Why bad things happen to good people: God tests every believer, from Abraham and Noah to Muhammad, with hardship and with blessings, and uses the tests to expose the hypocrites. Steps for meeting adversity follow, including submission, imploring God, steadfastness, and trust in God's victory. A reader's letter and a plan to connect submitters in the same area by email close the issue.
G od
teaches us in the Quran that victory belongs to the believers in
this life and in the Hereafter (40:51). God also teaches us that the believers
will not be left without being tested.
Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We
believe,” without being put to the test? We have tested those before
them, for God must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose
the liars. 29:2-3
God is not to leave the believers as you are, without
distinguishing the bad from the good… 3:179
Do you expect to enter Paradise without being tested like
those before you? 2:214
The Test
God’s testing of the believers will vary. It may be mild and light
or hard and exacting. Sickness, fear, hunger, poverty, death, loss of
power or control, losing a battle, failing an examination, failing a marriage,
failing a business, losing a job or a friend and so on are just a few
examples. Testing may also be in the form of blessings, wealth, health,
knowledge, children, family, security, peace…etc. What to do with
these blessings is a great test. The test may also be given by testing
us by one another. The true believers submit to God in all cases and under
all circumstances.
We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and
loss of money, lives, and crops. Give
You should know that your money and your children are
a test, and that God possesses a great recompense. 8:28
Who will be tested?
The Quran shows us that all the believers will be tested, prophets,
messengers, saints, righteous people, all will be tested.
We will certainly put you to the test, in order to distinguish those
among you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must expose your true
qualities. 47:31
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Testing the Believers
Abraham, the prophet, who was called God’s friend, was put
to an exacting test.
Recall that Abraham was put to the test by his Lord,
through certain commands, and he fulfilled them. 2:124
“You (Abraham) have believed the dream.”
We thus reward the righteous. That was an exacting test indeed.
37:105-106
Adam and Eve, were put to the test several times including expulsion
from Heaven, and may have lived through the loss of their righteous
son. Noah lost his son twice, first he lost him as a disbeliever
but still loved him, then lost him to the flood while calling on
God to save him. The prophet Muhammad lost his only born son (Ibrahim)
as all historical accounts mention and was very saddened by it.
Muhammad spent a great deal of his life struggling with the disbelievers
going from one war to another. He was exposed to killings, wounding,
and loss of friends and loved ones. He was truly tested. God could
have won him the wars while Muhammad stayed home enjoying a peaceful
life of a prophet. Noah, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Solomon,
Jesus, John, Job, Jonah, and Muhammad were all given different and
difficult tests. The believers before us were tested to the maximum
until they were shaken up.
Do you expect to enter Paradise without being tested
like those before you? They were tested with hardship and adversity,
and were shaken up, until the messenger and those who believed with
him said, “Where is
Since this is a test, we would not know when, where or what kind
of test we might be given. We do not make the choice, God does.
He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what is best
for us, and under what circumstances. He is the Almighty, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.
Exposing the Hypocrites
While God is testing the believers, He uses the test to expose
the hypocrites and confuse the disbelievers. Thus He leads them
on in their transgression, blundering. These people do not understand
God’s system and think they are right when they are dead wrong.
God gave us their example in the Quran when He talked about the
Battle of the Parties in 33:9-12, and about the hypocrites in 9:50-51.
(See also 3:118-120, and 22:11)
O you who believe, remember God’s blessing
upon you; when soldiers attacked you, we sent upon them violent
wind and invisible soldiers. God is Seer of everything you do. When
they came from above you, and from beneath you, your eyes were terrified,
your hearts ran out of patience, and you harbored unbefitting thoughts
about God. That is when the believers were truly tested;
they were severely shaken up. The hypocrites and those
with doubts in their hearts said, “What God and His messenger
promised us was no more than an illusion!” 33:9-12
Reaction of True believers
When the true believers saw the parties (ready to attack), they
said, “This is what God and His messenger have promised us,
and God and His messenger are truthful.” This (dangerous situation)
only strengthened their faith and augmented their submission.
33:22
What should the Believers Do?
Say, “Nothing happens to us, except what God
has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In God the believers
shall trust.” 9:51
In the face of adversity or hardship, the believers are expected
to submit. We are to be tested to see if we are truly submitters
or not. And whether we submit to God during the bad times and the
good times. God gave us the solution of passing the tests in His
book, the Quran. He asked us to submit to Him wholeheartedly. Submission
to God means to accept whatever God has given us or taken away from
us, to steadfastly persevere and to wait for God’s victory.
