Test / Trial (Ibtila')
ابتلاء
Ibtila' (ابتلاء) refers to the profound Islamic concept of divine test or trial, a fundamental aspect of a believer's journey in this world. It signifies Allah's way of examining the sincerity, patience, and gratitude of His servants. Far from being arbitrary, these tests are an integral part of human existence, designed to reveal what is within our hearts and to allow us to grow spiritually. The Quran teaches that [We are ever testing Our servants], reminding us that trials are an inescapable part of our journey. These trials are not limited to hardship; they can also come in the form of blessings and ease. As the Quran describes, when [his Lord tries him and is generous to him and favors him], man might claim honor, but when [He tries him and restricts his provision], he might feel humiliated. Both abundance and scarcity are forms of divine testing, revealing our true responses. Ultimately, these experiences serve to strengthen faith, helping believers to [increase in faith] and deepen their reliance on Allah.
Quran 4 verses
إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَٰتٍ وَإِن كُنَّا لَمُبْتَلِينَ
Inna fee zaalika la Aayaatinw wa in kunnaa lamubtaleen
Indeed in that are signs, and indeed, We are ever testing [Our servants].
بےشک اس (قصے) میں نشانیاں ہیں اور ہمیں تو آزمائش کرنی تھی
Commentary
وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَٰٓئِكَةً وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنًا وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَمَا هِىَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ
Wa maaja''alnaaa As haaban naari illaa malaaa 'ikatanw wa maa ja'alnaa 'iddatahum illaa fitnatal lillazeena kafaroo liyastayqinal lazeena ootul kitaaba wa yazdaadal lazeena aamanooo eemaananw wa laa yartaabal lazeena ootul kitaaba walmu'minoona wa liyaqoolal lazeena fee quloo bihim maradunw walkaafiroona maazaaa araadal laahu bihaazaa masalaa; kazaalika yudillul laahu many yashaaa'u wa yahdee many yashaaa'; wa maa ya'lamu junooda rabbika illaa hoo; wa maa hiya illaa zikraa lil bashar
And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allah intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity.
اور ہم نے دوزخ کے داروغہ فرشتے بنائے ہیں۔ اور ان کا شمار کافروں کی آزمائش کے لئے مقرر کیا ہے (اور) اس لئے کہ اہل کتاب یقین کریں اور مومنوں کا ایمان اور زیادہ ہو اور اہل کتاب اور مومن شک نہ لائیں۔ اور اس لئے کہ جن لوگوں کے دلوں میں (نفاق کا) مرض ہے اور (جو) کافر (ہیں) کہیں کہ اس مثال (کے بیان کرنے) سے خدا کا مقصد کیا ہے؟ اسی طرح خدا جس کو چاہتا ہے گمراہ کرتا ہے اور جس کو چاہتا ہے ہدایت کرتا ہے اور تمہارے پروردگار کے لشکروں کو اس کے سوا کوئی نہیں جانتا۔ اور یہ تو بنی آدم کے لئے نصیحت ہے
Commentary
فَأَمَّا ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ إِذَا مَا ٱبْتَلَىٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَأَكْرَمَهُۥ وَنَعَّمَهُۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّىٓ أَكْرَمَنِ
Fa ammal insaanu izaa mab talaahu Rabbuhoo fa akramahoo wa na' 'amahoo fa yaqoolu Rabbeee akraman
And as for man, when his Lord tries him and [thus] is generous to him and favors him, he says, "My Lord has honored me."
مگر انسان (عجیب مخلوق ہے کہ) جب اس کا پروردگار اس کو آزماتا ہے تو اسے عزت دیتا اور نعمت بخشتا ہے۔ تو کہتا ہے کہ (آہا) میرے پروردگار نے مجھے عزت بخشی
Commentary
وَأَمَّآ إِذَا مَا ٱبْتَلَىٰهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّىٓ أَهَٰنَنِ
Wa ammaaa izaa mabtalaahu faqadara 'alaihi rizqahoo fa yaqoolu Rabbeee ahaanan
But when He tries him and restricts his provision, he says, "My Lord has humiliated me."
اور جب (دوسری طرح) آزماتا ہے کہ اس پر روزی تنگ کر دیتا ہے تو کہتا ہے کہ (ہائے) میرے پروردگار نے مجھے ذلیل کیا
Commentary
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