by Raqif Makhdoomi
Those who have stood by the truth have always faced trials. History does not make exceptions. Every individual who has challenged injustice has encountered resistance.
The charm of Eid celebrations has faded. The happiness that once enveloped people no longer exists. Smiles have lost their warmth; they are no longer what they used to be. The bustle in the markets now centres on transactions, not festivity. People wear new clothes only to appear presentable, not to mark the occasion.
There was a time in Kashmir when households did not boast an abundance of dishes on the table, yet a quiet joy persisted. Even without new clothes, the excitement and sincerity in people’s expressions made old garments seem grand. That era has passed. Hugs now serve as moments for staged photographs, and smiles are curated for social media. Eid has become a ritual, stripped of emotion and meaning. Behind cheerful faces lie untold stories of grief. Each person appears to be engaged in a private struggle, unwilling to speak of it, but desperate to emerge victorious.
Eid-ul-Adha is a festival of sacrifice. It calls for complete submission to the will of Allah, the Almighty Creator of this world and the next.
Every Prophet faced trials. Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was tested through his son. Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him) endured trials. Hazrat Issa (peace be upon him) too was tested. Hazrat Ayyub (peace be upon him) suffered a prolonged illness. Though Allah had blessed him with wealth, it was taken from him as part of his test. He offered no complaint and accepted every trial without resentment. When he recovered, someone asked him which days he cherished most. He replied, “The days of my illness were the best.” When asked why, he said, “Because Jibrael (peace be upon him) used to visit me, ask about my condition, and convey Allah’s salam.”
Trials are inseparable from the life of a believer. A hadith states that those dearest to Allah are the ones tested most severely.
Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and mercy be upon him) himself endured intense hardship. He once said, “The way I have been tortured for Islam, no one else has been.” This was how Allah tested His most beloved servant. No one whom Allah has loved has been spared from trials.
We are all familiar with the trial of Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him), who was cast into fire for opposing the corrupt practices of his people. His defiance brought him persecution, but his endurance earned him a revered position in Islam. From his lineage came Prophets, and centuries later, his act of sacrifice remains commemorated by millions around the world.
In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 214, Allah says, “Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity, and were so shaken that even the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, ‘When will Allah’s help come?’ Indeed, Allah’s help is near.” The verse does not only affirm the inevitability of trials but reminds believers of the scale of suffering borne by those who came before.
Hazrat Yasir (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) was martyred for refusing to abandon the truth. His body was torn apart for his refusal to accept idolatry. Alongside him, Hazrat Sumaya (may Allah’s mercy be upon him), the first woman martyr in Islam, was killed in the same incident. Hazrat Yasir (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) was told to acknowledge the worth of idols. When he refused, he was tied to four healthy camels and pulled in opposite directions. Hazrat Sumaya (may Allah’s mercy be upon her) was struck with an arrow in her private part. These acts were not isolated events but part of a long history of persecution faced by those who upheld the truth.
Hazrat Yousuf (peace be upon him) endured imprisonment despite his innocence. Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) died after being poisoned in a prison cell. Sayyid Qutb (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) was hanged for speaking openly in defence of justice and Islamic principles. Their belief did not protect them from suffering; it invited it.
Those who have stood by the truth have always faced trials. History does not make exceptions. Every individual who has challenged injustice has encountered resistance. Nelson Mandela, in his fight against apartheid, was imprisoned for twenty-seven years.
These accounts are not just historical records. They serve as reminders of the consequences that accompany a life of truth. Endurance in the face of oppression remains a defining characteristic of those who submit to a higher moral and spiritual order.
Muslims must constantly remind themselves that life is marked by trials, for that is the purpose of their existence in this world. Often, the eye turns towards those who do not follow Allah, observing in them a life of comfort and ease. Yet Allah has stated in Surah Al-Imran, verse 196, “Do not be deceived by the prosperity of the disbelievers throughout the land,” and in the following verse, “It is only a brief enjoyment. Then Hell will be their home what an evil place to rest.”
The deeper issue lies in our failure to understand the Qur’an in the way it was meant to be understood, let alone the broader faith of Islam. The Qur’an is an ocean in its depth, holding within it the answers to every question that life presents. Yet it is we who have failed to grasp its meaning and purpose.
Our community faces immense challenges. Some of our loved ones remain in prison. Some lie buried. Others have disappeared without a trace. The sorrow is not without cause. Still, one must look to the people of Gaza, who have come to live with grief as a constant companion. In them is a model of endurance in the face of devastation.
We hold to the belief that each hardship will be rewarded.
(The author is a law student and rights activist. Ideas are personal.)
