Tests Involving the death of Loved Ones (8)

Allah   may test our faith by taking the lives of close loved ones. The emotional pain and suffering during bereavement may be so intense that it can either strengthen our faith or cause us to abandon it altogether. Allah   tests us to see if we can conquer overwhelming feelings of shock, anger, denial or depression, by turning to Him for comfort and support during these difficult times of despair. Those who prefer to outwardly express these emotions, rather than suppress them, deny the Qadr of Allah   and show disrespect to His Divine Decree. In Islam, we are permitted to weep and express our loss, but such excesses as wailing aloud, tearing our clothes, beating our bodies, questioning 'why' etc. are strictly forbidden. Instead, we should try to remain calm and patient throughout personal adversity:
[60. Surah Al-Baqarah Z: 155-156]Allah   said: "I have no reward other than Paradise for my believing servant who is patient when I take away one of his beloved from among his companions of the world." [61. Narrated by Abu Huraira   (Bukhari)]
When a loved one dies, it is very tempting to question or complain about the timing of their death. This shows blatant disrespect to Allah, because He is the Controller of Time and the Creator and Disposer of Life. He manages all of our affairs, causing everything to happen at the right time for the right reasons. No matter how difficult bereavement may be, we should never criticize its timing, as life is ultimately in His Hands. In Islam, mourning the death of a close loved one should last no more than three days. The only exception is in the case of a woman upon the death of her husband when her iddat (waiting period) lasts for a period of four months and ten days. [62. Narrated by Zainab bint Abi Salama   (Bukhari)]
The death of a child is an extremely difficult test to endure. This can happen during pregnancy, labor, or several weeks, months or years following birth. When parents experience the death of a child, it is important for fellow Muslims to offer help, comfort and support during this grief-stricken time and advice them in the best Islamic manner. The following hadith should provide some comfort to grieving parents:
I said to Abu Huraira that my two children had died. Would you narrate to me anything from Allah's Messenger, a hadith, which would soothe our hearts in our bereavements? He said: "Yes. Small children are the fowls of Paradise. [63. The word used in the text is Da'amis, the plural of Da'amus which means 'a fowl of the sea.' Just as fowls of the sea do not separate from water, in the same way these small children constantly remain in Paradise.]  If one of them meets his father (or he said his parents) he would take hold of his cloth, or he said with his hand as I take hold of them of your cloth (with my hand). And he (the child) would not take off (his hand) from it until Allah causes his father (parents) to enter Paradise." [64. Narrated by Abu Hassan   (Muslim). This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Tamim with the same chain of transmitters. And he is reported to have said: "Did you hear from Allah's Messenger: I anything, which may soothe our heart in our bereavements?" He said: "Yes."]
A woman came to the Messenger of Allah   with her child and said, "Allah's Apostle, invoke Allah's blessing upon him for I have already buried three." He said: "You have buried three!" She said: "Yes." There upon he (the Holy Prophet) said: "You have indeed, safeguarded yourself against the torment of hell with a strong safeguard." [65. Narrated by Abu Huraira   (Muslim)]
When a child of a believing servant of Allah dies, Allah asks His angels, "Have you taken into custody the soul of My servant's child?" and they answer, "Yes." Then he inquires, "Have you taken into custody the soul of the flower of his heart?" and they reply, "Yes." Then He questions, "What did My servant say?" and the angels answer, "He praised You and affirmed: "To Allah do we belong and to Him will we return." Upon hearing this, Allah commands: "Build for My servant a mansion in Paradise and name it 'The House of Praise. ", [66. Narrated by Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri   (At-Tirmidhi)]
The concept of death can evoke a wide range of emotions, but on a more personal level it should remind us of our own mortality. Bereavement is a time for self-reflection and evaluation. It gives us the opportunity to question or re-affirm the reason and purpose for our existence and to prepare for our own life after death. Unfortunately, many people soul search in the wrong direction, without realizing that Islam is the truth and has answers for all life's questions. Allah   will cleanse the hearts of sincere believers and fill them with faith and understanding and guide them towards success.
'..Allah misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills.' [67. Surah Ibrahim 14:4]
'We have indeed sent down in this Qur'an manifest ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, lawful and unlawful things, and the set boundaries of Islamic religion that make things clear showing the Right Path of Allah). And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path (i.e. to Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism).' [68. Surah An-Nur 24:46]
'Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his god, and Allah knowing him as such, left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember?' [69. Surah al-Jathiyah 45:23].
Although death is perceived as a loss, it should also be perceived as a gain, as it is an opportunity for us to reflect upon our own lives and correct ourselves before death finally comes to us too.

