The Ibtilaa’ (Testing)

Sometimes old memories come back to haunt our minds, we try to shove them as deep as we can to avoid them but,

 

سُوۡرَةُ الرّعد

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ (٢٨

'Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest' 13:28 

Alhamdulillah there are valuable lessons to learn from the trials that are put before us if only we took heed, and maybe those memories creep back into the front of our minds to reminds us of those lessons. Subhanallah how many times do we receive warnings and signs and we ignore them? Maybe it's time to let those memories come to the surface no matter how painful it may be and reflect on the wisdom of your Creator.

سُوۡرَةُ الزُّمَر

۞ وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ ضُرٌّ۬ دَعَا رَبَّهُ ۥ مُنِيبًا إِلَيۡهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلَهُ ۥ نِعۡمَةً۬ مِّنۡهُ نَسِىَ مَا كَانَ يَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ مِن قَبۡلُ وَجَعَلَ لِلَّهِ أَندَادً۬ا لِّيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۚ قُلۡ تَمَتَّعۡ بِكُفۡرِكَ قَلِيلاً‌ۖ إِنَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ (٨

And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allaah Alone), turning to Him in repentance. But when He bestows a favour upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, [az-Zumar 39:8]

سُوۡرَةُ السَّجدَة

وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡأَدۡنَىٰ دُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ (٢١

And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islaam).} [as-Sajdah 32:21]

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنعَام

فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُڪِّرُواْ بِهِۦ فَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ أَبۡوَٲبَ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَآ أُوتُوٓاْ أَخَذۡنَـٰهُم بَغۡتَةً۬ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبۡلِسُونَ (٤٤

When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not humble themselves (believe with humility)? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaitân (Satan) made fair-seeming to them that which they used to do. (43) So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them (in punishment), and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows. [Al-Anaam 6:44]
 

Imam ibn Al Qayyim (rahimahullah) said: The ibtilaa’ (testing) of the believer is like medicine for him. It cures him from illness. Had the illness remained it would destroy him or diminish his reward and level (in the hereafter). The tests and the trials extract these illnesses from him and prepare him for the perfect reward and the highest of degrees (in the life to come).”

Calamities, trials and tests are signs of love from Allaah for the believers. They are comparable to a cure; although it may be bitter, you accept it because it is from the one whom you love; and to Allaah belongs the best example.
Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Book: “Ighaathatul Lahfan” p. 286.

Wa-Allahu ta'ala alam.


Source: Towards huda.