Hafiz Thabit Balogun, Student Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana
Trials and tribulations are a phenomenon that have become part of our daily lives. Although the level of difficulty we all go through is different, we all experience trials. This is not a new phenomenon that is occurring in our age; rather, it has been in occurrence since the creation of man. All prophets, saints and holy personage were all tested with respect to their faith.
It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Said al-Khudrira that:
“I entered upon the Holy Prophetsa when he was suffering from a fever, I placed my hand on him and felt heat with my hand from above the blanket. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how hard it is for you!’ He said: ‘We (Prophets) are like that. The trial is multiplied for us and so is the reward.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which people are most severely tested?’ He said: ‘The Prophets.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, then who?’ He said: ‘Then the righteous, some of whom were tested with poverty until they could not find anything except a cloak to put around themselves. One of them will rejoice at calamity as one of you would rejoice at ease.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah, The Book of Tribulations, Hadith 4024)
Trials and tribulations are not necessarily delivered in proportion to our mistakes. In fact, they may not have anything to do with our mistakes and sins, but they may be presented as an opportunity to scale the obstacle and reach something better on the other side.
Just as a student is made to undergo various types of examinations from time to time to determine their capacity and standard, trials and tribulations are meant to evaluate our moral and spiritual abilities to discern whether we are progressing in faith or regressing.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
“Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things; Who has created death and life that He might try you — which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Most Forgiving.” (Surah al-Mulk, Ch.67: V. 2-3)
Regarding this verse, the Five Volume Commentary states:
“According to the Quran, God has generally two purposes in ‘proving’ men. He ‘proves’ or tries those who have attained to a high stage of spiritual advancement, as was the case with Abraham; and He also tries those who have not yet attained to that stage. His object in ‘proving’ the former is to bring them to the notice of the people and make them shine as models of virtue and purity; while in the case of the latter, the purpose is to make them acquainted with their own weaknesses so that they may try to improve their condition. Though misfortunes and afflictions involve a certain amount of pain, they also afford a good opportunity for spiritual reformation and purification. Thus afflictions and calamities have their use. They serve to strengthen the faith. Those who remain steadfast under trials, despite afflictions, become entitled to a great reward from God.” (Five Volume Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 259)
Trials can be a sign that Allah intends good for us, because through trials our sins are expiated and we have the opportunity to do more good deeds. Trials and tribulations are thereby means of purification and earning nearness to God.
The Holy Prophetsa said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, The Book of Patients, Hadith 5641, 5642)
Some tribulations make us appreciate what we never appreciated before while others teach us something which protects us from bigger issues in the future. Temporary trials may appear as a reminder of the blessings that we have taken for granted. Illness makes us appreciate health and prompt us to use our healthy days consciously. Missing someone makes us appreciate the relationship and value it more when reunited. Being inconvenienced through travel and unfamiliar surroundings make us appreciate stability and security.
Anas bin Malikra narrated”
“I heard Allah’s Messengersa saying, “Allah said, ‘If I deprive my slave of his two beloved things [i.e., his eyes] and he remains patient, I will let him enter Paradise in compensation for them.’”” (Sahih al-Bukhari, The Book of Patients, Hadith 5653)
However, after delving into the multifaceted nature of trials and tribulations and the reasons behind them. I will now present from a religious point of view ways of managing these situations constituting towards a meaningful existence.
Gratitude
We can feel grateful that the pain of whatever hardship has struck us will not last forever, and Allah does not burden us with any difficulty beyond what we can handle. This is a beautiful gift to us from Allah, worthy of sincere thankfulness. Allah says in the Quran: “Allah burdens not any soul beyond that which He has given it. Allah will soon bring about ease after hardship.” (Surah at-Talaq, Ch.65: V.8)
And in another verse Allah says, “Surely there is ease after hardship.” (Surah al-Inshirah, Ch.94: V.6)
We can have peace of mind in the knowledge that most hardships are temporary, and relief is soon to follow. For that we should be grateful.
