Have you ever felt like the world was going to collapse?
Imagine that moment. Seeing the numbers in your bank account suddenly plummet? Or the business you’ve built for years, suddenly having to close down due to unforeseen circumstances?
Disappointed? That’s perfectly human. Sad? Completely natural. They’re human, with hearts, not robots.
But let’s sit down for a moment, take a deep breath, and reflect. Is the loss of a nominal amount of money, the loss of assets, or the loss of a position the true definition of loss?
Let’s be honest, we often get caught up in the world of calculators. The formulas become too narrow in our heads. Profit is when money increases, and loss is when money decreases.
However, if we put on the lens of faith, our perspective changes 180 degrees. We forget the most fundamental fact: this world is a place where faith is tested.
The World is Just A Place Where Faith is Tested, Not a Place to Live
Life is truly just a “giant exam room.” Every passing second, every incident that occurs, and every state of our wallets are all exam questions presented to us by Allah ﷻ .
The Exam Room is Temporary, the Afterlife is the Place of Eternal Results
The first thing we must deeply instill in our hearts is about duration and function.
Why do we often feel overly disappointed when we lose, or overly elated when we gain? The answer is simple: we view this world as our primary home. We feel like we’ll stay here forever. In fact, this world is merely a testing ground with a very short duration. The afterlife is the true and eternal life.
Allah ﷻ reminds us beautifully about the true nature of this world:
وَمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ لَهِيَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
“And there is no life in this world but joking and playing around. And indeed the afterlife is the real life, if they only knew.” ( Qur’an Surah Al-Ankabut [29]: 64).
Imagine yourself taking the national exam. You enter the room just to work on the exam questions for 1-2 hours. Once the bell rings, you’re required to leave, leaving behind your exam papers, pens, and scratch-off paper. You leave the room to wait for the results to be announced.
Well, the world is like an exam room. A place where we sweat, think hard, endure fatigue, and struggle to write answers. At this stage, there’s no verdict of success or failure. There’s only the process of solving the problems.
Meanwhile, the afterlife is like a report card distribution center. It’s there that the fruits of our labor are judged. It’s there that we’ll discover who’s truly successful (going to Heaven) and who’s truly bankrupt (going to Hell).
So, if we’re feeling financially at a loss today, realize that it’s happening in a temporary exam room. It’s not the end of the world. Our report cards haven’t been printed yet. As long as we’re alive, we still have the opportunity to improve our answers so that the final result will be satisfactory to Allah ﷻ .
The Essence of the Test of Faith: Different Questions, But the Goal is the Same
So, how do we view life, which is sometimes above, sometimes below? To make it easier, let’s use the school analogy again.
During school exams, teachers will distribute different sets of test questions. There’s a Math test (complicated, full of numbers, and confusing). There’s an Arts test (fun, colorful, and relaxing).
The question is: When we get a (difficult) math problem, does the teacher punish us, or do we even accuse them of hating us? When we get an (easy) art problem, does that guarantee that we’ll pass and be at the top of the class? Not necessarily.
The final grade on the report card will not be determined by the type of questions he received, but by the accuracy of the answers he wrote.
Likewise with our lives. Poverty and Disadvantage are like Mathematics Problem Packages. It feels difficult, makes your chest tight, and requires extra effort. Wealth and Profit is like a Package of Arts Questions. It feels relaxing, cool and enjoyable.
But remember, both have the status of exam questions.
Allah ﷻ says:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
“Every soul will taste death. We will test you with evil and good as a (true) trial. And only to Us will you be returned.” ( Qur’an Surah Al-Anbiya [21]: 35).
The funny thing is, we are often busy complaining to the person who made the exam questions” (Allah ﷻ). “Oh Allah, why are my questions so hard? Why are their questions easy?” In fact, our job is not to complain about the questions, but to focus on writing the correct answers so we can pass the assessment later.
Also read: Zainab binti Jahsy, An Example of a Shar’i Working Woman
Leaked Answer Key: Piety vs. Fujur
The good news is, we’re not left alone in this exam room, confused. Allah ( ﷻ ) has implanted within us the potential to choose the right answer. There are only two main paths, just as His word says:
فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا
“So Allah inspired to the soul (path) wickedness (fujur) and piety (taqwa).” ( QS. Asy-Syams [91]: 8).
