If Allaah Tests a Person Does it Mean He Loves Him?
Question: If Allaah loves a person He tries him with adversity, therefore if a person is befallen with misfortune is this proof that Allah loves this Muslim?
Answer: Pay attention O Brothers.
Trials and tribulations as it pertains to them in general, have two reasons:
The first reason is due to the deficiency of the slave because of his sins, so he will be afflicted with the calamities due to his sins.
The second reason is the shortcomings of the Muslim. This means that Allah desires for the slave a position in Jannah (Paradise), but he isn’t able to reach it by his actions.
Thus Allaah says to the Angels: Pour down upon him calamities in abundance. This is in order to raise his status; and these are the two affairs.
And if a calamity befalls a person, then he should have a good thought about his Lord and a bad thought about himself. So when he looks from his own perspective he says: “This is from my sins.”
And we all make mistakes. (And looking at in this way) will allow him to leave off the sin. And when he looks at the situation as it relates to Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted he says: “Perhaps Allah wants good for me, perhaps Allaah wants a high position (in Jannah) for me.”[1]
I have heard some of the Scholars say: (The individual as it relates to himself) He views it due to his sins, and as it relates to others he views it due to them being elevated in status. Meaning if a trial befalls you then you view that you have been afflicted based o your sins, and if a trial befalls your brother, then you view it as Allaah means to elevate his status. This is from the angle of having good thoughts of the believers. And this a is good affair. Some of the people when a calamity befalls his brother they add to the calamity.
Rather than giving them condolences and improving the situation, they add to the calamity. If the person’s child dies, if the person was in an accident, he comes and he says: “My brother this is from your sins!” And this is incorrect, even if the statement could be true.
Rather he should improve the situation and give him condolences and approach him in a good manner and say: “O my brother! There are some trials that contain a reward which was not sought after, so if they occur they are better for the person.” For example the death of a child; the death of a child contains a great reward but this reward I not sought after “The person doesn’t want their child to die, but if he dies there is a great reward. A house will be built for him in Paradise, and I hope this will be the case for you as it relates to your trial. “We are deficient, we are sinners, perhaps we have committed some sins and Allah desires to pardon us for our sins; and all praise is for Allaah.” He should say something along these lines.
Footnotes:
[1] Reference: "But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allaah Knows, while you know not." [Baqarah 2:216]
Source: https://youtu.be/BfbpD88qbqI
Courtesy of: Manhaj ul-Haqq
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