Tests - Portal Gems #15

Est. Read time: 5 min
Edition Number: 15
Adapted from: Practical Lessons from the Seerah
Instructor: Shaykh Yasir Qadhi

Assalamu Alaykum,

Today we’re going through a gem from Shaykh Yasir Qadhi’s Course: Practical Lessons from the Seerah. Shaykh Yasir explains the reality that we are all being tested in various ways - all happening simultaneously.

Hope you enjoy!

We begin in the Name of Allah ﷻ, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,
We ask that He ﷻ sends Peace and Blessings upon our noble and beloved
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

We don't ask Allah ﷻ to be tested. The Prophet ﷺ said in an authentic Hadith

“Do not desire an encounter with the enemy; but when you encounter them, be firm.” (Muslim)

Be patient and basically fight the way you're supposed to fight. This Hadith encapsulates our attitude towards tests:

Don't desire to be in a difficult situation.

Don't desire that your enemies have the upper hand.

Don't desire that trials and tribulations come upon you.

Don't desire that. Ask Allah ﷻ for afiya (well-being).

But if you find yourself facing an enemy, whether that’s a physical enemy, emotional stress, a financial issue, a marital issue, well then Allah ﷻ has decided to test you. So stay firm and pass the test. This is the attitude of the believer.

Every one of us is being tested. At every point in time there are different tests. Some are easier to deal with and some are difficult to deal with, but all of us are being tested simultaneously. And SubhanAllah, it's Allah ﷻ's qadr, we are being tested for the exact opposite things.

The one who has wealth is tested because of his wealth. The one who doesn't have wealth is being tested because of the poverty. The one who has children, every parent of teenagers knows that's one of the biggest tests of our times - our teenagers. May Allah ﷻ guide and protect them.

All of this white hair I have, mashaAllah, I have four kids two of them are beyond teenage years and two of them are teenagers. Make dua for me, life is what it is Alhumdulilah.

So those that have kids their test is from the kids, and those that don't have kids their test is they don't have kids. Those that are married their tests are... (joking).

Those that are not married their test is not being married. SubhanAllah just the way life is. Think about it philosophically, every one of you is being tested with what you have and what you don't have, and the person next to you might have what you don't have and they're being tested with the same thing - you want it, they have it and each one of you is being tested. One with it and one by the absence of it.

And this is the reality of life. This dunya is the dunya of tests.

That's why, subhanAllah, what's the dhikr or thanks that the people of Jannah will make when they enter Jannah? What’s the first thing that comes to their tongues?

Allah ﷻ says in Surah Fatir:

Memorize this verse brothers and sisters because it'll help you deal with the stress of life. When the people of Jannah enter Jannah, when they take their first step into Jannah what's the one thing that they say? Alhamdulillah, finally no stress.

This is what they say, and when do they say it?

When they become a millionaire?

When they get married?

When they have kids?

When they die even?

No, when you step foot in Jannah that is when you can say Alhamdulillah, no more stress.

So nobody should think that in this world you will live a stress-free life. On the contrary we are all being tested simultaneously in different ways.

May Allah grant us the patience and steadfastness to remain firm through the tests of this life.

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم، فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

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