Why does Allah test you?

Why does Allah test you? that a question that many Muslims ask, and some wonder if it is really a test or a punishment. What is important is to know that tests bring us closer to Allah and set us on the right path.

Tests come in many forms and they have one goal, to set us on the right path and bring us closer to Allah. what is important is to know that Allah tests the ones he loves whenever they stray away to remind them that he is there for them. No matter what we do and how far we get from Allah, Allah will forgive us and he puts us in a test to bring us closer to him.

Tests can be really hard to withstand but remember, Allah will not put you on a test that you can’t bear. And whatever the hardship or the Calamities is you can take it, just trust in Allah and be patient. Think of a test as a sign of love not punishment and ask Allah for help.

Now, let’s discover why Allah tests us. how to know if it is a test or punishment and how to deal with it.

Why does Allah test us?

Why is Allah testing me so much? Why is the test so hard? Well, Allah tests you because he loves you, no matter how hard the test is be sure that you can pass it. because Allah will not put you on a test that is more than you can bear.

Whenever you start losing hope remember that Allah tests the ones he loves, this alone will give you the energy and power to be patient and continue your life.

In a hadith, it says:

“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396) and Ibn Maajah (4031); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.]

Hardships, tests, and calamities bring you many rewards and grant you good deeds that exceed your bad deeds and expiate them in the afterlife.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.]

So, why does Allah test you? Allah tests you because he loves you and he wants to increase your good deeds and expiate your bad deeds and sins. Tests are good for us; it brings us closer to Allah and set us on the right path one more time. and remember what Allah said in the holy Quran:  

ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ١٥٦

who, when faced with a disaster, say, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.”

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ ١٥٧

They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided.” [surah Baqarah, 156: 158]

We never know what is good for us, sometimes we may wish for something that brings us doom or that is bad for us, but because Allah loves us, he saves us from it and gives us what is best for us.

Think of it, how many times did you wish for something that turned out to be bad for you? For instance, wishing for your dream job and when getting accepted you find out that you hate the job. So, remember, when you don’t get what you want it is the best for you. Because we never know what Allah holds for us, but we have to be sure that it is the best for us.

Try to think positively, I know that it is not easy, but have faith in Allah and remember that everything happens for a reason.

Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.”

Why does Allah test us with what we love? Allah test us with what we love to erase our sins and increase our good deeds. Tests represent a new opportunity for us to repent from our mistakes and come closer to Allah.

Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: “There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity.”

What to do when Allah test you? all you have to do is to stay patient and remind yourself that Allah is testing you because he loves you. Have faith in Allah and remember, nothing lasts forever.

Our beloved prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999).

Does Allah test us with what we love?

Yes, Allah tests us with what we love to strengthen our faith and bring us closer to him. Remember Allah is Ar-Rahman, The Most Merciful, he doesn’t put you on a test to make you suffer, he wants the best for you, to erase your sins and mistakes and give you a chance to atone for them. All you have to do is to have faith in Allah and be patient.

Why does Allah test us with what we love? Here is your answer:

1. Allah tests us to bring us closer to him.

As Muslims, we know that the main purpose of our existence is to worship Allah. but even though we know that sometimes we stray from the right path and follow our lives’ pleasures and desires. Therefore, Allah tests you to remind you that he is here for you, and he is the only one who can help you and get you out of the hardship.

Additionally, a test is made to distinguish the true believer from the one who has weak faith. The one who has strong faith will be patient and ask Allah for help. While the one with weak faith will lose hope and say that life is not fair.

Allah says in the holy Quran:

“Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident those who are false.” [Quran, 2: 3]

2. Wash away our sins and mistakes.

Allah tests you to wash away all your sins and gives you a chance to atone for anything bad that you did. It is a fast way to expiate your sins no matter how big they are.

Our beloved prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even if it were the prick of a thorn.”  [narrated by Bukhari, Muslim].

Therefore, instead of asking why is Allah testing me so much? Or is it a test or punishment? Think of it as a means to atone for your mistakes and save you in the afterlife.

3. We never know what is best for us.

Sometimes a test is a way to protect you from something bad that could happen to you. For instance, a woman was late for her flight and she was really mad, but after a while, she heard the news of an accident that happened to the plane that she missed. In that case, she was lucky that she didn’t get on the plane.

Allah said in the holy Quran:  “Perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.” [Qur’an 4: 19].

What you may hate might in fact end up being a blessing and save you from a real misfortune. So, always have faith in Allah and be patient.

4. Allah tests you to strengthen your faith.

When Allah puts you in a test it is a way to remind you to turn back to him, to worship him, and ask for his help. Why does Allah test you? Allah tests you to bring you closer to him, he wants to hear your voice calling upon him, and asking for his help.

