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This content has been automatically translated. View original in Arabic
When you hear someone gloating over the Muslims in Gaza and elsewhere, saying: "Why does your Lord subject you to calamities if you are upon the truth? Where is His response to your prayers?" remember His words, exalted be He:
"You will surely be tested in your wealth and your lives, and you will hear much abuse from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah. But if you are patient and fear Allah, that is of the matters [rightly] determined." (Quran 3:186)
Tell this ignorant person who reproaches the Muslims: Allah has indeed informed us that we will be tested in our wealth—our possessions, homes, and businesses. We will be tested in our lives—in our health, freedom from constraints, and our bodies through heat and cold, and pain. Allah has emphasized this with the strong resonance of the word "tested" (تُبْلَوُنَّ).
Allah has informed us that you will harm us with words like these, and you will foolishly claim that these trials cast doubt on the soundness of our religion and our Lord’s closeness to us. He has assured us that we will hear your harmful speech with His words: "and you will hear much abuse," confirming that your harm will be "much."
Yet, our Lord has granted us what strengthens us against your harm: "But if you are patient and fear Allah," affirming that only those with strong, lofty resolve will be granted this: "that is of the matters [rightly] determined."
The verse immediately preceding this one is Allah’s saying, exalted be He:
"Every soul will taste death. And you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion." (Quran 3:185)
As the author of Al-Zilal (may Allah have mercy on him) says: The righteous die, and the wicked die. The warriors die, and the idle die. Those who rise high in faith die, and those who debase themselves die. The brave who refuse humiliation die, and the cowards who cling to life at any cost die. Those with grand ambitions and lofty goals die, and the trivial who live only for cheap pleasures die.
And observe, my brothers and sisters, what follows immediately: "And you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection." This world is not a place of recompense, so it should not be said: "Why does your Lord not avenge you? Why do your enemies enjoy ease while you are tested, if you are truly upon the truth?" Rather, the recompense is on the Day of Resurrection. So whoever is drawn away from the Fire—which will attract you and consume you, O you who mock us—and admitted to Paradise has attained true victory. This is the real triumph: deliverance from eternal punishment to eternal bliss.
As for this world, "what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion?" It will all pass away. Here, after Allah has diminished the severity of worldly trials and hardships, turned hearts toward the Hereafter, and promised deliverance from the Fire and entry into Paradise, and prepared the souls of believers to pay any price—no matter how great—He then affirms to His believing servants their steadfastness against the harm of the disbelievers with His words:
"You will surely be tested in your wealth and your lives, and you will hear much abuse from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah. But if you are patient and fear Allah, that is of the matters [rightly] determined." (Quran 3:186)
I remind every afflicted person and every burdened soul to recite Surah Aal-Imran starting from verse 139:
"Do not weaken or grieve, for you will be superior if you are [true] believers." (Quran 3:139)
It has a remarkable effect on the soul. We ask Allah to make us and our afflicted brothers among the patient and God-fearing survivors.
Peace be upon you.