When you hear those who mock the Muslims in Gaza and elsewhere saying, "Why does your Lord subject you to trials if you are on the true religion? Where is His response to your supplications?", remember His words, may He be glorified and exalted: {You will surely be tested in your wealth and yourselves, and you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from the polytheists much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah, then indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.}
And say to this ignorant person who mocks the Muslims: Allah, the Most High, has informed us that we will be tested in our wealth, our possessions, our homes, and our trade. And we will be tested in ourselves; in our health, our freedom from constraints, and in our bodies with cold, heat, and pain. And He, may He be glorified and exalted, has confirmed this with His saying {You will surely be tested}, which includes the heavy emphatic "noon" that gives a strong ring of emphasis.
And He, may He be glorified and exalted, has informed us that you will harm us with words like these, and you will claim in your foolishness that these trials cast doubt on the truth of our religion and the presence of our Lord with us. And He, may He be glorified and exalted, has confirmed that we will hear from you what harms us with His saying {And you will surely hear}, and that your harm will be "much abuse."
But our Lord has given us what strengthens us against your harm: {But if you are patient and fear Allah}, confirming that none will be successful in this except those with strong and high resolve: {Then indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination.}
The verse that precedes this verse directly is the saying of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted: {Every soul will taste death, and We will test you with what you have earned. Then to Us is your return. Then whoever is removed from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And the life of this world is not but amusement and diversion.}
As the author of "Al-Zilal" (may God have mercy on him) says:
And observe, oh brothers, what He says immediately after: {Then to Us is your return}; the world is not the abode of recompense, so as to say: "Why does your Lord not avenge you? Why do your enemies enjoy themselves while you are tested if you are truly on the right religion?" Rather, the recompense will be on the Day of Judgment.
{Then whoever is removed from the Fire}; this Fire that will attract you and you will be burned in it, oh those who mock us, {And admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]}. This is the true victory: salvation from eternal torment to eternal bliss. As for this world? {And the life of this world is not but amusement and diversion}, it will end with all that is in it.
Here, after Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, has made light of the affairs of this world and its pains, and has attached the hearts to the Hereafter, salvation from the Fire, and attainment of Paradise, and has prepared the hearts of the believers to pay the price no matter how high; He, may He be glorified and exalted, says, strengthening His believing servants against the harm of the disbelievers: {You will surely be tested in your wealth and yourselves...}.
And I remind every afflicted person and every concerned individual to read Surah Al-Imran starting from verse 139: {And do not weaken and do not grieve, and you are the uppermost if you are [truly] believers}, for it has a wondrous effect on the soul.
May Allah make us and our afflicted brothers among the saved, the patient, and the righteous. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.