but mimicking our sworn enemy. When we take a moment to reflect we will always conclude there are aspects we can be grateful for, even in difficult times we will find there are more blessings than loss.

Think about it another: Anything taken away from us is a return back to the One who gave it to us in the first place. For example we have been given eyesight, and if Allah decides to take them back they are simply returning to the true owner. The same can be said for health, wealth, children, parents, etc.

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. Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return." Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. [Quran 2:155-157]

The Test

The trials we face run the gamut: difficulty in school, someone cannot find a job to pay his bills or feed his family, another has severe medical issues, another faces the passing away of close family members or friends, or destruction left behind by a natural disaster. Trials can also be other way round like being given a ton of wealth, ample free time, great health, power and high status...

Allah has said He will test us with gain and with loss. The question that comes to mind is why:

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. [Quran 29:2-3]

Our father Adam was tested and all his descendants are tested, including our ancestors, us, and our progeny until the day the Reckoning begins, to make known who believed in Allah and those who rejected the message of His Messengers (pbut).

Nearer Punishment

Every day a new page is wet with ink; each action we take is being recorded meticulously in our book of deeds. A good deed is immediately recorded, and by the mercy of Allah we are given time before our bad deeds are jotted out. But when we do not try to mend our ways and sincerely repent, another reason explaining the hardships comes into the picture.

And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much. [Quran 42:30]

Did we speak badly to our parents today? Did we harm our neighbor? Were we neglectful of the daily prayers? Did we lie, backbite, or slander someone? The sins we commit by disobeying the Creator pile up, and by not taking the open invitation of forgiveness we are setting ourselves up to face hardships.

1. With frustration versus...

Coming back to our discussion on responding to trials with frustration...

We discussed responding to trials with anger and frustration can lead to self-inflicted negativity, and leads to falling prey to Satan by blaming Ar-Rahmaan. The Prophet (pbuh) similarly emphasized that anger will lead to nothing productive, rather another type of response yields fruit.

2. With patience

Note the response of the one who is content with his situation: He will have contentment... peace in his heart, patience, and will be full of gratitude for the blessings he has. He relies on Allah to take care of him, trusts Him to remove his difficultly, and that he will be given a great reward in this world and the next.

Being patient in the face of adversity is not easy. It is a special blessing given by Allah to His righteous slaves, a level within everyone's reach. We can strive for it by first repenting sincerely from our misdeeds, raising our hands and asking Allah, and following up with righteous action especially the obligations to attain closeness to Allah.

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. [Quran 2:153]

Also, consider difficulties from another angle: Rather than thinking of them to be a challenge, consider them to be an opportunity; a means to earn expiation of sins, raise our status in the sight of Allah, and earn generous rewards --- an outcome waiting for those who respond with patience...

Benefits of trials

Allah has created this world, and us, with a purpose and sent down numerous books, Prophets and Messengers all to help us understand our role. Likewise there is a purpose behind all the trials we face beginning from the day we are born till the day we are in our graves:

1 DISTINCTION:
To separate the righteous from the disobedient (already discussed in 'The Test' section)

2 PURIFICATION:
They help purify us by lightening our load of sins

3 TURNING BACK TO HIM:
Sometimes when everything is alright we get complacent and not go the extra mile to please Allah. Or perhaps sin considering it to be something minor, unaware what effect it has on faith, and how it grows silently like cancerous cells only to manifest in an outright disobedience to Allah.

Trials help us to overcome these shortcomings by giving us an opportunity to grow stronger in faith and increase our reliance upon Allah, because in the end only by turning back to Him can our situation improve –-- He is the One in control of everything in the heavens and the earth.

And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent. [Quran 32:21]

A lot more can be added but the above three capture the main aspects.

In Ending...

When Allah loves someone He trys him more, which means no one is spared from the trials of Allah, not even the beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The Prophet (pbuh) had faced the most difficult of trails, including being an orphan from a very young age, ridiculed and humiliated by his tribesman especially his own uncle, forced to leave his beloved home, the land of the Kaaba, harmed physically when preaching Tawheed (Oneness of Allah), faced well-equipment armies that outnumbered the Muslims, lost his family members and companions, including all his children except for Fatima, despite his deepest wish many people died rejecting the message, including his close uncle Abu Talib, and the list goes on...

If everything is going smooth for us day in and day out, then we need to quickly examine what's going wrong!

Ease in this life means difficultly in the next, because Allah has designed this place to be a test, it has been designed to break our hearts. Allah has placed happiness and joy in this world, but we have it all wrong if we think that's what it's all about.

Although pain and agony come with the tests, Allah does not to burden us with more than we can bear. He is aware of our limitations and provides us with eases after every hardship.

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. [Quran 64:5-6]

When facing a hardship reach out to Allah to have your prayer answered. Ask Him, beseech Him for His help because His help is approaching and is near...

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,"When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. [Quran 2:214]

The tests are difficult but use them as a means to return back to your Maker, and be close to Him. Happiness and contentment are a byproduct for those who have patience and turn back to Allah. Please Allah and He will please you. Seek His love and you will be loved in this world and in the heavens. Realize the true nature of this world and be in a state of ibaadah (worship), by patiently submitting your fate in the Hands of the One in control. Gain peace by relying on the Most Merciful, and realize tests are a means to increase your status in the sight of your Lord.

Have patience and await the reward of Paradise where no one will be unhappy, no one will face any difficulty, no one will lose anything... an eternal life awaits for its inhabitants, a life filled with complete happiness, bliss, peace. A world specially designed for those who will pass the test of life with patience and gratefulness, to be amongst the few who Allah will be pleased with.