Are Disabilities a Test, for Muslims and Non-Muslims Alike?

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate

I hope you are well, amin.

The Islamic position concerning life’s trials and tribulations is extremely empowering. Adversities, disasters, and illness – all forms of suffering and hardship – are viewed as divinely sent tests. This life is not meant to be one big party, and rather, we have been created with a noble purpose – to worship Allah (Most High), to recognize and draw closer to Him through worship and obedience, and for non-Muslims to come to believe in Him and enter in His obedience and of His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). Tests are an inevitable part of this purpose. They serve as a reminder of our greater purpose, as a means of purification, and, ultimately, as a way to draw closer to Allah (Most high). Tests are actually seen as a sign of Allah’s love. In fact, our Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When Allah (Most High) a people, he tests them” [Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah,]

 “Allah does not wrong anyone of His creation.” Commenting on this hadith, Imam al-Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) adds, ‘Injustice is impossible for Allah’s truth.”

We can say that we do not know the fate of any one person after death. No one will be wronged before the King of Judges, who is the only one who knows the true wisdom of people’s suffering, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. He shall not be questioned as to what He does, but they shall be questioned. [Quran, 21:23]

Allah is the Most Just (Al-Adl), He will deal with everyone fairly.

Please read the following Reader to understand the issue further.

I would like you to watch the following series that explores, why there is suffering in the world, and how we should respond to it according to Allah’s ( Most High) teachings?

Also, to help you in fighting your baseless misgivings (waswas) the following Reader will be of benefit, in sha’ Allah.

I pray this helps in your question.

Wassalam,

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.

He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His personal interest is the love of books and gardening.