Nothing on earth is created in vain, but rather with wisdom. Understanding this fact depends on the wisdom of people themselves. One whose faith and consequently whose wisdom and prudence increase, will happen to grasp this reasoning much better in time.
One of the most important precepts is that we are being tested throughout our whole lives. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala tests our sincerity and our faith on different occasions. He may give favours to test whether we are grateful to Him or not. He may create difficulties, for us, to reveal whether we behave with patience or not:
"Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good, and to Us you will be returned." [Al-Anbiyaa’ 21:35]
We are to be tested in various ways. This is explained in the Qur’an in the verse below:
"And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirun (the patient)." [Al-Baqarah 2:155]
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala tests the steadfastness of the believers with various difficulties:
Our lives have indeed been planned with the mystery of our being tested. First of all, we are being tested in our physical beings. The Qur’an states that:
"Verily, We have created man from Nutfah (drops) of mixed semen (sexual discharge of man and woman), in order to try him, so We made him hearer and seer." [Al-Insan 76:2]
Consequently, everything we hear and see is actually a part of the test. In all kinds of situations, we will be tested to see whether we behave in accordance with the Qur’an or with our own vain desires.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala tests the steadfastness of the believers with various difficulties. One of the most important of these is the oppression of the believers by the unbelievers. All these misdeeds, like verbal attacks, mocking, physical oppression and even torture and murder attempts, are only a means of trial for the believers.
In one of the verses; it is said:
"You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to Allâh; but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs (and that is from the great matters which you must hold on with all your efforts)." [Aal `Imran 3:186]
The most important point to comprehend is that all of these deprivations and misadventures are created by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala as a special kind of test. One who does not understand this will become very superficial. The Qur’an cites a pertinent tale of certain Jews.
"And ask them (O Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) about the town that was by the sea; when they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday): when their fish came to them openly on the Sabbath day, and did not come to them on the day they had no Sabbath. Thus We made a trial of them, for they used to rebel against Allâh’s Command (disobey Allâh) [see the Qur’ân: V.4:154 and its footnote]." (Al-A`raf 7:163)
Only the individual who has wisdom can realize that he is being tested, and can succeed in these tests by again using his wisdom. Therefore, a believer should not forget that he is being tested throughout his life. These tests cannot be passed or the heaven cannot be attained simply by saying ‘I believe’.
"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested (2) And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allâh will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allâh knows all that before putting them to test)." [Al-`Ankabut 29:2-3]
And in another verse Allah says:
"Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allâh tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are As-Sâbirun (the patient)?" (Aal `Imran 3:142)
