Fatima Barkatulla – Is This Life All About Suffering

			A friend of mine who is a Christian was actually having a discussion with me about. And she was
describing how
		

			in Christianity, life is characterized as a place of suffering, this world is a place of suffering.
And we were discussing this, and I explained to her and I think it's a good reminder for all of us,
that Islamically this life is not is not characterized as suffering. You know, yes, there will be
suffering in this life, you know, there are good times and there are bad times. However, the in
Islam, this life is characterized as being a test, a test. I think that's hugely empowering. If you
think about it. It's more empowering than suffering. Because suffering, you know, it kind of denotes
that there's nothing really you can do about it, right? There's an element of like, doom and gloom
		

			and lack of optimism in that.
		

			But Allah Subhana Allah tells us in the Quran,
		

			he says when hon OneNet Combi che in mineral Houthi will do a Wanaka same mineral AmWell. He will
unfussy with Thammarat. Well, Bashir is sabe it in I levena either Asaba Tomasi button Kalu. In
early Lehi, we're in LA he Raji own, Allah tells us in Surah Baqarah, That we as in Allah, we will
have assurity test you, we will have assurity test you with something of hunger, and lots of lots of
wealth, loss of the work of your efforts, you know, the fruit of your efforts, lots of lives.
		

			Fear Allah subhanaw taala tells us, all of these things Allah Subhana Allah will test us with, and
then he says, well, Bashir is Siberian and give glad tidings to those who have patience, who
patiently persevere
		

			those who, when a calamity hits them, when something difficult when this when this test hits them,
they say, indeed to Allah, we belong, and to Him, we shall return. In other words, they remind
themselves that this life isn't forever, that I've got to live my life in the best way I can, and
respond to this calamity in the best way I can, so that Allah subhanaw taala will be pleased with
me. And brothers and sisters subber this word, you know, sometimes we think of it as a passive word.
We think patience means being passive, passively accepting whatever happens, but actually, it's a
very active word. It means steadfastness. It means holding firm. It actually means that you carry on
		

			obeying Allah no matter what is happening. And it means you carry on staying away from ALLAH SubhanA
wa Ullas prohibitions, no matter what is happening. And that's true Sobor isn't it? Sobor isn't just
about sitting back. It's about doing your best, but carrying on, not losing hope, and continuing on
the straight path to the best of your ability.