In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
وَهُوَ الَّذى جَعَلَكُم خَلٰئِفَ الأَرضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعضَكُم فَوقَ بَعضٍ دَرَجٰتٍ لِيَبلُوَكُم فى ما ءاتىٰكُم ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَريعُ العِقابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفورٌ رَحيمٌ ١٦٥
And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful. [Qur’an 6:165]
We are all different. We are all on different levels. This is not just physical like colour, race, or tangible like wealth but also intangible like characteristics and and qualities, personalities and behaviour.
And this is to test us in what We have been granted. We all have different levels of Iman, Sabr, Taqwa and Tawakkul. Just because one is going through hardship does not mean Allah ﷻ does not like you. And just because your life is easy does not mean you have attained His love. These tests sometimes very difficult, help build the muscles of Iman, Sabr, Taqwa and Tawakkul. It is quite a humble thing to be able to recognise that Allah ﷻ has humbled you. Let’s not talk about all the things that you have ever said will never be you. Or you have advised someone on how to better handle a situation that you have never experienced.
Some of us are driven by love for pleasure and so would find peace and motivation in the narrations about Jannah and some of us are driven by fear of punishment and we would find the motivation in trying to stay clear of it. Are you driven more by the pleasure promised in Jannah or by the fear of being in Jahannam?
We need to give space for each other. Be kind to each other. Be careful on the expectations we put upon others too.
May Allah ﷻ grant us patience and understanding. Amin. And May Allah ﷻ admit us into Jannah without account.
I prepared a small guidebook to help anyone who wants to make tadabbur, one small part of their day. It has one ayah from each juz, and personal reflection questions. Allow the Qur'an transform you.