Tests

[2:155] We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast.* [2:156] When an affliction befalls them, they say, “We belong to GOD, and to Him we are returning.”
*2:155 The test is designed to prove that we worship God alone under all circumstances (29:2).

The Test is Mandatory

[29:2] Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe,” without being put to the test? [29:3] We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.

[67:2] The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better ...

[2:210] Are they waiting until GOD Himself comes to them in dense clouds, together with the angels? When this happens, the whole matter will be terminated, and to GOD everything will be returned.*
*2:210 This world is a test; it is our last chance to restore ourselves back into God's kingdom by denouncing idol worship (see the INTRODUCTION). ...

Two things I take away from these verses:

This world is a test and those who claim to believe will be tested. There is no escape from proving oneself worthy to make it back to God. The only thing that we can do is try to score more and more.

[23:102] As for those whose weights are heavy, they will be the winners. [23:103] Those whose weights are light are the ones who lost their souls; they abide in Hell forever.

The Most Gracious Lord is so Merciful that He gives us plus 10 for right answers and minus 1 for wrong ones. [6:160] Whoever does a righteous work receives the reward for ten, and the one who commits a sin is requited for only one. ...

God wants us to score Paradise and that’s why He has given us this final chance to get ourselves redeemed. We need to score as high as we can to get promoted to Paradise. So, I feel we should keep reminding ourselves that this is a test and we need to score every moment we get.

After entering Submission, I came to know that there is an admission test which is mandatory for all those who claim to believe (29:2-3). The footnote to 3:186 says:

After passing the admission tests, the proven worshipers of God ALONE enjoy a perfect life, now and forever. See 10:62, 24:55, and 29:2-3.

According to me, once we pass our admission tests we’ll be happy but it doesn’t mean we won’t have other kinds of tests or opportunities to grow and improve. I feel it means that with God’s help we become better at handling all kinds of moments. We learn to be appreciative (27:40), we learn to be fearless (3:173), we learn to be steadfast (2:249), we learn to implore (2:186, 3:38), and we learn to rejoice in remembering God irrespective of the situation. Absolutely by remembering God, our hearts rejoice (13:28).

I don’t know when the admission test begins or ends for any one person. Maybe for someone it lasted a month, or maybe it lasted a year or longer for someone else. Satan does not like anyone rejecting his false viewpoint and choosing to worship God alone. In my life, some really tough tests started immediately after I acknowledged the right shahadah and corrected my Salat to be devoted to God alone. I think those were admission tests. God knows best. I remember there were times when I used to literally beg God to remove me from the situation that I was in.

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