How Strong Should a Believer’s Faith Be? | Islamic Perspective
How Strong Should a Believer's Faith Be?
When we talk about faith, we find that every individual reaches a different stage of faith, and this is one of the reasons why the درجات (ranks) of Paradise are also different.
Every human being possesses a different level of strength, and accordingly, each person is tested within their own capacity. This is why Allah says in the Qur'an that He does not burden anyone beyond their capacity.
To understand this, let us consider an incident from Surah Al-Kahf.
The Determination of Prophet Musa (AS)
Allah says:
Surah Al-Kahf (18:60)
وَاِذۡ قَالَ مُوۡسٰى لِفَتٰٮهُ لَاۤ اَبۡرَحُ حَتّٰۤى اَبۡلُغَ مَجۡمَعَ الۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ اَوۡ اَمۡضِىَ حُقُبًا
> And remember when Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) said to his young companion: "I will not turn back until I reach the junction of the two seas, even if I have to travel for ages."
In some translations, the word huquban is rendered as "for ages," "for a long time," or "for a prolonged period." However, regardless of the wording used in the translation, the meaning is clear: I am not going to turn back.
Now, let us look at what his companion said in verse 63 when they had become hungry.
Allah says:
Surah Al-Kahf (18:63)
قَالَ اَرَءَيۡتَ اِذۡ اَوَيۡنَاۤ اِلَى الصَّخۡرَةِ فَاِنِّىۡ نَسِيۡتُ الۡحُوۡتَ
وَمَاۤ اَنۡسٰٮنِيۡهُ اِلَّا الشَّيۡطٰنُ اَنۡ اَذۡكُرَهٗۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيۡلَهٗ فِىۡ الْبَحْرِۖ عَجَبًا
> He replied: "Do you remember when we rested beside the rock? I forgot the fish, and none but Satan made me forget to mention it to you. And it made its way into the sea in a strange manner."
When you reflect upon this verse, you will notice that they had stopped to rest.
This means that their bodies had become tired. They had not turned back; rather, they had simply stopped somewhere to rest.
Their bodies had physical limitations, limitations from which no human being can free themselves. They also became hungry, which further demonstrates how vulnerable and limited we are as human beings.
We all have our limits, and eventually, we have to stop somewhere.
But did their determination become exhausted?
Of course not.
They stopped because their physical limitations compelled them to do so. It was much like a car that has to be stopped after running for a certain period so that its engine can cool down and its fuel can be replenished.
We, too, are like that.
We begin something with our full energy, complete conviction, and strong belief. But as the journey becomes longer, our bodies begin to grow tired. Our determination starts weakening, and our hopes begin to fade.
Yet the faith of a believer is such that even when the body becomes exhausted, determination grows weaker, and hope seems to die, the believer does not turn back.
Because even when every other hope appears to have disappeared, a small hope still remains within them.
They lose in every possible way, until eventually, they surrender to one final acceptance:
Whatever Allah wills.
And this capacity is different in every human being. Some reach this position after making only a little effort, while others arrive at the same conclusion after making tremendous efforts.
Every person's trial is different, and every matter ultimately rests in the hands of Allah.
For He may allow every trace of hope within someone to fade, only to breathe life into that hope once more, empowering them to rise beyond their perceived limits and attain extraordinary heights.
If you want to know the reality of Can You Control Your Thoughts?
Read this article.
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