In the Islamic worldview,
Allah tests humans with tribulation
in which the challenge is despair,
and the passing grade is patience & faith.
But what is often missed upon many is that
Allah may “test” us with favor no less,
for which the challenge is temptation
and the passing grade is self-control.
Let’s look at some examples to further drive the concept:
Allah may test a person with wealth.
The temptation is to revel in wanton luxury “because I worked for it.”
And the solution is to avoid extravagance and wastefulness while giving due charity to the less fortunate.
He may test a nation with power.
The temptation is to invade, colonize, or otherwise dominate weaker nations.
And the solution is to deal justly.
He may test a woman with beauty or a man with virility.
The temptation is to gratify “my nature” (nafs) whether for attention, adulation or consummation.
And the solution is to avail oneself only to halal (ordained) means and otherwise practice modesty and chastity – that being “my higher nature” (ruh).
He may test a person with intelligence, charisma, popularity, or professional success,
wherein the temptation might be arrogance, self-superiority, and dismissiveness,
whereas the solution is humbleness, service to others, and a helping hand to the next guy
Even the favors of Iman (faith) and (akhlaq) virtue are tests.
The temptation is self-righteousness and condemnation of lesser souls.
And the solution is gratitude, humility, and pulling others up with gentleness.
Tests by favor go on healthiness, fame, progeny, etc. The examples are plenty.
In each test, it is better for our Dunya and akhira (this life and the afterlife) to practice awareness and not give in to temptation where favor ends up being a curse, but to empower ourselves with taqwa (God-consciousness), discipline, self-control, humility, gratitude and jihad (renewable effort) to pass through it.
And if we fail, and we just might, being the fallible human beings that we are, then we must remember that:
God is not only the wise in testing,
but the merciful in forgiving.
And so we in turn express wisdom and gratitude in taking that second chance called repentance – which involves the three R’s:
Regret, Refrain and Resolve not to repeat.
(The goal of every test is to pass through it of course, and not shoot for the safety net to work).
And so…
those of us tested with tribulation,
do not have envy for those conferred favors,
for their test might be harder.
And those of us reveling in favor,
if we see it as anything less than a test, and deal accordingly, the joke is on us.
