Test

Misery and helplessness has trapped humanity in its monstrous clutches even though, among Allah's creatures, humans have been bestowed blessings so great and powerful that the earth, the skies, and the mountains humbly refused to bear their weight. According to the laws of Allah the Exalted, when a nation strays from the right path, it must endure heavy tests. In order to protect itself from such trials, tribulations and insecurity, it will search for those paths which lead towards peace and prosperity.

This world is an examination room. Here, intentionally or unintentionally, every person is involved in some kind of a test. For each person, the objective is to succeed in his test and determine a direction for his life. One person may be wealthy, another poor, helpless and sick. Yet another may be lacking in respect for his parents or elders. All these circumstances constitute tests for these individuals.

The universe has been created along a bipolar continuum; going from one end of the continuum to the other means progressing through one stage. And stepping from one stage to the next stage is a test. Try to picture that child in your mind who, when presented his test sheet in the examination room, starts to cry and wail instead of writing, protesting bitterly as to why he is being tested.

The growth, progress, and prosperity of humanity, is not possible without achieving the strength that comes only after going through hardships. Gold becomes purified only after passing though blazing fires. Had humanity not passed through the fires of hardship, people would still be dwelling in caves.

A person cannot solve his problems without being willing to do so. All prayers, incantations, and medicines serve only one purpose: to strengthen the will power of the supplicant, whether he is physically ill or mentally troubled. He may in fact be strengthened so much so that he can escape from the maze of his problems and issues, as he gains the mental clarity required to become truly free.

All the great people who have lived in this world were faced with one issue or another, but they were well aware of the fact that problems only remain problems until a person achieves mental focus and a life of peace. Trials and tribulations lose their hold on such people who make the service of God's creatures their primary mission. Serve someone who is needy and helpless, and you will see how much peace you achieve as a result. Helping others and being of service to them is the height of humanity, and it is to spread this mission that Allah the Exalted has sent one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets, whose message it is that,

'Allah the exalted has created human beings in His likeness, and service towards humanity is service towards Allah.'

Do not be fooled by the mirage of existence, Asad
The universe, entirely, is a confinement created by the enticements
of the imagination
[Couplet by Mirza Asad-Ullah Ghalib]

An examination of life leads us to only one conclusion: that the image of a person is composed of colours derived from a wide variety of thoughts. It is thought that brings us close to a joyous life; and it is thought that makes us familiar with a sorrowful life. It is said that science has reached the pinnacle of progress, but today's scientists are saying the same thing which the bearers of spirituality had declared thousands of years ago, and the propagation of which is the mission of their followers even today—that matter has no significance. Life is established on the basis of waves, and these waves, dressed in thoughts, take on the form of things. What we see in these images made of matter is imaginary—a mere trick of the eye. The saviour of humanity, the benefactor of mankind, Holy prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, unlocked this mystery 1400 years ago when he recited these words of Allah's revelation:

Allah is the light (wave) of the heavens and the earth.

The Holy Quran, [chapter 24: verse 35]

Man, who considers himself Ashraf-ul-Makhlooqat ['best of the creation'], would, were he to ponder over his beginning and his end, soon realize that the first building block of his existence was laid in decay and putridity, and the culmination of his existence is that his beautiful body becomes the feed of insects. In spite of this open and clear reality, how many from among the people contemplate over their beginning and their end? If one studies the depth of imagination of people, one can see that each person is lost in the imaginary world of selfish gain. Most people have only one desire, only one focus in their lives: Wealth, wealth, and only wealth. This wealth is in fact a pit of quicksand, and if any man should fall into it, he will not emerge from it with his higher senses intact.

Those people, who accumulate silver and gold and do not spend it in the way of Allah, are eventually tormented with painful punishment. There is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth. The tragedy is that we now regard wealth as everything and the poison created by the ills of this perception is coursing like blood through the veins of society. This is the reason that today we crave even a fleeting moment of peace, and feelings of insecurity have surrounded us from all sides. Wealth has violated the sanctity of human relationships. It is a mad race in which, riding the imaginary horse that glorifies lust and greed, we are being driven towards fire.

In every age, the wise have spoken against the greed for wealth. Quran has called it hatamah ["crushing torment, hellfire;" chapter 104], the flames of which rise like pillars that overpower the heart and incinerate the man. The wealth that is not "hatamah," like the bright sun, or a star-lit night, or the coolness of the moon, or like the scented breeze, is that peaceful heart that has no greed or avarice, that stays away from lies, that has the yearning to help others as well, and that wishes to live for God's creatures. It is these kind hearted people who are blessed with peace of heart and mind, and their constructive thought is the thought of Allah. In their view, all people are their kin. They see Allah's noor ['pure light'] in everyone. Their life is a compilation of such bright and pure thoughts that have no impurity in them. Hell created by greed and sin finds no room for them. Their life has the kind of serenity that is felt by an infant in his mother's arms. Try to break free of these chains of greed, and avarice, and love of wealth, and see how much peace you find. No person in the world is bad; only thoughts are good or bad. If you have wealth, spend it in the way of Allah on suffering, weeping, and ailing humanity. Be thankful for whatever you have. Do not dwell over what you don't have. Rise above against feelings of inferiority. The standard for worthiness, nobility, and purity is not wealth, but each person's pure and living thoughts.