Reclaim Your Heart

A B
ELIEVER’S
 R
ESPONSE TO
 H
ARDSHIP
For Muslims, now is a time of turmoil. Sometimes, it’s
difficult not to feel despair. Many of us are wondering,
why is this happening to us? How could this happen when
we’ve done nothing wrong? How can we be facing so
much discrimination in the very country founded on
“freedom”, “liberty” and “justice” for all?
While all these thoughts are natural, we need to look
beyond them. We need to look through the illusion for a
moment, into the Reality that stands behind it. We must
refocus our sight, if we are to see the Truth beyond this
hologram.
That truth is one of the most oft-repeated lessons in the
Qur’an and prophetic teachings. That fundamental truth is
this: Everything in this life is a test.
Allah says in the Qur’an: “It is He who created death and
life in order to test you, which of you are best in deeds.
And He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.” (Qur’an,
67:2
)
Here we are told that the very purpose for which life and
death were created: to test us. Think for a moment about
an emergency siren. What is its purpose? The siren is an
indication and a warning that something harmful is coming.
If we hear it, we naturally panic. But what happens when
they need to test the siren? What happens when it’s just a

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drill to see how we will react? The test siren sounds
exactly the same, but it is “only a test.” Although it looks,
sounds, and feels real, it is not. It is only a test. And we’re
reminded of that again and again throughout the test.
This is exactly what Allah tells us about this life. It is
going to look, sound, and feel very, very real. At times it’s
going to scare us. At times it’s going to make us cry. At
times it’s going to make us flee, instead of standing firm—
even more firm—in our places. But this life and
everything in it is only a test. It is not actually real. And
like that test of the emergency broadcast system; it is
training us for what is real. It is training us for the Reality
beyond the test siren.
Now, what would happen if the coming of that test siren
was not even a surprise? What if each and every
household were given notification that the test was
coming? Consider for a moment the notification of Allah
(swt) to us (exalted is He):
“The present world is only an illusory pleasure: you are
sure to be tested through your possessions and persons;
you are sure to hear much that is hurtful from those who
were given the Scripture before you and from those who

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associate others with God. If you are steadfast and mindful
of God that is the best course.” (Qur’an, 
3:186
)
Now imagine that in addition to these notifications, we
were given knowledge of countless other communities
who were similarly tested. Allah says:
“Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without
encountering what those before you encountered? They
were afflicted by misfortune and hardship, and they were
so shaken that even [their] messenger and the believers
with him cried, ‘When will God’s help arrive?’ Truly,
God’s help is near.” (Qur’an, 
2:214
)
So not only was the siren predicted—it was not new.
Suppose our community was told that we are not unique.
So after all of that, how then would we react once the test
siren came? Well, if it’s a drill, there’s no shock or
disbelief. We don’t panic. We don’t even become
distressed.
But we do act.
And here’s the crucial part. Who are we acting for? Who
is testing us? Who is watching, really? CNN, C-Span, the

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American public? No. They’re all a part of the illusion; all
a part of the test. They’re all just a creation of the test. We
act for one judge and one judge alone. We act for the only
true Reality (al-Haqq). We act because we know He is
watching, and He is the only One who will judge this test.
Once we realize this fundamental truth, something
dramatic happens. As soon as we internalize that it is only
a test, our questions drastically change. Instead of asking:
“How could this be happening?” “Why is it so unfair?”
our questions become: “How should I react?” “How
should I pass this test?” “What am I meant to learn?”
“How should I see through this illusion, to the creator of
the one who’s hurting me, the one who’s oppressing me,
and the test itself?” “How can we as a community use this
test to bring us closer to our final destination, God?” and
“How can we use this test to fulfill the purpose for which
it was created - a tool to bring us nearer to Him?” Allahu
akbar (God is Great).
The beauty of the tests of Allah (swt) is that after notifying
us that they’re coming, He gives us the exact recipe for
succeeding in them: Sabr (patience) and Taqwa (God-
consciousness).
Allah (swt) says: “The present world is only an illusory
pleasure: you are sure to be tested through your
possessions and persons; you are sure to hear much that is
hurtful from those who were given the Scripture before

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you and from those who associate others with God. If you