Sat. April 4, 2026 · Molana Farhat Abbas
Six Levels of Benefitting from the Quran
Every level carries benefit, but we should aim higher:
- Just having it
- Opening it and looking at it
- Reading it
- Reciting with tajweed & tarteel (now others and the universe are listening and benefitting)
- Learning basic meanings
- Deep understanding and application — hudan lil muttaqeen
Goal: "Mapping this Surah in our life"
Categories of testing: fear, hunger, loss of wealth, loss of life, loss of fruits (of labor/life — e.g., children, job, respect)
Quran 2:155وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَیۡءࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَ ٰلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَ ٰتِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ
We will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patien
— Ali Quli Qara'i
- Glad tidings given to the patient
Trial is NOT Punishment — It is Divine Verification
- If you believe He is Razzaq, perhaps you will be tested with rizq; if you believe He provides protection and izzah, maybe you will be tested in those things. Verse 155 of Surah Baqara confirms that trial is a Divine Law:
Quran 2:155وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَیۡءࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَ ٰلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَ ٰتِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ
We will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patien
— Ali Quli Qara'i
- This trial is Divine Verification. The people who claim belief will be tested to verify their claims:
Quran 29:2أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن یُتۡرَكُوۤا۟ أَن یَقُولُوۤا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا یُفۡتَنُونَ
Do the people suppose that they will be let off because they say, ‘We have faith,’ and they will not be tested
— Ali Quli Qara'i
- Trial is an unchanging sunnah —
Quran 29:3وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ فَلَیَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَیَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِینَ
Certainly We tested those who were before them. So Allah shall surely ascertain those who are truthful, and He shall surely ascertain the liars
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Trial Builds Character and Erases Shortcomings
- Like a successful student who uses quiz results to work on weaknesses
- Shortcomings we are unaware of are exposed and corrected through hardship — this is Divine mercy (a formula, though all formulas have exceptions)
- We cannot outrun accountability
Quran 29:4أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّیِّءَاتِ أَن یَسۡبِقُونَاۚ سَاۤءَ مَا یَحۡكُمُونَ
Do those who commit misdeeds suppose that they can outmaneuver Us? Evil is the judgement that they make
— Ali Quli Qara'i
How to Handle Trials — Full Map
Trial as Divine Law
Quran 2:155وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَیۡءࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَ ٰلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَ ٰتِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ
We will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patien
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Trial is Divine Verification; unchanging sunnah — "This world is a gym — successive increase of trials to gradually grow us."
Quran 29:2أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن یُتۡرَكُوۤا۟ أَن یَقُولُوۤا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا یُفۡتَنُونَ
Do the people suppose that they will be let off because they say, ‘We have faith,’ and they will not be tested
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Quran 29:3وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ فَلَیَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَیَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِینَ
Certainly We tested those who were before them. So Allah shall surely ascertain those who are truthful, and He shall surely ascertain the liars
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Trial purifies and corrects; hardship elevates and erases shortcomings
Quran 29:4أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّیِّءَاتِ أَن یَسۡبِقُونَاۚ سَاۤءَ مَا یَحۡكُمُونَ
Do those who commit misdeeds suppose that they can outmaneuver Us? Evil is the judgement that they make
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Quran 29:7وَٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنۡهُمۡ سَیِّءَاتِهِمۡ وَلَنَجۡزِیَنَّهُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلَّذِی كَانُوا۟ یَعۡمَلُونَ
As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, We will absolve them of their misdeeds and We will surely reward them by the best of what they used to do
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Ummah's collective trial — can span generations (e.g., Palestine; Nuh — 950 years)
Quran 29:14وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِیهِمۡ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمۡسِینَ عَامࣰا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلطُّوفَانُ وَهُمۡ ظَـٰلِمُونَ
Certainly We sent Noah to his people, and he remained with them for a thousand-less-fifty years. Then the flood overtook them while they were wrongdoers
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Trial of deception — false idols (wealth, power, alliances) promise what only Allah can give
Quran 29:17إِنَّمَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡثَـٰنࣰا وَتَخۡلُقُونَ إِفۡكًاۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا یَمۡلِكُونَ لَكُمۡ رِزۡقࣰا فَٱبۡتَغُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرِّزۡقَ وَٱعۡبُدُوهُ وَٱشۡكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥۤۖ إِلَیۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ
In fact, instead of Allah you worship idols, and you invent a lie. Indeed those whom you worship besides Allah have no control over your provision. So seek all [your] provision from Allah, and worship Him and thank Him, and to Him you shall be brought back.’
