Is This Life All About Suffering
Date:
Channel: Fatima Barkatulla
File Size: 3.88MB
AI Generated Summary ©
A Christian friend describes how Islamist views suffering as a test for human beings, but acknowledges that the life is a test and not a suffering. The friend uses the phrase "will doom and gloom" to describe the meaning of suffering, and how it can be empowering. The friend also uses the word "will" to describe the fruit of someone's efforts and the fruit of their frustration.AI Generated Transcript ©
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.