Why Allah Shows You Signs Before a Difficult Test | The Hidden Lesson of Mi'raj
The Secret Lesson Hidden in Mi'raj Shareef
Allah has placed many profound lessons in Mi'raj Shareef. But today, let us reflect on one lesson that is extremely important for an ordinary human being: how Allah strengthens a believer's certainty before another difficult test arrives.
Before Mi'raj Shareef, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had gone through extremely difficult circumstances. People were against him, and his heart was carrying immense grief. He remained patient, but the sorrow was still there.
Then Allah took His beloved servant on this extraordinary journey and showed him great signs.
Allah says:
لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
“So that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
Surah Al-Isra 17:1
The journey therefore included the showing of Allah's signs.
But What Does This Mean for an Ordinary Human Being?
Imagine a person who is deeply saddened.
He trusts Allah. He believes Allah will help him. He is trying to remain patient—but his heart is still heavy.
Sometimes belief needs reassurance.
A person may believe in Allah, yet when the hardship becomes prolonged, the heart needs something that strengthens its certainty.
This is where Mi'raj gives us a powerful reflection.
Allah showed His Messenger ﷺ great signs and strengthened him for what was still ahead.
The Qur'an says:
مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ
“The sight did not waver, nor did it transgress. He certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.”
Surah An-Najm 53:17–18
Musa (AS) and the Strength of Seeing
Allah's Signs
We can also see something similar in the story of Musa (AS).
Allah says:
لِنُرِيَكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَا ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ
“That We may show you some of Our greatest signs.”
Surah Ta-Ha 20:23
Musa (AS) then faced Pharaoh and extremely difficult circumstances, but he continued on the path Allah had given him.
Yet Bani Israel show us that witnessing signs alone does not guarantee steadfastness.
After Allah saved them from Pharaoh, they later worshipped the calf.
Allah says:
وَٱتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًۭا جَسَدًۭا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ ٱتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا۟ ظَٰلِمِينَ
“And the people of Moses, after him, made from their ornaments a calf—an image with a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it as an object of worship, and they were wrongdoers.”
Surah Al-A'raf 7:148
This gives us an important distinction: seeing signs can strengthen certainty, but a person must still choose to hold onto that certainty when the test arrives.
What About Us?
We are ordinary human beings. We cannot expect to experience what the Prophet ﷺ experienced in Mi'raj.
But Allah has placed countless signs around us.
Some become visible only when we reflect deeply. Some are found in creation, some within ourselves, and some are understood through truths that Allah has revealed in the Qur'an.
The Qur'an repeatedly calls us to observe and reflect:
سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَٰتِنَا فِي ٱلْـَٔافَاقِ وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ
“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.”
Surah Fussilat 41:53
When an ordinary believer notices these signs, his certainty can become stronger.
Then, when another test arrives, he can hold onto Allah and think:
If those signs were true, then this difficult moment will also pass.
The hardship may be real. The grief may be real. But Allah is still Allah.
Perhaps this is the deeper lesson:
Allah does not always remove the test immediately. Sometimes He strengthens the heart before the test.
So if you are going through a difficult time, keep trusting Allah.
Ask Him for relief. Remain patient. And remember the signs that have already strengthened your heart.
Because perhaps the real test is not whether Allah will show you a sign
but whether you will still trust Him when the next storm arrives.
Read this article.
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