^ u know thats the interesting part. WE ALL TOOK THE OATH. hey..why the heck dont i remember it now? Is amnesia part of the test too?
Peace sNOVA
Actually I gave you the nice answer earlier on. There is another answer. That is we really have no choice, we will be Judged, if not for our obedience to God but for our sense of virtue, which comes from God.
You have a choice in this world not to acknowledge that you are being tested and you have a choice to deny that you wanted to come here, you also have a choice to live by your own rules ultimately you have been given the freedom to do as you wish within the constraints of physics. Is this the way to live? That is another question.
Everything that we see around us follows a set of instructions and does not betray those instructions ... then why is it that we cannot do the same?
Regardless of all that through thought alone we can fathom and stumble across a code of conduct for all people to abide by for reasons which are processed by the best minds ... is it not interesting that many years of thought and research lead us to the very dictates of religion ... yet in that vain attempt to go it alone we lost valuable time in just simply submitting.
By the way amnesia is not part of the test ... but to acquire knowledge is part of the test. Some say that knowledge is to draw from within ... i.e. it is to remember and in Islam a major aspect of our religion is dzikr which is the act of contemplation and remembering. So in a way we are all getting rid of our amnesia when we do dzikr.
^ u know thats the interesting part. WE ALL TOOK THE OATH. hey..why the heck dont i remember it now? Is amnesia part of the test too?
The concept shouldnt be such a shocker. The 'created' does not have a choice in being created and neither does the created have a memory or anything before creation.
Ar-rooh was the initial creation and our physical brain does not remember that stage.
When our bodies will die we might remember more....
Besides if we remembered it all without effort then we would all pass the test, if we had certainty of God like we could see Him or remember our earlier existence then there would be no cause to fall astray and it would be like other creatures who have no choice. In order for us to truly exercise freedom of choice we have to forget where we came from.
I understand that our entire time in this world is meant to be a test and we are meant to spend our time pleasing Allah. I guess that means we have to suffer in one way or another, dont we, otherwise it wouldn't really be a test?
Very nice guys and believe me I have learn alot from you guys today but hay where is the thread starter, why doesn't he show up? I am sure he got his answer/s.
Strange that you say you have "seen" suffering but at the same time question how can suffering bring one closer to their religion.
Seeing does not count. Actually suffering is needed for most people.
Once the circumstances around you become such that you cannot change them or help the ones closest to you, you realize how arrogant you had been when you had it all, even though you lived your life thinking you are such a humble muslim.
Anyway .... please be careful when you post such title cause you do them at the risk of either doing shirk, or challenging the wisdom and maslehat of Allah Zaujal.
Suffering is needed for most people? Let me define suffering. I'm not talking about "suffering" for not having the latest HDTVs or "suffering" over a broken relationship. I'm talking about extreme suffering as in vicitims of voilence, terrorism, wars be it they maybe muslims/chrisitans/ jews etc
i did discuss this with my husband that i think suffering for humans are bcz of our deeds...(at least my life has taught me this) but my husband disagreed and said suffering cud be a test of iman and patience...but the question is same what about little children who are innocent....may be here tha test is of adults around her??? ALLAH knows best.
US docs saved her...is it a wonder that those nations are progressing at least in life. muslims forget Allah's laws then suffering for them is not only after death but in this life also.(double punishment) bcz they knew the right path and still chose he wrong one.
This is an important subject especially for dawah:
Parameters
a) Every bad that befalls us is a result of our own actions and every good is from Him
b) We are tested with hardships to be patient and tested with ease to be gratituous
c) Any injustice in this world will be balanced in the Hereafter with the removal of punishments.
Constraints of Suffering
No soul is given a burden more than it can bear, therefore failing to be grateful when in ease, or patient when in hardship, or losing oneself to emotional denial or losing hope for the Hereafter is a burden that we impose on ourselves doing our ownselves an injustice.
Scope/Perspective
This life is only a flicker of the eye lid compared to the permanence of the Aakhira, any pain in the this world is minimal any pleasure in this world is minimal. Set sights for Jannah the maximum happiness and strive to avoid Jahunnum the maximum pain and torment. Pain and Pleasure in this world give us the impetus to move for the Hereafter - the carrot and the stick. Life is not a joke for this reason.
Interesting response. Can you please elaborate on what you mean by: "Pain and Pleasure in this world give us the impetus to move for the Hereafter - the carrot and the stick. "
Also, to your point of the injustice in this world being compensated by afterlife, why even have the injustice in the first place? why would God even allow such injustice, pain & suffering? Isn't that sadistic?
I understand that our entire time in this world is meant to be a test and we are meant to spend our time pleasing Allah. I guess that means we have to suffer in one way or another, dont we, otherwise it wouldn't really be a test?
I understand the concept of this life is a "test". But what I don't particularly understand is that why does God have to put us through these tests? and more importantly these "tests" are not equal for everyone.