If Allah, based on His profound knowledge and might decided to put us where we belonged (Heaven or Hell) before we even come to earth, we would certainly consider it unfair. We would complain that if we had been given the opportunity to come to this world we wouldn't have ended up where we are being put (especially if it were Hell!). Equally those in Paradise would not appreciate its value since they hadn't worked for it. Similarly if a newly-admitted student received his admission letter and was at the same time given a certificate of completion which read failure, then he would never agree. He would insist on being allowed to undergo the programme for the specified duration before he could be said to have failed. Then he would accept his fate because he would know the evidence of his failure.
Allah said in Qur'an 47:31:
"And certainly We shall try you all, so that We might mark out those of you who strive hard (on Our course) and are patient in adversity: for We shall put to a test (the truth of) all your assertions".
The test of faith is the certainty of consonance between faith and deeds, as Allah puts it in Qur'an 29:2
"Do men think that on their (mere) saying, `We have attained to faith', they will be left to themselves, and will not be put to test?"
The significance of this test by analogy is like burnt bricks, which suffer pounding, squeezing and baking, i.e. they are fired. All this is to give us the strongest bricks required for a stable building. "Suffering" to the pious or good person is useful to him in his self-development (2:155 - 157 and 21:35).
Allah tells us, that we shall be tested with things like fear, hunger, loss of fruit of labour, loss of properties and lives but at the same time hinted us on the answer for the test: He wants us to exercise patience, perseverance and acknowledge that everything comes from Him and will definitely return to Him. Whoever fulfils this condition will be considered a true believer. But if you fail then you will be a witness against yourself and truly recognise your own real self. Furthermore, a successful person will bring the following benefits to himself and to the entire Community:
1) This condition of his will help him to become more humble and grateful to Allah.
2) He will also develop more faith and trust in Allah than in anyone else (Qur'an 21:35).
3) It will help him to give better comfort to people with problems and encourage his association with the needy and suffering.
4) It also makes him more useful to his community, because he has become more tolerant, appreciative, helpful, etc.
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