2.3.6.3 Trials, Hardships, and Wisdom

The Reality of Trials in a Believer’s Life

Allah informs us that trials are not an accident in life. They are part of His perfect decree and wisdom. Tests come to every human being, believer and disbeliever, but for the believer they are a path to purification, growth, and higher ranks with Allah.

Allah says:

“Do the people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe’ and they will not be tested?”
(Qur’an 29:2)

And He also says:

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives and fruits. But give good tidings to the patient.”
(Qur’an 2:155)

Hardship is therefore not a sign that Allah has abandoned a servant. It is a sign that life in this world is a test, and that Allah is dealing with His servants according to His wisdom and knowledge of what is best for their faith and their Hereafter.

The Prophet ﷺ clearly explained that believers experience trials in a way that is meaningful and beneficial for them:

“How amazing is the affair of the believer, for his affair is all good. And this is for no one except the believer. If something pleasing befalls him he is grateful, and that is good for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient, and that is good for him.”
(Muslim)

In this way the believer connects every situation, ease or hardship, to Allah and to the reality of qadar, and responds in a way that brings reward.

Trials as a Part of Divine Decree

Trials do not escape Allah’s decree and knowledge. Whatever befalls a believer has already been written by Allah, and cannot miss him if Allah has decreed it, nor can it reach him if Allah has not decreed it.

The Prophet ﷺ taught Ibn ʿAbbās:

“Know that if the entire nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you except with something that Allah has already written for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with something, they would not harm you except with something that Allah has already written against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”
(Tirmidhī)

This understanding does not remove pain or difficulty, but it reframes them. What happens is not random or meaningless. It is part of Allah’s qadar, which is always with knowledge, wisdom, and justice.

Allah says:

“No disaster strikes upon the earth or in yourselves but that it is in a Register before We bring it into being. Indeed that, for Allah, is easy. So that you do not grieve over what has escaped you nor exult (in pride) over what He has given you.”
(Qur’an 57:22–23)

Knowing this, the believer strives to act correctly and seek lawful means, while believing that the outcome is in Allah’s hands and is written in the Divine decree.

Tests as a Sign of Allah’s Love and Will for Good

In Islam, trials can be a sign of Allah’s mercy and love for His servant, not necessarily a punishment. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is patient will have patience (reward), and whoever is anxious will have anxiety (loss).”
(Tirmidhī)

He ﷺ also said:

“The people who are most severely tested are the prophets, then the next best, then the next best. A person is tested according to the level of his religious commitment. If his commitment is strong, his test is increased.”
(Tirmidhī)

The prophets were the most beloved to Allah, yet they suffered poverty, rejection, exile, injury, and loss. Their lives show that heaviness of trial does not contradict nearness to Allah. Rather, Allah raises His chosen servants through these hardships, strengthens their faith, and makes them examples for others.

Purification from Sins and Raising of Ranks

One of the clear wisdoms of trials in the life of a believer is purification from sins and elevation in degrees. A believer may fall into sins or weaknesses that he does not even notice. Hardship can become a means by which Allah cleanses him and draws him closer.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, except that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

He ﷺ also said:

“A man will have a rank with Allah that he does not reach by his deeds, so Allah continues to test him with what he dislikes until He causes him to reach it.”
(Ḥākim, authenticated)

So a believer may be afflicted with illness, financial difficulties, or personal pain, and through patient endurance he is raised to a station near Allah that he could not have reached with his ordinary worship.

Allah reminds us of this spiritual function of calamities:

“And whatever strikes you of disaster, it is for what your hands have earned. But He pardons much.”
(Qur’an 42:30)

This verse teaches that some trials are a direct result of a person’s sins as a purification, yet Allah still overlooks many faults and does not punish for all of them.

Distinguishing Between Punishment and Mercy

Not every hardship has the same meaning for every person. A similar event can be punishment for one person, purification for another, and elevation for a third. The key difference lies in the response of the heart.

If a person rebels, increases in sin, complains against Allah, and turns away from remembrance, the trial may be a punishment and a warning. If he turns back to Allah in repentance, supplication, and humility, then the same trial becomes a mercy, a purifier, and a means of nearness.

Allah says:

“And We will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will return.”
(Qur’an 32:21)

This “nearer punishment” can be hardship which awakens a person from heedlessness. If he returns to Allah, it becomes a blessing in disguise, because it saved him from worse consequences in the Hereafter.

Trials as a Means to Sincere Turning to Allah

Human beings often forget their need of Allah when they enjoy comfort and ease. Hardship reminds the heart of its dependence and brings it back to supplication and humility.

