The Purposes of the Believer's Trial

Question:

Why does Allah burden the believers, who perform many acts of worship, with illnesses and trials, while the disobedient ones enjoy the good things in life?

Answer:

This question comes from two angles: The first is one of disapproval and the second is one of seeking advice. As for the disapproval expressed, it is indicative of the questioner's ignorance, for Allah's Wisdom is too great for the human mind to encompass; He, the Amighty, the All-Powerful says:
"And they ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the Ruh (the spirit); say: "The Ruh (the spirit) is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little.

So this spirit, which is in our bodies, and which is the essence of life, we do not know what it is, and scientists, philosophers and theologians have tried in vain to define it and to describe it. Therefore, if we do not understand anything about this spirit, which is the closest creation to us, except what has been described to us in the Qur'an and Sunnah, how can you expect to understand the wisdom behind this (i.e. the trial of the believers)? Allah, the Almighty, the Majestic is Wiser, Greater, More Powerful and More Able; thus it is incumbent upon us to accept His Decree with a complete acceptance, both those which He allows to happen without necessitating His approval, and those which happen with His liking and approval. This is because we are unable to appreciate the design and purpose behind the Wisdom of Him, the Almighty, the Majestic. What is incumbent regarding this aspect of the question, is to say: "Allah knows better, He is Wiser, more Able and Greater."

As for the second angle, which is the question of guidance, we say, in answer to this question: The believer is tested; and the trial from Allah, which tests him through harm has two purposes. It is a test of the man's faith is it firm, or shaky? The true believer accepts and understands the Decree of Allah and His Will and he hopes to be rewarded for it, and so the matter becomes easy for him. It is said that a believing woman was afflicted by an injury to her finger, but she did not feel any pain, nor did she show any signs of distress. She was asked about it and she said: "Verily, the sweetness of its reward made me forget the bitterness of its pain." So the believer hopes for a reward from Allah, the Most High and he submits with complete conviction. This is one purpose; as for the second, verily, Allah praises those who patiently persevere with great approval and He informs them that He is with them and He grants them their recompense without measure or account. Patience is a high rank, which none can reach except those who are put to trial in matters over which they demonstrate patient perseverance. If he does so, he achieves this high rank in which is this great reward. Thus, the trial of Allah upon the believers by what harms them enables them to achieve the rank of the patient ones. This is why the Messenger - who was the best of mankind in faith and the most pious of them and the most God-fearing suffered from illness enough for two men, and it was extremely hard upon him when the agony of death came to him. And all of this was so that he might perfect his level of patience; and verily, he was the most patient of the patient ones. From this, you can see the wisdom behind Allah testing the believers with such calamities. As for Him giving the disobedient ones, the sinners, the profligate and the disbelievers well-being and sustenance in abundance, this is a lure into destruction from Allah, the Most High for them. It is authentically reported from the Prophet that he said:
"Verily, this world is a prison for the believer and a Paradise for the disbeliever.

So they are given these good things as advance compensation for their good in the life of this world, but on the Day of Resurrection, they receive their just reward. Allah, the Most High says:
And on the Day when those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic monotheism) will be exposed to the Fire, (it will be said): "You received your good things in the life of the world, and you took your pleasure therein. Now this Day shall you be recompensed with a torment of humiliation, because you were arrogant in the land without a right, and because you used to rebel and disobey (Allah)."

In brief, this world is for the disbelievers, by which they are lured to destruction, after which, they go on from this life in which they were blessed, to the afterlife, where they find punishment we seek refuge with Allah from that - and the punishment will be worse for them because they will find therein torment and suffering, in addition to which, they will suffer the loss of the things dear to them in the life of this world, its blessings and its luxuries. This is a third purpose which we might add to the above-mentioned two, concerning the harm and illness the believer endures, for he transfers to an abode of goodness from this world, so he will have gone from a painful situation to one of ease and comfort, and his happiness at the felicity given to him will be doubled, because he has found ease and comfort in place of the pains and calamities he previously suffered.

Source:
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 1 Pages 177-178-179-180