With hardship comes ease. (Quran - 94 verse 5)

How many a time, do you wander through life finding yourself in some type of situation, wondering and asking yourself, "how/when will this ever get better?"

You know, it's very common when going through some type of hardship or calamity in life such as a death, a marriage break-up, loss in finances and the likes, to begin questioning one’s faith - "Where is the help?", "But I pray, fast and do good, what is happening to me??".

But think about it this way: Imagine one wanted to become a pilot, their whole lives dream is to fly commercial airplanes all around the world, visiting beautiful countries and experiencing what others could only dream of. Now, imagine an airline saw this individual and said to them;

"Hey, we understand you have no experience or academic qualification, but because you have a nice heart, we want you to take charge of our 747-400!"

Almost sounds like a dream right? It is, until the airplane comes crashing down. You see, it is because aspiring pilots go through so many obstacles from the cost of flight training, the examinations, the testing processes, the absolute hard work that eventually one can have the honor of becoming a pilot. 

In fact, it is for that reason that you, as a passenger, who does not even know this pilot are comfortable with letting a complete stranger take control of a big chunk of metal and fly you across the world! 

You can think about that with many things, for example, surgeons, dentists or even your local bus driver. 

Islam has a fairly similar formula. Trials = Hardships. Hardships = Reward + Cleanse.

Reward + Cleanse = Paradise.

That is to say, a trial may cause hardships. Patience and success in ones hardship results in the purification of ones soul and rewards.

This results, with the grace of Allah, the reward of Paradise.

So, with this concept of mind, one must understand this world is nothing more than a trial, and we have been created to worship Allah. As the Holy Quran states: 

Sura 51 verse 56: And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

By this verse we briefly gather that we have been created to worship Allah, and with that will come your reward or punishment, but of course, like anything, you must be worthy of the reward! Here are some verses to give you a briefunderstanding:

Sura 29 verse 2 & 3: Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allahwill surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.

This verse is clearly telling us what is going to happen and why. When it questions the people by their expression of their belief, is it genuine? Because many a times what lies on the tongue is not whatresides in the heart. So, you will be tried and the liars will be exposed. 

You know the saying "your true colors show in tough times"? There's a reason for this. 

When everything is going well, it's easy to be grateful, to be kind and to be one type of individual. However, when things get tough how many times do you see people crumble?
There's a reason we say "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". 

So we've accepted this life is created to worship Allah, we briefly know why but now we ask how?

Allah says in the Quran: 

Sura 2 verse 155: "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"

"Money comes, money goes" we've all heard this saying and there's a reason why. The reality is, we do not possess anything except that which Allah gives us. In fact, the more we own the more we will be questioned for. 

Imam Ali, Prince of the believers says: Allah the Glorified has fixed the livelihood of the destitute in the wealth of the rich. Consequently, whenever a destitute remains hungry it is because some rich person has denied (him his share). Allah the sublime will question them about that" - Nahjul Balagha saying 328.

According to the aforementioned verse though, one will be tested with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth. Therefore, you may be anxious in times of distress, you may be hungry for a period of time.But give good tidings to the patient. 

In Nahjul Balagha saying 351, Imam Ali says: "At the extremity of hardship comes relief, and at the tightening of chains of tribulation comes ease"

The reality is, we are going to be tested. The reality is, a diamond is born as a result of stone enduring immense pressure. The reality is, this life is going to be a trial for us. But, give glad tidings to the patient. 

Remember, Allah is with the patient. 

I will leave you with some verses: 

Sura 93 verse 1-5: By the morning light. And the night as it settles. Your Lord did not abandon you, nor did He forget. The Hereafteris better for you than the First. And your Lord will give you, and you will be satisfied.

Sura 94 verse 5 & 6: For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.