Comprehending the secret behind the life of this world

The traps and trickery set for Muslims by unbelievers are created as a requirement of the test. Believers confront various difficulties in the flawless destiny created by Allah, and are patient and tolerant in the face of these difficulties being pleased with Allah. As Allah reveals in the Qur’an and as in many tests to which the prophets were exposed, the many traps and snares set for believers are created, by Allah’s will, in a very detailed manner.  Looking at this detailed creation one sees that these snares are sometimes not dismantled at once, but that they continue for a while and only disappear when the time appointed by Allah comes.

But the duration, short or long, of the test faced by a believer does not alter anything in terms of his or her belief, virtue or manners. Every trap or scheming set for Muslims is something that demands that believers exhibit excellent moral values and fortitude and that they do what the test requires begging Allah for it to be resolved in the most auspicious manner. That is because believers know that Allah is “the best of plotters," as true believers are told in the Qur’an:

When those who disbelieve were plotting against you to imprison you or kill you or expel you: they were plotting and Allah was plotting, but Allah is the Best of Plotters. (Surat al-Anfal, 30)

Allah is the Creator of both good and evil. As Allah reveals in the verses of the Qur’an, a situation that may appear to be evil is in fact all for the best. And a situation that may appear to be auspicious can sometimes in fact be evil. The knowledge of this lies solely with Allah. For that reason, believers’ responsibility is to exhibit fine patience in the face of every test and behave in the best manner that He will find pleasing. 

In the Qur’an, Allah provides examples of prophets and believers who displayed fortitude in the face of the snares set for them. Looking at these examples we see that true believers have been patient in the face of all forms of test, and that no matter how long the test lasted they have always continued to behave well for Allah’s sake.  For example, in the story of the Prophet Yusuf (as) in the Qur’an, Allah reveals that the unbelievers set a trap for the prophet, even though they knew he was guiltless, and cast him into a dungeon:

Then, after they had seen the Signs [of Yusuf’s innocence and purity], they thought that they should still imprison him for a time. (Surah Yusuf, 35)

The Prophet Yusuf (as) continued to preach the true faith and proper moral virtues throughout his time in prison, and told people of the oneness of Allah and how they should not ascribe partners to Him. Allah reveals in the Qur’an that the Prophet Yusuf (as) spent years in prison: 

…but satan made him forget to remind his lord, and so he [Yusuf] stayed in prison for several years. (Surah Yusuf, 42)

When the time appointed by Allah came, the Prophet Yusuf (as) left his prison and thus Allah revealed that the trap set for him by his betrayers had failed. By means of the rulers of the time, the Prophet Yusuf (as) was placed in charge of the country’s stores. Allah thus gave the Prophet Yusuf (as) power and authority in the wake of the test:

And thus We established Yusuf in the land so he could live in any place he pleased. We grant Our grace to anyone We will and We do not allow to go to waste the wage of any people who do good. But the wages of the Hereafter are the best for people who believe and fear their Lord. (Surah Yusuf, 56-57)