Life’s Hardships Opportunities for Spiritual Growth
God says in verse 124 of Surah Al-Baqarah: “And when Abraham was tested by His Lord with certain words and he fulfilled them, He said: ‘I have appointed you as a leader for the nation.’ (Abraham) asked: ‘And of my descendants?’ ‘My covenant,’ said He, ‘the harmdoers shall not receive it.’”
This verse signifies the link between divine tests and man’s achievement of high spiritual positions. It gives us a great lesson from one of the great prophets of God, namely Ibraheem (Abraham).
The life of all of us, especially the faithful, is filled with problems, hardships and mishaps, with which God tests our faith. Every challenge and very problem in the life of a Muslim is a test. A Muslim nation may be tested by sanctions and economic blockades. The society’s members, whatever their position may be, from the ruler and high-ranking officials to ordinary people, have their own tests in accordance with their position.
If one remains steadfast and patient in the face of problems, challenges and temptations, he will successfully pass the tests, and the more difficult the test and the more steadfastness one shows, the higher his spiritual status will be and the closer to God he will get.
Life is never without problems and a faithful person should have a positive attitude to the problems and mishaps and consider them an opportunity for growth and self-development.
God even does not give the position of prophethood and leadership to one without testing him. The position of prophethood is only for those who have successfully passed very difficult divine tests.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “No prophet suffered so much annoyance as I did.”
It has also been narrated from Imam Sadiq (AS) that those who suffered the most difficulties and mishaps in life were the prophets of God, then their successors and followers, and then those who have a high status before God. The closer to God one is, the more difficulties and mishaps they face.
