One of the greatest trials a Muslim might endure is the death of a loved one such as a spouse, a parent, or a child. If he remains patient and praises Allah in such a situation, then Allah has guaranteed a house for him in Paradise.
Abu Musa Al-Ashari, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
إِذَا مَاتَ وَلَدُ الْعَبْدِ قَالَ اللَّهُ لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ قَبَضْتُمْ وَلَدَ عَبْدِي فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ فَيَقُولُ قَبَضْتُمْ ثَمَرَةَ فُؤَادِهِ فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا قَالَ عَبْدِي فَيَقُولُونَ حَمِدَكَ وَاسْتَرْجَعَ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ ابْنُوا لِعَبْدِي بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَسَمُّوهُ بَيْتَ الْحَمْدِ
When the child of a servant dies, Allah says to the angels: Have you taken the life of my servant’s child? They say yes. Allah says: Have you taken the fruit of his heart? They say yes. Allah says: What has my servant said? They say: He has praised you and said to Allah we belong and to Allah we return. Allah says: Build a house for my servant in Paradise and name it the House of Praise.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1021, Grade: Hasan
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَا لِعَبْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِ عِنْدِي جَزَاءٌ إِذَا قَبَضْتُ صَفِيَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ احْتَسَبَهُ إِلَّا الْجَنَّةُ
Allah the Exalted says: I have nothing to give to my faithful servant, if I cause his dear friend to die and he remains patient, other than Paradise.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6060, Grade: Sahih
The trials of pain and loss are very difficult, but in some ways the trials of prosperity are even more difficult.
Abdur Rahman ibn Awf, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
ابْتُلِينَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالضَّرَّاءِ فَصَبَرْنَا ثُمَّ ابْتُلِينَا بِالسَّرَّاءِ بَعْدَهُ فَلَمْ نَصْبِرْ
We were tested with hardship alongside the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and we were patient. Then we were tested with prosperity after that and we were not patient.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2464, Grade: Hasan
An abundance of wealth is one of the greatest trials for the Muslim nation because in such a situation the Muslims are obligated to spend generously from it in charity.
Ka’b ibn Iyad, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
إِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فِتْنَةً وَفِتْنَةُ أُمَّتِي الْمَالُ
Verily, every nation has a trial and the trial of my nation is wealth.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2336, Grade: Sahih
Muslims are tested with great acts of oppression committed by authorities and powerful groups in the world, but we must remember that Allah has promised us that those who oppress us will give us their good deeds on the Day of Resurrection or take some of our sins.
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ مَظْلَمَةٌ لِأَخِيهِ مِنْ عِرْضِهِ أَوْ شَيْءٍ فَلْيَتَحَلَّلْهُ مِنْهُ الْيَوْمَ قَبْلَ أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ دِينَارٌ وَلَا دِرْهَمٌ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ أُخِذَ مِنْهُ بِقَدْرِ مَظْلَمَتِهِ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُ حَسَنَاتٌ أُخِذَ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ صَاحِبِهِ فَحُمِلَ عَلَيْهِ
Whoever oppresses his brother in his honor or anything else should resolve the matter today before it cannot be resolved with gold and silver coins. If he has good deeds to his credit, they will be taken from him according to the measure of his oppression, but if he has no good deeds left, then he will bear the evil deeds of his companion.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2317, Grade: Sahih
In such a situation, we must remember that Allah will avenge us in the Hereafter so we should not let our hatred or anger at our oppression lead us to commit further acts of injustice.
Allah said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah as witnesses in justice and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, for that is nearer to righteousness. Fear Allah, for Allah is aware of what you are doing.
Surat al-Ma’idah 5:8
One of the greatest trials is the temptation to resort to violence when confronted with an unjust government, but in such a situation we must be patient and attempt to reform the government without declaring a violent rebellion.
Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
يَكُونُ بَعْدِي أَئِمَّةٌ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ بِهُدَايَ وَلَا يَسْتَنُّونَ بِسُنَّتِي وَسَيَقُومُ فِيهِمْ رِجَالٌ قُلُوبُهُمْ قُلُوبُ الشَّيَاطِينِ فِي جُثْمَانِ إِنْسٍ
Rulers after me will come who do not follow my guidance and my tradition. Some of their men will have the hearts of devils in a human body.
I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what should I do if I live to see that time?” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
تَسْمَعُ وَتُطِيعُ لِلْأَمِيرِ وَإِنْ ضُرِبَ ظَهْرُكَ وَأُخِذَ مَالُكَ فَاسْمَعْ وَأَطِعْ
You should listen and obey them even if the ruler strikes your back and takes your wealth, even still listen and obey.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1847, Grade: Sahih
The righteous predecessors (al-salaf) decried the violent rebels who lived in their time because their rebellion always led to further suffering, injustice, and division among the Muslims.
Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
لَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا ابْتُلُوا مِنْ قِبَلِ سُلْطَانِهِمْ صَبَرُوا مَا لَبِثُوا أَنْ يُفْرَجَ عَنْهُمْ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَجْزَعُونَ إِلَى السَّيْفِ فَيُوَكَّلُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا جَاءُوا بِيَوْمِ خَيْرٍ قَطُّ
If the people had patience when they are being tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allah will give them a way out. However, they always rush to their swords, so they are left with their swords. By Allah, not even for a single day did they bring about any good.
Source: al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrá 8789
Therefore, Muslims will endure many trials throughout life such as being afflicted by a calamity, suffering oppression, or even ingratitude in the face of prosperity. A Muslim must remain patient with the command and decree of Allah so as to avoid injustice, selfishness, and various evil deeds that might come about during a trial.
We ask Allah to relive the suffering of Muslims and to guide us through the trials of life and death.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.