Well, here’s the leaked answer key:
Correct Answer (PASS): Choosing the path of piety.
This means responding to all conditions according to God’s rules. This is a praiseworthy and righteous attitude.
Wrong Answer (FAIL): Choosing the path of righteousness/sinfulness.
This means responding to circumstances by violating God’s rules or simply following our desires. This is a reprehensible and wrong attitude.
Come on, Let’s Try to Apply The Key
To make it clearer, let’s see how this key to piety is used when we get different sets of questions:
Example Question 1: Loss/Disaster Test
Conditions: The business is losing money, assets are lost, or people are cheating.
The Answer to Piety: PATIENCE & CONSENT. We first accept Allah’s decree without protest, “O Allah, I am pleased ,” while continuing to strive to improve the situation.
Fujur’s Answer: ANGRY & DESPAIR. Cursing fate, blaming God, or even seeking illicit outlets (e.g., gambling to quickly recoup your investment, or going to a shaman).
Example Question 2: Pleasure/Benefit Test
Condition: Business is making big profits, career is on the rise, money is abundant.
The answer to piety: GRATITUDE & HUMILITY. Realizing that this is only a gift, be more diligent in giving alms, and be less arrogant.
Fujur’s Answer: INFIDELITY & ARROGANCE. Feeling superior because of one’s own efforts, becoming stingy, oppressing others, and squandering money on sin.
Example from the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ : All conditions of believers are good
The Prophet ﷺ said:
عَجَبًا لِأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ، وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ، فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ، صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ
“How amazing is the affair of a believer. All his affairs are good for him. This is found in no other believer. When he experiences happiness, he is grateful, and that is good for him. Conversely, when he is struck by hardship, he is patient, and that is good for him.” (Hadith narrated by Muslim) .
This hadith is a perfect summary of the answer key to our life’s test,
When a calamity strikes, a believer remains fortunate, as he or she answers the test with patience. When blessed, a believer does not become complacent, as he or she answers the test with gratitude.
So it’s pretty clear, right? Believers have “privileges” or special qualities that others don’t have.
Also read: Does the High Cost of Living Force More, Should Wife Work?
So, What are The Actual Losses?
Well, if we understand the key, the definition of loss in our heads will definitely change completely.
It turns out that true loss isn’t when your wallet is empty. True loss is when you choose the wrong answer.
Let’s consider these two scenarios:
First, the Real Loss Scenario (Double Kill).
When you are tested with lost property (Question), then you answer it with Fujur (Angry, stressed, blaming fate). This is real loss! The wealth is lost in this world, the reward is lost in the afterlife. Never mind falling, being hit by a ladder, falling paint too. Unlucky in this world and the afterlife.
Second, the Great Profit Scenario.
Conversely, if you lose your wealth, but you respond with piety (patience and contentment), you are truly in great good fortune. You have passed the test, your sins have been forgiven, and your status has been elevated in the sight of Allah ﷻ . The lost wealth is merely a small price to pay for the expensive price of Paradise.
Also read: Islam Allows Wife to Work Not as an Obligation
Conclusion: Focus on the Answers, Not the Questions
If today our faith is being tested by the loss of material things, rise up! Wipe away those tears.
Don’t waste your energy just lamenting, “Why is my exam so hard?” Instead, spend your energy ensuring your hands are wrapped around the correct answer: piety.
As long as we maintain piety and avoid sinning in our responses to problems, we are truly at a loss. We are simply working on difficult problems to achieve a Cum Laude grade before Allah ﷻ .
Come on, let’s get our spirits up again, and good luck on the exam. Make sure you answer correctly! God bless you.
Also read: Should Wife Contribute Financially When She is a Working Wife?
Author: Redha Sindarotama
Let’s Visit, Zeed and join for halal investment with Zeed.
Reference:
Al-Qur’an al-Karim. Accessed from: https://quran.com/
Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim , Kitāb az-Zuhd wa ar-Raqā’iq, Hadith no. 2999. Accessed from: https://sunnah.com/muslim:2999