Allah describes this pattern:

“And when adversity touches man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him (alone). Then when He bestows on him a favor from Himself, he forgets Him whom he called upon before and attributes to Allah equals.”
(Qur’an 39:8)

And again:

“And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, there are (some) of them who are moderate (in faith).”
(Qur’an 31:32)

Trials strip away false supports and remind the servant that only Allah can truly help. In this way, hardship can purify tawḥīd in the heart, making supplication and reliance more genuine and free of showing off.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than one of you who loses his camel in a barren land then finds it suddenly.”
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

So if a hardship leads a person to sincere repentance, tears in the night, and renewed obedience, it has carried immense hidden good, even if it came wrapped in pain.

Hardship and the Nature of the World

Trials also remind the believer of the reality of this worldly life. This world is not a place of pure comfort, justice, and reward. It is a place of mixed experiences, temporary joys, and tests, which prepare a person for the eternal home.

Allah says:

“And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them in play. We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.”
(Qur’an 44:38–39)

He also says:

“And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter, that is the (eternal) life, if only they knew.”
(Qur’an 29:64)

When a believer is tested, he remembers that real and lasting happiness is in the Hereafter, and that this world is like a field in which he plants seeds of patience, faith, and good deeds to harvest them later. This understanding prevents despair and excessive attachment to what is temporary.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.”
(Muslim)

This means that, compared to what awaits the believer in the Hereafter, this world with all its comfort is like a prison. So how much more, then, should he bear its difficulties with hope and perspective.

Stories of the Prophets as Models of Patient Endurance

The Qur’an often narrates the suffering and endurance of the prophets in order to strengthen the hearts of believers and show them how to respond in their own trials.

Allah tells us:

“And each (story) We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart.”
(Qur’an 11:120)

We see Nūḥ عليه السلام mocked and rejected for centuries, Ibrāhīm عليه السلام thrown into fire, Yūsuf عليه السلام imprisoned and betrayed, Mūsā عليه السلام opposed and threatened, and Āyūb عليه السلام afflicted with severe illness and loss. Yet they all turned to Allah, maintained faith, and were ultimately granted relief and honor.

About Āyūb عليه السلام Allah says:

“Indeed, We found him patient. An excellent servant, indeed he was one who repeatedly turned back (to Allah).”
(Qur’an 38:44)

The believer sees his or her own tests, however heavy they feel, as part of this same path of patient endurance, hoping to be described by Allah as one who is patient and who turns back often.

Trials as a Measure to Expose What Is in the Hearts

Trials do not only purify from sins. They also reveal the true quality of a person’s faith. They distinguish between those who are firm and those who are shaky, and between sincere and insincere claims of belief.

Allah says:

“Allah will not leave the believers in the state you are in now until He separates the evil from the good.”
(Qur’an 3:179)

And He says:

“And We certainly tested those before them, so Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.”
(Qur’an 29:3)

On the outside many may say they believe, but only when faith is tested do patience, trust, and loyalty to Allah become visible. Through hardship, Allah brings out the hidden qualities of the heart, so that the servant himself can see his weaknesses or strengths, then seek improvement.

Hardship as a Door to Reward Beyond Imagination

Trials bring with them opportunities for reward that can exceed ordinary deeds. Some forms of worship become especially valuable in hardship, such as patience, sincere reliance, and acceptance of Allah’s decree.

Allah says:

“Only those who are patient will be given their reward without measure.”
(Qur’an 39:10)

“Without measure” points to an immense, uncountable reward for those who practice true patience with faith. The Prophet ﷺ also indicated the greatness of reward attached to great difficulty:

“Great reward comes with great trials. When Allah loves a people, He tests them.”
(Tirmidhī)

For the one who remembers Allah during hardship, even simple words and small acts can carry enormous weight because they are done from a broken, sincere heart. Tears of fear, a whispered duʿāʾ at night, or a firm decision not to complain against Allah can raise a believer’s rank significantly.

Tranquility Within Hardship

Although trials can be painful, the believer who understands qadar and the wisdom behind tests can experience a deep kind of inner tranquility, even while the outer situation is difficult. This is not because he feels nothing, but because he knows he is not abandoned.

Allah says about those who remain firm:

“And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you and the patient, and We will test your affairs.”
(Qur’an 47:31)

He also promises:

“Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts find rest.”
(Qur’an 13:28)

Through remembering Allah, reciting the Qur’an, and turning to Him in prayer, the believer finds calmness and strength to endure, and his perception of the trial changes. He may still suffer, but the suffering is surrounded by hope and trust.

The Prophet ﷺ described this special state:

“There is no Muslim who is afflicted with a calamity and says what Allah has commanded him to say: ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return. O Allah, reward me for my calamity and compensate me with something better,’ except that Allah will reward him in his calamity and compensate him with something better.”
(Muslim)

This response comes from a heart that sees beyond the immediate pain and looks toward Allah’s promise and compensation.