A sense of gratitude to God Almighty also arises in a person when they observe the state of the less fortunate of the society. The Holy Prophetsa said:
اُنْظُرُوْا إِلَى مَنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنکُمْ وَلاَ تَنْظُرُوْا إِلَى مَنْ ھُوَ فَوْقَکُمْ فَھُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لاَّ تَزْدَرُوْا نِعْمةَ الله
“Look at those who are lower than you [i.e., in health, status, fortune, etc.] and do not look at those who are at a higher level than you, for it is the best way not to disparage the favours of Allah the Almighty.” (Sahih Muslim, The Book of Zuhd and softening of the hearts, Hadith 2963c)
The Holy Prophetsa also said, “When a servant’s [a believer’s] child dies, Allah, the Exalted, says to His angels: ‘Have you taken the soul of My servant’s child?’ They reply, ‘Yes.’ He then asks, ‘Have you taken the fruit of his heart?’ They respond, ‘Yes.’ Allah then asks, ‘What did My servant say?’ They reply, ‘He praised You and said, “To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.”‘ So Allah, the Exalted, says, ‘Build for My servant a house in Paradise and name it the House of Praise.’” (Riyad as-Salihin, The Book of praise and gratitude to Allah, Hadith 1395)
Steadfastness
A believer puts his trust in Allah the exalted and continues to endure the pain hoping that He Who has brought the difficulties will soon wade it off. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“There befalls not any affliction but by the leave of Allah. And whosoever believes in Allah — He guides his heart [aright]. And Allah knows all things full well.” (Surah at-Taghabun, Ch. 64: V.12)
In Surah aale-Imran, verse 201 Allah also states:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اصۡبِرُوۡا وَصَابِرُوۡا وَرَابِطُوۡا۟ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ
“O ye who believe! be steadfast and strive to excel in steadfastness and be on [your] guard and fear Allah that you may prosper.”
Abu Hurairahra relates that the Holy Prophetsa said: “Allah the Exalted says: ‘I have no reward other than Paradise for a believing servant of mine who is steadfast when I take away a beloved one of his from among the denizens of the world.’” (Riyad as-Salihin, The Book of Miscellany, Hadith 32)
The Promised Messiahas while expounding on the verse below states:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا
“Meaning, they say our Lord is Allah, then show steadfastness; and turn away from all else to find God. In other words, success depends on steadfastness. And steadfastness is to recognize God and stand unshaken in the face of all difficulty, trial and tribulation. If a person is able to do this, they will surely become the recipient of divine communion and converse like the Prophets.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 1, p. 24)
Patience
Allah says:
وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّکُمۡ بِشَیۡءٍ مِّنَ الۡخَوۡفِ وَالۡجُوۡعِ وَنَقۡصٍ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡوَالِ وَالۡاَنۡفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِ ؕ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ
“And We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives, and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient,” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.156)
Allah then said:
الَّذِیۡنَ اِذَاۤ اَصَابَتۡہُمۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٌ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ
“Who, when a misfortune overtakes them, say, ‘Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.’” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.157)
Correlating this verse and the previous verse it is apparent that whosoever undergoes all these hillocks of trials with perseverance, patience and utmost humility by relying on Allah are given the glad tidings of which Allah mentions in the verse that follows:
اُولٰٓئِکَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ صَلَوٰتٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ وَرَحۡمَۃٌ ۟ وَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُہۡتَدُوۡنَ
“It is these on whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is these who are rightly guided.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.158)
While expounding on the rewards that will be received by those who show patience at times of hardship. The Five Volume Commentary states about this verse:
“This verse speaks of the great reward of those who prove themselves to be truly صابر or patient. It is, in fact, an explanation of the word, glad tidings, occurring in 2:156. Truly patient people who are steadfast in their connection with God and whom each and every affliction finds spiritually rising higher and higher will inherit three things: (1) blessings from their Lord; (2) His mercy; and (3) His guidance. God will bless them in every way, will cover them with His mercy and forgiveness and will look after them, providing guidance for them whenever they may need it. He will, as it were, become their friend and guardian, eager to come to their help on all occasions.” (Five Volume Commentary Vol. 1, p. 260)
After delving into the multifaceted nature of trials and tribulations and also pointing out different ways of going through such conditions, I will present an excerpt from the magnum opus of the fourth Khalifa of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh to conclude this topic.
He states:
“Suffering has been a great teacher, cultivating and culturing our conducts. It develops and refines sensibilities, teaches humility and in more than one way, prepares humans to be able to turn to God. It awakens the need for search and exploration and creates that necessity which is the mother of all inventions. Remove suffering as a causative factor in developing man’s potential and the wheel of progress would turn back a hundred thousand times. Man may try his hand at altering the plans of things, but frustration would be all he will achieve. Thus, the question of apportioning blame for the existence of suffering upon the Creator should not arise. Suffering, to play its subtle creative role in the scheme of things, is indeed a blessing in disguise”. (Revelation Rationality Knowledge and Truth, p. 186)