Secrets of Abundance and The Wealth
Given To People

The entire universe belongs to God, and He gives what He wills to whom He wills. It is God who grants provision to men, who makes them rich and gives them abundant crops. As God states in a verse, God expands the provision of any of His servants as He wills or, in a similar manner, restricts them. He does this for a certain cause and out of wisdom. Both those whose provision is expanded and whose provision is restricted, are in fact put to the test by God. Those who do not become arrogant and spoilt because of what they are given, but render thanks to God for everything endowed, who put their trust in God and show steadfastness when their possession is restricted are the servants with whom God is pleased. The words of the Prophet Solomon cited in the Qur'an make clear that the blessings God endows to people are actually a part of the test:

	He who possessed knowledge of the Book said, 'I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.' And when he saw it standing firmly in his presence, he said, 'This is part of my Lord's favour to test me to see if I will give thanks or show ingratitude. Whoever gives thanks only does so to his own gain. Whoever is ungrateful, my Lord is Rich Beyond Need, Generous.' (Surat an-Naml: 40)

The words of the Prophet Solomon's stating "This is part of my Lord's favour to test me to see if I will give thanks or show ingratitude" explain one of the reasons why people are given gifts.

What God defines as the "attractions of this world" in the Qur'an – including wealth, children, spouses, relatives, status, prestige, intelligence, beauty, health, profitable commerce, success, in brief, everything is given to put man to test.

Secrets in the abundance given to disbelievers

Many are the people in the world who, despite having no faith in God, rejoice in a long life, enjoy countless blessings, possess fruitful lands and raise healthy children. These people, instead of seeking to earn the good pleasure of God, have degenerated because of these blessings and drifted apart from God. These people, who have gone great lengths in leading a rebellious life towards our Lord and who have committed more and more sins every day, consider what they possess as good for themselves. However, the Qur'an draws our attention to another secret and divine purpose behind these blessings and the time granted:

	Do not let their wealth and their children impress you. God merely wants to punish them by them in the life of this world, and for them to die while they are disbelievers. (Surat at-Tawba: 85) Those who disbelieve should not imagine that the extra time We grant to them is good for them. We only allow them more time so they will increase in evildoing. They will have a humiliating punishment. (Surah Ali 'Imran: 178) So leave them in their glut of ignorance for a while. Do they imagine that, in the wealth and children We extend to them, We are hastening to them with good things? No indeed, but they have no awareness! (Surat al-Muminun: 54-56)

As explained in the verses, what these people possess is actually not good for them. The time granted to them is only to add to their sins. When their term is over, neither their wealth, nor their children nor their status can save them from the painful punishment. Indeed, God has related the situation of the past generations who lived in wealth and abundance of provision, yet met a painful punishment as follows:

	How many generations We have destroyed before them who had finer furnishings and a better outward show! (Surah Maryam: 74)

The following verse explains the reason why these people are granted extra time:

	Say: 'As for those who are astray, let the all Merciful prolong their term until they see what they were promised, whether it be the punishment or the Hour. Then they will know who is in the worse position and has the weaker troops.' (Surah Maryam: 75)

God is Just and Most Merciful. He creates everything with wisdom and goodness, and everyone is repaid in full for what he does. Being aware of this, believers assess events with the aim of seeing the wisdom and goodness that God creates in every event. Otherwise, people would live a life of deception, far removed from realities.

The Secret Of Why God Does Not
Immediately Punish The Disbelievers

One of the secrets revealed in the Qur'an is that people are not repaid immediately for the wrong acts they commit, but punishment is deferred until a specified time. This is related in verses as follows:

	If God were to take mankind to task for what they have earned, He would not leave a single creature crawling on the surface (of the earth), but He is deferring them until a specified time. Then, when their time comes, God sees His servants! (Surah Fatir: 45) Your Lord is The Ever-Forgiving, The Possessor of Mercy. If He had taken them to task for what they have earned, He would have hastened their punishment. Instead, they have a promised appointment and they will not find any refuge from it. (Surat al-Kahf: 58)

That many people are not immediately repaid for their wrong actions may lead them to think that they will never be held accountable for their evil acts. This presumption hinders them from asking for repentance, feeling regret and rectifying their errors. Furthermore, this adds to their insolence. Being bereft of wisdom, they cannot foresee that this will render their punishment even more unbearable in the hereafter. In the Qur'an, God states the following:

	Those who disbelieve should not imagine that the extra time We grant to them is good for them. We only allow them more time so they will increase in evildoing. They will have a humiliating punishment. (Surah Ali 'Imran: 178)

This is a delay created by God only to put man to the test. However, there is surely an appointed time in the sight of God so that every man can be repaid for what he has engaged in. When this appointed time is over, it can neither be delayed nor drawn closer, not for a moment. God informs us that everyone will certainly be repaid:

	And were it not for a decree that has already gone forth from your Lord, and a specified term, (their punishment) would have inevitably taken place already. (Surah Ta Ha: 129) I will give them more time. My subtle scheme is sure. (Surat al-A'raf: 183)