Trials And Tribulations Of The Believer

Do worries, sadness and stress wear you down? Trials and tribulations are given to every believer, and some of us are tested more than others:

It is narrated that Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqaas RA asked the Prophet SAW: “O Messenger of Allaah, which of the people are most sorely tested?" Naʻá ne pehē: “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is strong, he will be tested more severely, and if his religious commitment is weak, he will be tested in accordance with his religious commitment. Calamity will keep befalling a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.”

[Tirmidhi]

Some of the righteous salaf used to say that ‘The gift of the believer is death.’ The reason they used to say this was because the ones most beloved to Allah SWT were the ones most afflicted with calamities. They were truly patient and forbearing, and showed gratitude to Allah even through the most severe of trials.

The believer knows that what lies in wait for them in the akhirah is nothing but goodness, and this helps them through their trials. Jannah is therefore the ultimate gift for those who are always tested – and of course, this is only attainable after death.

No matter how hard life is, continue in the pursuit of Allah’s pleasure as Allah SWT commands in the Quran:

And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death).

[al-Hijr, v99]

The righteous Salaf would also view the world as a prison for the believers:

Naʻe pehe ʻe he talafekau ʻa Allah, "The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the unbeliever."

[Sahih Mosilemi]

Whatever sadness you are going through in life, know that Allah SWT only gives you trials to expiate your sins and raise you in status. Sometimes the hardships can feel overwhelming and and you fear falling into despair. Know that no matter how bad the trial and the test, Allah always grants you ease thereafter:

“Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without encountering what those before you encountered? They were afflicted by misfortune and hardship, and they were so shaken that even [ʻenau] messenger and the believers with him cried, ‘When will God’s help arrive?’ Truly, God’s help is near.”

[Qurʻan, 2:214]

The best way to deal with trials is to take the advice of the Prophet SAW who said:

“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affair is good and this is not for no one except the believer. If something of good/happiness befalls him he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him he is patient and that is good for him”

[Mosilemi]

May Allah SWT grant us patience, gratitude and steadfastness throughout all of our trials and tribulations so that we may be honoured in the akhirah – ameen.

Mali Haohaoa – Ko e ngaue Matrimonial lahi taha ʻa e mamani maʻa practising kau Mosilemi