The world is an abode filled with tribulations. And the life of man is like a trial cycle revolving around righteousness, sinfulness, wellness, and heedlessness. Allah created us in this situation to see who among us will be truthful to our covenant of worship and doing good deeds. Many of us have a mask that only trials reveal the reality of whom we truly are. Imagine a person who you feel he’s brave, wise, and generous but when an ugly situation befalls him, you find out his true nature as cowardly, lowly, and selfish. On the other hand, we might have also witnessed people who are not so popular, with deeds done discreetly only to be surprised by their reactions when being put to test by Allah. They exhibit unflinching faith, steadfastness, and leadership worthy of emulation.

To put these points in perspective, let’s examine four categories of people when it comes to their reactions during ease and hardship. In the end, the goal is to check yourself and see where you fall or how you can adjust. As well, as a recommendation, we’d observe which is the best of them all and how to trod the path. Here are the four categories:

1. Category 1: Those who turn to Allah during ease, and ignore him during difficulty
2. Category 2: Those who turn to Allah during difficulty and ignore him during ease
3. Category 3: Those who ignore Allah during both ease and difficulty
4. Category 4: Those who turn to Allah during both ease and difficulty

• Category 1: There’s a vast majority of mankind that falls under this category. They worship Allah upon an edge based on conditions. If they’re touched by good, then they’re reassured by it and thus they rekindle their faith. But if Allah struck them with a trial, they turn to disbelief. Running to humans, drugs, and abandoning Salat. They ignore all the favors and bounties bestowed upon them by Allah. These are those who are lost in this worldly life and if they fail to repent will also be amongst the losers in the hereafter.

The famous companion Abdullah Ibn Abass May Allah be pleased with him and his father related a story about a group of people like this in Madinah. He said that if their wives gave birth to children and their camels produced milk they will say: “this is a righteous religion”. And if their wives failed to produce offspring or their camels lacked milk they will say: “This is an evil religion”. In today’s world, we see these people amidst ourselves as well. For instance, a woman may remain consistent with acts of ibadah, hijab, and chastity while married. However, once divorced she takes off the veil, abandoning salat, and reacts without any form of modesty. This means her piety was based upon the condition of her marital success. Allah says:

Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful. As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honour and gifts, then he says (puffed up): “My Lord has honoured me.” But when He tries him, by straitening his means of life, he says: “My Lord has humiliated me!” — Qur’an 89[Al-Fajr]:14–16

• Category 2: These are the opposite of the first group. They turn to Allah during hardship but when ease befalls them they ignore Him. There are numerous examples of this category mentioned in the Qur’an by Allah — The Most Gracious. So long as they’re healthy, fit, wealthy, and problem-free, life continues. Allah is exempted from the equation and they say “we’re enjoying our life — You Only Live Once YOLO”. It will only take adversity for them to desperately ask for Allah’s aid. A good example from the past was Fir’aun. For several years, he ascribed divinity to himself. Musa called him to repent and accept Allah as the One True Lord. Yet, he denied his call until he was drowning in the Nile, then he wanted to attest to faith but it was too late. Allah said in the Qur’an:

And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allâh 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, and he sets up rivals to Allâh, in order to mislead others from His Path. Say: “Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while: surely you are (one) of the dwellers of the Fire!” — Qur’an 39[Az-Zumar]:8

• Category 3: The third category of people is the heedless ones. They ignore Allah both during ease and hardship. They are the worst of people as nothing leads them to the remembrance of Allah. They have their ways of interpreting every situation: prosperity is luck and adversity is misfortune. This is a lose-lose situation regardless of the outcome. They’re blind, deaf, and dumb and they will not heed the call. Allah tells us about this type of people thus:

When we grant people our favors, they turn far away arrogantly but when touched with evil they lose all hope in great despair. — Qur’an 17[Al-Isra’]:83

• Category 4: This is the finest of them all — the creme de la creme. They turn to Allah during both times of difficulty and ease. Their wealth, fame, and good life doesn’t affect their religiosity. To them, the relationship they enjoy with Allah is second to none. Hence, they don’t compromise their standards for a piece of cake. They have distinctive traits, sublime characteristics and they’re equally the best of creations. These are the truest allies of Allah, the inheritors of the Garden of bliss. This is the highly recommended category to which we should all belong. So we need to measure ourselves if we meet the standards and if otherwise, we’d need to improve. Allah gave us a beautiful illustration of this kind of people in the story of Sulayman:

One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: “I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!” then when [Sulayman (Solomon)] saw it placed before him, he said: “This is by the Grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for (the good of) his ownself, and whoever is ungrateful, (he is ungrateful only for the loss of his ownself). Certainly! My Lord is Rich (Free of all wants), Bountiful.” — Qur’an 27[An-Naml]:40

Now, let’s examine a few traits they possess:

I. They interpret every life experience, both difficulty and ease as a test from their Lord. Hence, when good comes for them they praise no one but Allah and remain humble with thanks. And when evil befalls them, they blame no one but bare through patiently.

II. They’re not deluded by blessings. Rather, they understand that one of the multipliers of blessing is gratitude. Hence, these are grateful people. They know that the more they give thanks to Allah the more they get blessed. And also, know the evil consequence of ingratitude and how it could turn one apostate.

III. They realize that their good deeds of today are stored for the rainy days to come. Therefore, they worship Allah unconditionally and bear the hardship that comes with life trials. They live a life of fear and hope. Fearing that if Allah decides to punish them, nothing can avert it. And hoping to meet the Mercy of their Lord on the day of reckoning.

So now, the big question is: how can we become one of them? This was well captured in the admonition of the Prophet to his cousin Abdullah Ibn Abass when he called him and said: “Oh Young Man…”

Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. Recognize and acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity. And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.

We ask Allah, The Lord of the Universe to count us among this category of people who worship Him with sincerity and unconditionally. Forgive us for our misdeeds and accept our good deeds. Even though, it’s His Mercy that we crave as we know our deeds can lead us nowhere if He doesn’t shower His Mercy upon us. Amin!

Yaumul Jum’ah 27th Jumadal Thani 1444 AH // Friday 20th January 2023.