The Ambiguity of Faith

As salam and glad to wish a barakah Friday to all readers.

As a muqadimmah, let's go through three of these situations :

Situation 1 :

Arief put on his best effort for the upcoming finals. He had a dream of seeing his name engraved on the plaque of Dean List Awards. Prior to the exam, he keep on doing the revisions and exercise drills. During the exam, he answered with all his might. When the result was announced, to his complete shock, he failed to be listed among the elite receivers. He was totally broke. Thinking all of the efforts that being done, that eventually became futile. He then had the thought of,

“Allah isn’t fair. Didn’t he seen what I’d been struggling for this long?”

Situation 2 :

Mikail is one of the aspiring worker in a trading company. Considering his long working experience and seniority status being hold, he is eligible to be appointed as the new Head of Department (H.O.D) in the company. As the promotion result being announced, contradicted with his expectation, he was not appointed to be the new H.O.D. He started to blame Allah as the cause for this amiss. For all of his wish that being voiced out in his daily prayers, was not granted by Allah.

Situation 3 :

Zarief owns a  grocery store, selling daily necessities items. One fateful day, during the monsoon season, his shop was flooded by the torrential rain. As the water rising at astonishing rate, he could not make in time to move away the items in the shop. As a result, he suffered a total loss, as well as having the financial set back to revive again his business. Due to this mishap, he blindfoldly blaming Allah to cause the flood surge, that eventually ruined his business. He just left hopeless. 

*********************************

Between situation 1, 2 and 3, what is the similarity that we can possibly have the thought of? They might think that they had been left out by Allah SWT. They had a strong feeling that Allah does not bless them with any mercy again. They directly assumed that Allah is not being fair to them, as the things that they were wishing for were not granted, or even blaming Allah for the sole cause of problems. But does Allah really act like that upon them?

How easy we judge Allah to be unfair to us?

As for them, life is just filled with difficulties and trying conditions that are constantly lurking on every corner. Or maybe even to us, for whatever the pleasure that being enjoyed, it will not be lasting so long. Trials after trials, problems after problems that keep on crushing onto us. When the happiness seems to befall on us, it tend to be taken away abruptly. Worst still, another challenge that eventually showing up, making the situation unexpectedly change from bad, to worst. 

At the end of the road, they seems to be sick of this kind of thing. Their strength eventually faded away, as well as their faith towards the great mercy of the One. For them, it is better for death to invite upon them promptly, as the purpose of living in this life is just simply stands for nothing. 

But then, one prime question arise - Does Allah really left them out? Does He simply neglect upon those three of His worshippers away? One thing stands for sure; if our own imaan is pure and clear, it will bring the faith in us. Faith is simply to believe on what we do not see, and the reward for this faith is to see what we are believing. It's all concealed under His ultimate mercy after all.

The faith in believing the true mercy and power of Allah SWT. The faith in believing the path that Allah has chosen, is just right for us. The faith of developing a true Muslims by following along what the Quran and Sunnah have obligated us. So as a Muslim, never ever deny the vital connection of imaan and faith, that has big influence for the life of us, as a Muslim.

The bond of iman and faith, need to move in a coherent motion

Due to the imaan and faith that grow fonder deep under our heart, we are capable of following the syariat that being obligated to us, even though it seems quite challenging to follow suit. The worshippers of other religion might just need to go to their place of worship once a month, or only when there is a special day of rememberance being held.

That clearly set us apart, as we need to perform 5 times of prayers per day.  This also come true for the fasting matter. They might just need to hold the urge to eat and drink for a short period of time, whereas we need to hold it for the 30 days-long of Ramadhan month.  In addition, their women might be free to put on whatever clothing their preferred,  but it’s a big no for us as we have strict aurat restriction. 

Above all, it’s up to our own imaan that eventually determine the capability of us on doing all of those obligation. If we look on the logical perspective, we might already bashing Allah for obligating on the things that being mentioned, since from the earlier stage. But, it's our level of imaan that will increase our sanity level, until we reach the stage that we could finally understand why Allah does not befalls trials on us, without the proper hikmah concealed behind the wall.

None of the trials given to us
is just stating for nothing 

The pure and sincere imaan will lead us to understand that out of all sorts of trials, challenges, issues and difficulties being thrown to us, are indeed the gift from Allah SWT. It also proves impossible for Him to test us without any vivid purpose. Remember, for all of the things that befall on us, are signifying something and have their own purpose of happening. For sure, it’s not the sign that Allah is evading us. In fact, Allah initiates His step closer to us. It’s all up to us to realise it or not then.

We can realise that this is the sign that Allah is currently having a look on us. The purpose of Him giving us the trials, just to ensure we don’t skid away and acting as a 'path' to get closer with Him. Also, the trials also act as a ‘filter’ for us.  In fact, this duniya is not simply serve as the ‘stage’ for us to receive the awards for all of our deeds, that being done during our lifetime. But, the duniya only serves as the ‘contest’, meant to test the contestants. And the contestants are referring to all of us. The true ‘stage’ for us to receive the awards for all of our deeds are located in hereafter life. 

Besides, the tests also serve as the ‘retaliation ‘, ‘cleansing’ and ‘reminder’ to us. This can be shown by His Firman of :

[Surah ar-Rum, 30 : 41]

The above verse clearly shown that sometimes, the difficulties that being thrown to us is originated from our own bad doing. This also include the pile of sins that we committed throughout our life.  The trials are non other than to serve as the ‘slap of reminder’ for our own sins too. There is gonna be a sheer difference when we manage to understand what really the test is all about and the reason why it being tested to us.  Gradually, it become clear that by giving up, is just complete contradict to our sane thinking. 

We will also understand how ‘to be depressed with this world' or 'ending the life in this world' is just an utter useless thing to do. There is one more option left for us, that is; to hold on. Allah does not directly give the answer to all of our prayers, wishes and all sorts of request from us, but still, He is the One that listen. Plus, there is no other place that we can ask other than to Him. For sure, He is the one who knows the exact time to grant our prayers. He is also the One who knows what is our own capability to stay hold.

Hold on strong to every matter.
For sure, He knows what's best among all.

It’s when the human had giving up, turning back on, and when Allah eases their pathway, that’s the moment when the faith build up with Him will grow fonder. That’s how Allah keep the people that being loyal to their religion and the person who fight against anything that would demolish the purity of this religion.

As we looking past through the history, we can also track the person who faced Allah’s trials up to the their limit, and being still far away from grasping the victory. As for example, Hasan al-Banna and Syeq Qutb that unfortunately passed away, even before achieving the comfort in their life. They are some of the death that meant to fight for what is right. The question is, why Allah didn’t answer to their prayers beforehand?

Did Allah answered their prayers in the world? No. But Allah did answer their prayers, by awarding heaven.

According to His firman on :

[Surah as-Saff : 12]

Those who are being mentioned above are the person who became the prove to all of the people, who think that they are being hugely tested and tip-toed on the verge of losing faith towards Him. The fact is, Allah would never leave all of us stranded, aimlessly wandering without proper purpose in this life as His worshippers. It’s all on us that actually leave Allah with our own sins and negligence. 

To sum up, we should never argue and critic the tests from Allah SWT. Let's build a strong imaan, and do have a strong faith towards all of His plan upon us. Because at the end of the day, the hikmah will be vividly shown up right to us. It come down to us anyway. 

Do have a strong faith, up till the end. Don't let it be ambiguously crushed you down. Whenever you stumble yourself on the weakest part of your life,  that's when you can actually develop your strongest part of faith.

By : Inche Songkok Hitam