Testing in Our Life
The Main Idea
The lecture explains that human life is entirely a continuous period of testing, in which a person is examined in faith, love for God, obedience, and steadfastness in trials and sins and blessings.
The Meaning of Spiritual Testing
Testing is not مجرد difficult events, but a divine means to reveal the true inner state of الإنسان:
- Does he love God or himself?
- Does he obey or rebel?
- Does he stand firm or fall?
Examples of Testing
All are exposed to testing:
- Even angels; some succeeded and others fell.
- Adam and Eve were tested in obedience.
- Prophets and saints passed through various trials.
Types of Tests
- Trials and afflictions
- Illnesses and death
- Sins
- Blessings and talents
- Freedom and personal will
الإنسان’s موقف toward trials
People differ in dealing with tests:
- One who complains and falls
- One who is patient
- One who accepts with رضا
- One who rejoices in trials
The Most Difficult Test: Personal Desire
The hardest test is denying oneself and resisting personal desires, where a person is tested:
- Does he walk according to his own desire?
- Or submits to God’s will?
Testing by Blessings
Even blessings like intelligence, beauty, and talents are tests:
- A person may use them for good
- Or misuse them for evil and fall
The نقطة ضعف
Each person has a نقطة weakness which is the true محور of his testing, and he may fall because of one sin despite succeeding in many الأمور.
The Goal of Testing
The goal is:
- Purification of the person
- Revealing God’s justice
- Proving the person’s love for God
The Spiritual Conclusion
Life is only a short exam, and what matters is not its length or type, but the success of the person through steadfastness, obedience, and self-denial.