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Civilizations face trials too — Qarun (wealth arrogance), Pharaoh (tyranny), Haman (corrupt administration): three pillars of collapse
Quran 29:39وَقَـٰرُونَ وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَاۤءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِ فَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ سَـٰبِقِینَ
And Korah, Pharaoh, and Haman. Certainly Moses brought them manifest proofs, but they acted arrogantly in the land; though they could not outmaneuver [Allah]
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Rely only on Allah. Relying on others for protection is like seeking protection in a spider's web; what seems intricate and meticulously designed is in reality frail and weak.
Quran 29:41مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِینَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡلِیَاۤءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتۡ بَیۡتࣰاۖ وَإِنَّ أَوۡهَنَ ٱلۡبُیُوتِ لَبَیۡتُ ٱلۡعَنكَبُوتِۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ
The parable of those who take guardians instead of Allah is that of the spider that takes a home, and indeed the frailest of homes is the home of a spider, had they known
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Reflect with intellect. There are many examples in the Quran that provide clarity and help us overcome life's trials, but we must seek knowledge and reflect.
Quran 29:43وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِۖ وَمَا یَعۡقِلُهَاۤ إِلَّا ٱلۡعَـٰلِمُونَ
And We draw these parables for mankind; but no one grasps them except those who have knowledge
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Establish real prayer — don't underestimate salaah
Quran 29:45ٱتۡلُ مَاۤ أُوحِیَ إِلَیۡكَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَاۤءِ وَٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلَذِكۡرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكۡبَرُۗ وَٱللَّهُ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تَصۡنَعُونَ
Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and maintain the prayer. Indeed the prayer prevents indecencies and wrongs, and the remembrance of Allah is surely greater. And Allah knows whatever [deeds] you do
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Remember death. Death is not the end, it is just a transfer. Remembering death reminds us how our life in this world is temporary.
Quran 29:57كُلُّ نَفۡسࣲ ذَاۤىِٕقَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِۖ ثُمَّ إِلَیۡنَا تُرۡجَعُونَ
Every soul shall taste death. Then you shall be brought back to Us
— Ali Quli Qara'i
A divine formula for overcoming tests: Sabr + Tawakkul
Quran 29:59ٱلَّذِینَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ یَتَوَكَّلُونَ
—Those who are patient and who put their trust in their Lord
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Trust Allah for rizq. Recognize it is He who is sustaining everything in this universe and we just need to trust in Him!
Quran 29:60وَكَأَیِّن مِّن دَاۤبَّةࣲ لَّا تَحۡمِلُ رِزۡقَهَا ٱللَّهُ یَرۡزُقُهَا وَإِیَّاكُمۡۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ
How many an animal there is that does not carry its own provision. Allah provides for it, and for you, and He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Remember the aakhirah — "The aakhirah is REAL LIFE; this perspective transforms every trial from tragedy → journey"
Quran 29:64وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَیَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡیَاۤ إِلَّا لَهۡوࣱ وَلَعِبࣱۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةَ لَهِیَ ٱلۡحَیَوَانُۘ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ
The life of this world is nothing but diversion and play, but the abode of the Hereafter is indeed Life, had they known
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Strive in the way of Allah and Allah will guide us. Allah is with the muhsineen.
Quran 29:69وَٱلَّذِینَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِینَا لَنَهۡدِیَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ
As for those who strive in Us, We shall surely guide them in Our ways, and Allah is indeed with the virtuous
— Ali Quli Qara'i
Sabr + Tawakkul
- Sabr: active, not passive
- Example: Story of Nabi Khidhr and Nabi Musa (Surah Kahf, 18:65–)
- Khidhr is a symbol of life (his presence gives life; "khidhr" comes from the word for the color green — a symbol of life)
- Sabr cannot be done without complete knowledge —
Quran 18:68وَكَیۡفَ تَصۡبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِهِۦ خُبۡرࣰا
And how can you have patience about something you are not in the know of?’
— Ali Quli Qara'i
- Question: There are so many unknowns in life — is it not possible to practise sabr through the unknown?
- This is where tawakkul comes in — Allah is Rabb. Strive for knowledge, but have peace in knowing He is Rabb.
- Even if Musa didn't have knowledge, he was to practice tawakkul. He eventually did gain knowledge.
Quran 29:59ٱلَّذِینَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ یَتَوَكَّلُونَ
—Those who are patient and who put their trust in their Lord
— Ali Quli Qara'i
For next session: Everyone choose an ayah they connect with — learn and memorize it, bring it to discuss.
Outcome of this series: Map Surah Ankabut onto your life.
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