You Will Be Tested with Fear – Mufti Ismail Menk

Do mankind think that it’s sufficient for him to just say that they are believers and then God will not test them?

Allah says:

Does man think we’re not going to test him? We will definitely test him just like we tested those before him in order to distinguish who has passed the test, who was truthful, and who was not truthful. (29:2)

Allah Will Test You – How Would You React?

You say you believe, okay, we’re going to test you. Do you still believe? Has it humbled you? Has it brought you closer to God? If it has, Alhamdulillah, it’s good for you, nothing was decreased from the kingdom of Allah.

In one hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says:

If everybody had to ask Allah whatever they wanted from the beginning of mankind to the end of mankind; and Allah was to give every single person every single thing they asked for, it would not displace from the kingdom of Allah except that which a pin displaces when it is thrown into the ocean.

That’s Allah. So, what did Allah lose?

Nothing.

What did Allah gain?

Nothing.

It’s you and I who are gaining or losing.

Tested With Fear

Similarly, you need to know another thing. Allah says:

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. (2:155)

If you look at the wording of that verse in chapter Al-Baqarah, they are indeed very stressed. I mean Allah has actually said it in a very strong way; he has given it great significance.

He says:

We will definitely test you.

With what?

The test of fear.

What type of fear?

Not necessarily one type of fear, all types of fear. You’re worried about your health, you’re worried about your food, you’re worried about your drink, you’re worried about your safety, you’re worried about security, you’re worried about the enemy, you’re worried about animals, electricity, water, eco-cash… You’re worried about everything else.

It’s a worry, it’s a concern. It’s definitely a worry in this country; we are going through difficulty. But I want to let you know it’s not the only country, the most developed countries at this juncture are going through great challenges of a different nature Subhan Allah!

Allah says:

We will test you with fear.

Someone asks you:

“What’s your greatest fear?”

You have a long list of things to say.

How long have you been worried for? I promise you, the last 20-30 years, right?

Who carried you along? Allah.

I promise you, you are in a better condition today than you were in the past. And we are still worried Subhan Allah! When we had nothing, we were worried. Now we’ve got something, we’re more worried!

Why?

Because the reliance is now on what we have, no longer on Allah, that’s where the problem is.