Tests involving health (7)

All tests require some kind of mental or physical striving, but none more so than those involving our health. Allah   may test our faith by afflicting either close loved ones or ourselves with varying degrees of physical or mental sickness. Illness may be as mild as the common cold or as severe as paralysis, and while some illnesses may be within our control, through the use of drug treatment and therapy, others may not be so manageable. Whatever the condition may be, ill health has both advantages and disadvantages.

The disadvantage of ill health is the reduction or loss of potential rewards from performing acts of worship and doing good deeds, due to mental or physical restraints. This is why Allah   warns us to make more of an effort in our Deen while we are still capable, before we are overcome by sickness or death.
Death severs all rewards (except recurring charity, knowledge that continues to benefit people or a pious child to invoke Allah on our behalf, as these acts will continue to earn rewards even after our death [51. Narrated by Abu Huraira   (Muslim)]). We are advised to adopt the following attitude to help motivate us more in our Islamic practice:
If you survive until the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive until the morning do not expect to be alive in the evening, and during health prepare for illness and while you are alive prepare for your death. [52. Narrated by Ibn Umar.: Go (Bukhari)]
Although illness and disease are difficult tests to endure, they do have their advantages. Sickness is a spiritual mercy and blessing from Allah, through which we can earn His rewards and expiate our sins.
With whosoever the Lord desires to be kind and merciful, He subjects him to pains and troubles. [53. Narrated by Abu Huraira.: Go (Muwatta Imam Malik)]
You will have a double reward for being sick, and your sins will be annulled as the leaves of a tree fall down. [ 54. Narrated by Ibn Mas’ud. Go (Agreed Upon), 55. Narrated by Abdullah. Go (Bukhari)]
No pain or sorrow or trouble comes upon a believer - not even a thorn pricks him - but his sins are pardoned. [56. Narrated by Ai’sha’s.: Go (Muwatta Imam Malik)]
We should always try to visit fellow brothers/sisters in Islam when they are ill, as there are many rewards to be earned by this act of kindness.
If we visit a fellow Muslim in the morning, seventy thousand angels will invoke blessings on us until the evening. If we visit them in the evening, seventy thousand angels will invoke blessings on us until the morning and an orchard of fruit trees will be allotted for us in Paradise. [57. Narrated by Ali   (At-Tirmidhi)] This illustrates how rewarding sickness can be, both to the one who is afflicted and the visitor. Allah   is closer to us during sickness than in times of good health, and our prayers at this time are compared to the prayers of angels. We should, therefore, make many supplications during sickness, not only for ourselves, but also for other people, as Allah   will always respond to the prayers of those who are ill.
When you visit a sick person, ask him to pray for you since a sick person's prayers are like that of angels [58. Narrated by Umar bin al-Khattab   (Ibn Majah)]
Although euthanasia (mercy killing) is still a controversial issue, it is becoming more widely practiced to remove the pain and suffering of the terminally ill. However, in Islam it is strictly forbidden. Illness is a test from Allah   for both the afflicted (sick person) and the non-afflicted (family or careers). The test during illness is to endure the pain with patience and to accept the Qadr (destiny /Divine Will) of Allah. Only Allah   has the Power to give life and take it away. We should rest assured that the pain will eventually ease and relief will soon follow, whether through recovery, remission or natural death. It is reassuring to note that illness is non -existent in Paradise and the inhabitants will enjoy good health forever. [59. Surah Al-A'raf 7:43. Narrated by Abu Huraira   (Muslim)]

Overcoming Trials and Tribulations
By:   Ruqaiyah Abdullah