Our beloved prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The people who face the most difficult tests are the prophets, then the righteous, then those following them in degree. A person is tried according to his religion. So if there is firmness in his religion, then the trial is increased, and if there is a weakness, then it is lightened. Verily a trial remains with a servant until he walks the earth having no sin left upon him.” [Narrated by Bukhari].

5. Allah tests the person He loves.

Allah tests you because he loves you, and he wants to bring you closer to him and wash away your mistakes.

Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects them to adversity.” [Bukhari]

What to do when Allah tests you?

Okay, I know now why Allah tests me, but what to do to pass the test? The answer is found in the Holy Quran as Allah says:

ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ١٥٦

who, when faced with a disaster, say, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.”

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ ١٥٧

They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided.” [surah Baqarah, 155: 158]

 All you have to do is to stay patient, say “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return”, and ask for Allah’s help.

When Allah puts us on a test we have two choices,

1- To be patient.

2- Not to be patient and complain.  

Being patient when going through hardships is hard but its rewards are more than you can count. And what will help you to overcome the test is to remind yourself that Allah test you because he loves you and wants to erase your sins and mistakes.

What to do when Allah tests me? Here are some things that could help you:

1. Read the holy Quran, it is also a good idea to read Surah Yussuf for the many lessons it has. And to learn from the story of the prophet Yusuf and how he had faith in Allah no matter what happened to him.
2. Ask Allah to help you stay strong and help you overcome the test.
3. Remind yourself of all the blessings you have in this life, and thank Allah.
4. Remind yourself that you are not the only one who is being tested. Look around you and you will see that we are all being tested.
5. Remind yourself that the test will not last forever, it will come to an end, and Allah is there for you.
6. Remember that Allah will not put you on a test that is more than you can bear.
7. Have faith in Allah and remember that Allah holds the best for you.
8. Pray and ask Allah for help.

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says what Allah has enjoined – ‘Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allaah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something better – but Allaah will compensate him with something better.”

“She said: When Abu Salamah died, I said: Who among the Muslims is better than Abu Salamah, the first household to migrate to join the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)? Then I said it, and Allah compensated me with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).” [Muslim (918)]

What we think of as a test might actually be a blessing that we don’t know about, who knows? Just have faith in Allah and be patient.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah.”

What are the 3 things Allah will test you?

What does Allah test us with? From the holy Quran, we know that the 3 things that Allah will test us with are fear, hunger, lack of wealth, and produce. As Allah says in the holy Quran:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ١٥٥

“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure”

 [surah Baqarah, 155]

How do you know if Allah is testing you or punishing you?

Is Allah testing me or punishing me? How do I know? Well, there is no way to know if it is a test or punishment, however instead of thinking of it as a punishment think of it as a way to help you atone for your mistakes and come closer to Allah.

In most cases it is both occur together because if you think about it, Allah tests us to give us a chance to atone for our mistakes and bring us closer to him.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “If Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and if He wills bad for His slave, He withholds from him (the punishment for) his sin until He requites him for it on the Day of Resurrection.” [Narrated and classed as hasan by at-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi.]

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “If a certain status has previously been decreed by Allah for a person, and he does not attain it by his deeds, Allah afflicts him in his body or wealth or children.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3090; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah, no. 2599.]

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Great reward comes with great trials. When Allah loves a people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it attains His pleasure, whereas whoever shows discontent with it incurs His wrath.” [Narrated and classed as hasan by at-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah, no. 146]

Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, who among the people are most sorely tested? He said: “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested according to his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is solid, his test will be more severe, but if there is any weakness in his religious commitment, he will be tested according to his level of religious commitment. And calamity will continue to befall a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.” [Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2398) who said: (It is) hasan saheeh.]

Verses that indicate Allah’s testing of His servants.

Here are some Quranic verses that indicate Allah’s testing of His servants:

‘Do the people think they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident those who are false.’ [Qur’an 29: 2-3]

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ١٥٥

“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure”

ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ١٥٦

who, when faced with a disaster, say, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.”

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ ١٥٧

They are the ones who will receive Allah’s blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided.” [surah Baqarah, 155: 158]

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ٢٨٦

Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. ˹The believers pray,˺ “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.” [Qur’an 2:286]

Conclusion.

Why does Allah test you? Allah tests you because he loves you, to give you a chance to atone for your mistakes, to raise your status in the afterlife, to strengthen your faith, and sometimes to save you from misfortune. All you have to do when Allah tests you is to be patient and turn to Allah.

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