In the old days, back when people used to actually use gold coins, forgeries abounded; so how do you tell the difference between a real gold coin and a fake gold coin? How can you tell the percentage that’s real or not?
The answer is, you put it through a test.
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ
Translation: Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make known the truth of those who are true, and will certainly make known the falsehood of those who are liars (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test). [Surah Ankabut, 29:2-3]
In fact, the very same word used here for “test” is fa-ta-na (same root as fitnah). Allah is telling us, that he will test us, for sure; and this will be the tool to differentiate the real Muslims and Mu’mins from the smack-talkers.
May Allah () make us all successful in all our tests, and make us strong for the tests that are to come! Ameen!
A potent verse – subhaan’Allah.
Shaykh ‘Aalish-Shaykh has an amazing tafseer on this, an article entitled, “Life is a Fitnah”. Very beneficial read, mashaaAllah.
“May Allah make us all successful in all our tests, and make us strong for the tests that are to come!”
Ameen.
Masha’Allah, a potent reminder for those of us who are woefully content with their level of Islam.
This introduction bears a strong resemblance to the intro of Br. Yasir Qadhi’s “Fire of the Goldsmith” which is available on EmanRush.com
Jazak’Allah Khair for the reminder