Life is merely a test:My Lord is generous/humiliating!

"When the human being is tested by his Lord, through blessings and joy, he says, 'My Lord is generous towards me.'

But if He tests him through reduction in provisions, he says, 'My Lord is humiliating me!'" Quraan 89:15-16

فَأَمَّا الإِنسَانُ إِذَا مَا ابْتَلاهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَنَعَّمَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَكْرَمَنِ

وَأَمَّا إِذَا مَا ابْتَلاهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَهَانَنِ

الفجر : ١٥-١٦

Wealthy people! Never ever think that Allah is happy with you thus you are wealthy! You are just being tested of how well you handle that wealth! Tested whether you will give charity or not? Tested whether you assist your family or not? You don't own the wealth, you merely own its responsibility! Watch out! You are being tested!

Needy people! Never ever think that Allah disregards you by not giving you much thus you are needy! You are being tested whether you will be patient or impatient! Whether will take the Haram way because the Halal way is miserable or remain in the Halal way in spite of the hardship! Whether your faith will shrink and worship will decline or will remain steadfast! Take it easy! You are being tested!

Life is merely a test: only that they might worship Me!

"I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me." Quraan 51:56

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ
الذاريات : ٥٦

Allah created mankind to obey Him by following the Message He sent to them through His Messengers.

The counterpart of the word "worship" in the original/Arabic verse is "Ya'bidoon/يعبدون" which means perform (plural form) "worship/I'baada/عبادة" which in Arabic means obedience and following the instructions. Hence, worship doesn't only mean rituals and supplications as commonly misconceived. In Islam any action you do or refrain from doing for the sake of Allah is considered a worship.

Life is merely a test: whether he be grateful or ungrateful!

What is the philosophy of life from Islamic point of view?

This life is a test, it's a temporary life that determines how we will live the eternal life (the hereafter).


"Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight,

We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will)." Quraan 76:2-3

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

الأنسان - الآيات ٢-٣

So we were created to be tested whether to be grateful or ungrateful. To be grateful that Allah blessed us with the gift of living, granted us the privilege and the capability to self-govern ourselves, put us in a nice planet to live on, etc... or not

The test is to follow His Message that was delivered through His Messengers, not to only believe in it but to practically implement it.

"Do men imagine that they will be left (at ease) because they say, We believe, and will not be tested with affliction?

Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign. " Quraan 29:2-3

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لا يُفْتَنُونَ

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ

العنكبوت - الآيات ٢-٣

Does Allah/God need to test us?
No but that's what He has chosen to do. Allah does not need us in anyway, He's the Creator of the whole universe, we do need Him but He doesn't need us, whatever this universe has is all from Him.

"Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are)." Quraan 5:48

وَلَوْ شَاء اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُم
المائدة - الآية ٤٨

"And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers? " Quraan 10:99

وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ لآمَنَ مَن فِي الأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُواْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
يونس - الآية ٩٩

"And if their aversion is grievous unto thee, then, if thou canst, seek a way down into the earth or a ladder unto the sky that thou mayst bring unto them a portent (to convince them all)! - If Allah willed, He could have brought them all together to the guidance - So be not thou among the foolish ones." Quraan 6:35

وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِيَ نَفَقًا فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِي السَّمَاء فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِآيَةٍ وَلَوْ شَاء اللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى الْهُدَى فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
الأنعام - الآية ٣٥

"Had Allah willed, they had not been idolatrous. We have not set thee as a keeper over them, nor art thou responsible for them. " Quraan 6:107

وَلَوْ شَاء اللَّهُ مَا أَشْرَكُواْ وَمَا جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ
الأنعام - الآية ١٠٧

"Say - For Allah's is the final argument - Had He willed He could indeed have guided all of you." Quraan 6:149

قُلْ فَلِلَّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ فَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
الأنعام - الآية ١٤٩

"And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing" Quraan 11:118

وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ
هود - الآية ١١٨

"And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright. " Quraan 16:9

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَائِرٌ وَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
النحل - الآية ٩

"Had Allah willed He could have made you (all) one nation, but He sendeth whom He will astray and guideth whom He will, and ye will indeed be asked of what ye used to do." Quraan 16:93

وَلَوْ شَاء اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء وَلَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
النحل - الآية ٩٣

The verses above are all affirming that had Allah willed to make us all true believers He could do so.


But why He chose to test us?
"He will not be questioned as to that which He doeth, but they will be questioned. " Quraan 21:23

لا يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ
الأنبياء - الآية ٢٣

He just did! Face the reality!