In practical terms, let us put it in steps. Whenever an adversity
or hardship afflicts us, we should:
(1) Not panic. God does test the believers.
(2) Check to see if we have gotten off the right
path. Are we still worshipping God alone and following His book?
Correct our path and stay with God alone, if we were not.
(3) Submit to God, by accepting what happened
to us without objecting. (See 2:155-157)
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Testing the Believers
hardship or adversity. God wants us to implore Him. Do not rush
an answer. God runs everything. (See 40:60)
(5) Steadfastly persevere. This is the greatest
trait of the true believers. (See 2:153, 2:45, 90:17, 2:177 and
103:3). God promised those who steadfastly persevere great recompense.
(See 41:35, 23:111, 22:35, 31:17 and 2:155-157)
(6) Believe that God’s promise is the truth
and that victory belongs to the believers, but you have to pass
your test. Victory is on the way. God’s victory is near. (See
30:47, 30:60, 2:155 and 2:214)
There are two kinds of victories according to the Quran, victory
in this life and the bigger and eternal victory in the Hereafter.
The believers accept whatever God’s victory comes to them
and always strive to achieve the eternal victory in the Hereafter.
(See 9:50-52)
With the help of God and the assurance in the Quran, the true
believers will make the best out of their test and wait for God’s
victory. They trust in God, and know that God is Just. They are
absolutely sure that God’s victory is coming and that God’s
victory is their reward. It is God’s promise.
Related Verses from the Quran
2:45 You shall seek help through steadfastness
and the Contact Prayers (Salat). This is difficult indeed, but not
so for the reverent.
those who are Jewish,
the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in God,
and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life,
will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing
to fear, nor will they grieve.
2:155-157 We will surely test you through some
fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news
to the steadfast. When an affliction befalls them, they say, “We
belong to God, and to Him we are returning.” These have deserved
blessings from their Lord and mercy. These are the
guided ones.
2:214 Do you expect to enter Paradise without
being tested like those before you? They were tested with hardship
and adversity, and were shaken up, until the messenger and those
who believed with him said, “Where is God’s victory?”
God’s victory is near.
3:120 When anything good comes your way they hurt,
and when something bad happens to you they rejoice. If
you steadfastly persevere, and maintain righteousness,
their schemes will never hurt you. God is fully aware of everything
they do.
9:50-52 If something good happens to you, they
hurt, and if an affliction befalls you, they say, “We told
you so,” as they turn away rejoicing. Say, “Nothing
happens to us, except what God has decreed for us. He is our Lord
and Master. In God the believers shall trust.” Say, “You
can only expect for us one of two good things
(victory or martyrdom), while we expect for you condemnation
from God and retribution
from Him, or at our hands. Therefore, wait, and we will wait along
with you.”
22:11 Among the people there is the one who worships
God conditionally. If things go his way, he is content. But if some
adversity befalls him, he makes an about-face. Thus, he loses both
this life and the Hereafter. Such is the real loss.
22:35 They are the ones whose hearts tremble upon
mentioning God, they steadfastly persevere during adversity,
they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and from our provisions
to them, they give to charity.
23:111 I have rewarded them today, in return for
their steadfastness, by making them
the winners.
30:47 We have sent messengers before you to their
people, with profound signs. Subsequently, we punished those who
transgressed. It is our duty that we grant victory to
the believers.
31:17 O my son, you shall observe the Contact
Prayers (Salat). You shall advocate righteousness and forbid evil,
and remain steadfast in the face of adversity.
These are the most honorable traits.
40:60 Your Lord says, “Implore Me, and I
will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to worship
Me will enter Gehenna, forcibly.”
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Comments on the Internet
Dear Brother/Sister
Salaamun Alaykum,
…It has been many weeks since I first saw your site and became
a submitter. You are doing a great job.May Allah (SWT) BLESS YOU ALL!
I was a Shia but am now a Submitter/Muslim. I would love to keep contact
with you, my brothers and sisters.
I have told my parents about your site and they were curious. InshAllah
they will see the Truth of the Quran. What I believe to be amazing, besides
the MAGNIFICENT MATHEMATICAL MIRACLE OF THE QURAN on the number 19, is:
(and this just my personal belief as a sign from Allah), I came across
your site just a few days (3 days I think) before my 19th Birthday. To
me this has been a good sign. I thank Allah (SWT) to show me the RIGHT
PATH...
M.H.
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About this work
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Document
Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson