Allāh says,
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّـهِ قَرِيبٌ
Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of Allāh?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allāh is near!
[Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:214]
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: Indeed Allāh laughs at His servants when one of them goes through a trial and he remains in a state of grief and Allah laughs knowing that his relief is close to him.
Three types of patience:
- Patience upon the obedience of Allāh
- Patience in staying away from the disobedience of Allāh
- Patience upon the decree of Allāh
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: Whoever Allāh wants good for, He places a trial upon him.
From some of the wisdoms of trials/tribulations are: The raising of ones rank in paradise and the removal of sins.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: The greater the trial, the greater reward.
Questions:
1) If a person is caught committing a sin and the disbelievers tell him: If he doesn’t change his methodology and work for them, they will reveal his sin.
2) Is it better to seek knowledge then go to university or go to university first and then leave to study (in the Muslim lands)?
From the wisdoms of the trials is: The establishing of a person and him becoming firm.
The more the Muslims disobey Allāh, the more fitan overcome the Muslim.
Allāh says,
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Evil (sins and disobedience of Allāh, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.), that Allāh may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allāh, and begging His Pardon).
[Sūrah al-Rūm, 30:41]
Opposing the commands of the Messenger is also a cause of fitan.
Allāh says,
فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muḥammad [صلى الله عليه وسلم]) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.
[Sūrah al-Nūr, 24:63]
