65. When will people say, "My Lord has honoured me." and "My Lord has humiliated me!"?

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ

Answer: Whenever a human being is tested by their Lord through His generosity and blessings, he boasts: "My Lord has deservedly honoured me."  (Al-Fajr, 89:15) But when He tests them by limiting their provision, he protests: "My Lord has undeservedly humiliated me!". (Al-Fajr, 89:16).

Allah asks, “Do people think once they say, “We believe,” that they will be left without being put to the test? We certainly tested those before them. And in this way Allah will clearly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are liars.” (29:2 and 3). “He is the One Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.” (67:2)

Allah Subhanahuthala tests us, with evil and with good to identify the thankful one, ungrateful one, and to find out the one who obeys the and one who disobeys and to distinguish the one who surrenders and the one who turns away from Him.

Allah tests man and tries him by giving abundantly the wealth, health, fame and other favours. Allah asks man in Quran, “Do they think, since We provide them with wealth and children, that We hasten to honour them with all kinds of good? No! They are not aware.” (23:55 & 56).

See what Allah is saying about man when He gives wealth to man:

🚩but you treat not the orphans with kindness and generosity!

🚩 and urge not on the feeding of the poor!

🚩and you eat, all you inherited with greed

🚩and you love wealth with much love! (89:17 to 20)

 

So when the man receives Allah’s favours, he has

★ to thank Allah. – He has to be grateful,

★ to share the wealth with relatives, poor and needy – He has to be generous in sharing wealth,

★ to share knowledge to those who seek,

★ to be humble, helpful – not arrogant, proud, selfish and wicked,

★ to be kind – realizing others difficulties.

 

Allah asks us, “See they not that they are put in trial once or twice every year? [Ath-Tawbah 9:126]. Some trials will come to man due to Allah’s decree. It is not due to our sins/deeds. It comes from Allah, for some reason, which Allah knows, but you know not. Allah says, “Both good and bad have been destined by Allah.” (4:78). He also says, “Whatever good befalls you is from Allah and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself.” (4:79). We will get difficult trails due our bad choices /sins / desires /opinions. Allah is not responsible for this. He gives tests/trails by giving poverty, sickness and disease, calamities, famine, loss of things and disgrace.

See what Allah is saying to man when He test with difficult situations:

“Neither they turn in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it)” [Ath-Tawbah 9:126]. “Neither they humbled themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke with submission to Him” [al-Mu’minoon 23:76]. “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much” [Ash-Shuraa, 42:30]. “And among mankind is he who worships Allah as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter” (Al-Hajj, 22:11). “Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.” (Al-Baqara, 2:216)

So, Allah is asking us to “seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones” (2:45). “Let the believers put their trust in God.” (9:51.)

So when the man receives difficulties, he has

● to be patient,

● to seek help of Allah through prayer and dhikr,

● to trust Him

● to turn to Allah in repentance

● to give some sadaqa and

● to please Allah by doing some good deeds.

In both the  good and evil circumstances man should obey Allah and thank Allah, turn to Allah and repent to Allah. And say,  إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ 

الحمدلله