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Successful Life In This World
There is a verse in Surah Al-Baqarah( 2:155) that is….And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient….also there is a verse in
Surah Al -hud(11:3) that is…you may seek forgiveness of your Lord and turn to him in repentance whereupon he will grant you fair enjoyment of life until an appointed term… Also in Surah Al Nahl(16:97) there is a verse which states……. Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do…..
So my question is how can we come to know hardships we are facing means we are on the right path or we are going astray..what kind of life in this world righteous person have..It will be full of hardships..or he will be achieving success in this world also..
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Successful Life In This World
updated 3 years, 6 months ago
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Before discussing these specific verses quoted above, there is an important distinction that needs to be elaborated first. This world has been created on the principle of tests and trials and this principle is applicable to all humans across the board. This means that some will be put through a test of patience and others will be put through a test of bounties. However, one specific application of this test relates to immediate addressees of a rusul (Messengers) in accordance with a specific law of itmam-e-hujjat (completion of proof). This law has its own phases and its own results which do not apply to general audience of Quran. In this latter case, the fate of that particular nation is decided by God in this very world in the form of implementing reward and punishment. Other than this, the general application of Tests and Trials is working in this world for which reward and punishment will be decided on the day of judgement.
Keeping this in mind, the two verses quoted above i.e. 2:155-16 and 11:3 relate to this law of itmam-e-hujjat and do not have a general application.
The third verse i.e. 16:97 has a general application but the words used are حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ which means a “pure life” and does not mean life full of worldly bounties. The correct translation of this verse is as follows:
مَا عِنْدَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللّهِ بَاقٍ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِيْنَ صَبَرُوْا أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ. مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ.
[Remember] whatever you have will finish [one day] and whatever is with God will remain. [This is a reward for deeds] and We shall definitely well reward those for their deeds who remained steadfast [for Our cause]. Whoever does a good deed whether man or woman, if that person adheres to faith, We will make that person lead a life of purity [both in this world and in the Hereafter] and will definitely reward such people in the best way for their deeds. (16:96-97)
I hope this will give you some idea on how to interpret certain verses of Quran in the light of above explanation.
For further details on the Law of Tests and Trials and Law of Reward and Punishment, please refer to the following threads:
And for details on law of itmam-e-hujjat (completion of proof), please refer to the following thread:
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Thank-you for your explanation
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