The Wisdom of Delayed Relief

Many believers wonder why relief is sometimes delayed, even when they make duʿāʾ persistently. One aspect of wisdom is that Allah gives relief at the time that is best for the servant’s faith and Hereafter, not necessarily when the servant wishes.

Allah says:

“And perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you, and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows while you do not know.”
(Qur’an 2:216)

Delayed relief might bring extended patience, more supplication, and greater humility, all of which are beloved to Allah and heavily rewarded. If relief came instantly, many of these treasures would not be gained.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The duʿāʾ of each one of you will be answered, so long as he does not hasten and say: ‘I made duʿāʾ but I have not been answered.’”
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

So, during hardship, a believer does not give up asking nor assume that silence now means rejection. The response may be protection from harm, forgiveness of sins, or reward stored for the Hereafter, even if the outward situation seems unchanged.

The Role of Patience, Gratitude, and Good Opinion of Allah

Facing trials with the right heart qualities is central to reaping their wisdom and benefits. Among these, three are particularly important: patience, gratitude, and having a good opinion of Allah.

Patience (ṣabr) is restraining the tongue from forbidden complaint, the heart from despair, and the limbs from disobedience. Gratitude (shukr) during or after hardship is recognizing the many remaining blessings and thanking Allah for what He has given and for what He protects from. A good opinion of Allah (ḥusn az-zann biLlāh) is believing that His decree carries wisdom and mercy, even if it is not yet apparent.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“No one dies except while having a good opinion of Allah.”
(Muslim)

And in the ḥadīth qudsī, Allah says:

“I am as My servant thinks of Me.”
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

So, during hardships, a believer guards his thoughts about Allah. He does not accuse Allah of injustice or cruelty. Instead, he trusts that Allah is more merciful to him than he is to himself, and that nothing is decreed except with knowledge and wisdom.

Trials as Preparation for Greater Responsibilities

Sometimes hardship comes before a new stage of life or greater responsibility in serving Allah’s religion. Through testing, Allah trains the believer, teaches him reliance, and cures him of arrogance and self-reliance.

We see this in the life of Prophet Yūsuf عليه السلام. Before becoming a man of authority in Egypt, he went through the well, slavery, and prison. These experiences purified and prepared him for wise leadership. Allah says at the end of his story:

“Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then surely Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.”
(Qur’an 12:90)

For a believer, something similar can occur on a smaller scale. Through sickness he may learn compassion, through financial strain he may learn humility, through personal hurt he may learn forgiveness. All of this prepares him to benefit others and carry more trust in the future.

The Believer’s Perspective on Hardship and Death

Trials often remind us of death and the fragility of life. Illness, loss of loved ones, or sudden changes all bring the Hereafter closer to mind. This is, in itself, a wisdom, because it pushes the believer to use time well and to detach from illusions of permanence.

Allah says:

“Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial, and to Us you will be returned.”
(Qur’an 21:35)

Notice that Allah mentions both “evil” and “good” as tests. Hardship and ease are both means through which our true orientation toward Allah is exposed. For the believer, remembering that all trials will end at death and that justice and full mercy are in the next life gives him strength to bear the present.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The most prosperous of people in this world from among the people of the Fire will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and dipped once in the Fire, then it will be said: ‘O son of Ādam, did you ever see any good? Did you ever experience any blessing?’ He will say: ‘No, by Allah, my Lord.’ And the most miserable person in this world from among the people of Paradise will be brought and dipped once in Paradise, then it will be said: ‘O son of Ādam, did you ever see anything bad? Did you ever experience hardship?’ He will say: ‘No, by Allah, my Lord, I never saw anything bad and I never experienced hardship.’”
(Muslim)

This ḥadīth shows that, compared to the everlasting result, worldly hardship or ease will seem like a moment. This helps the believer to endure and to keep his focus on the final outcome with Allah.

Concluding Perspective: Hardship as a Path to Nearness

When viewed through the lens of qadar and the wisdom of Allah, trials become more than random pain. They are occasions where a believer can purify his heart, correct his path, strengthen his tawḥīd, increase his rewards, and rise to a nearness to Allah that perhaps he could not have reached otherwise.

Allah says:

“Indeed, with hardship is ease. Indeed, with hardship is ease.”
(Qur’an 94:5–6)

The repetition reminds the believer that every hardship carries its own ease, whether in this world, the next, or both. So during trials he does not cut his connection to Allah. He prays, supplicates, repents, asks for relief, and seeks lawful solutions, all while trusting that Allah sees, hears, and knows.

Through this, hardship becomes a bridge, not a barrier, a means for the believer to walk toward his Lord with patience, humility, and hope.