1a. There is a great secret in the difficulttests undergone by the Prophets

1a
the Prophet Job (as) displayed fortitude in the face of sickness and
physical difficulties, the Prophet Aaron (as) sought to win over a
pagan people who rejected him, the Prophet John (as) was martyred by
the deniers of his time and the Prophet Jesus (as) strove against the
snares of the hypocrites. These holy prophets wereall subjected to
great tests. The Muslims who followed the prophets also confronted
similar difficulties. People who came to believe after seeing the
proofs that Allah bestowed on the Prophet Moses (as) did so even in
the knowledge that Pharaoh would cut off their opposite hands and feet
and then kill them. The companions of our Prophet (saas) strove
against the deniers who forced them from their lands, inflicted
unbelievable tortures on them and even chose to martyr them. Believers
have been faced by severetests when cast into the flames by a society
of non-believers. Almighty Allah describes the situation of believers
cast into the flames as follows in verses:
Cursed be the Companions of the Pit –
The fire well stocked with fuel –
When they were seated right beside it
Witnessing what they did to the believers.
The only reason they punished them was because they believed in Allah,
the Almighty, the All-Praiseworthy –
Him to whom the Kingdom of the heavensand the earth belongs. Allah is
Witness of all things.
Those who persecute men and women of the believers, and then do not
repent, will have thepunishment of Hell, will have the punishment of
the Burning. (Surat al-Buruj, 4-10)
Of course Almighty Allah is He who creates, with a special creation,
prophets and believers and those believers who warn their communities,
who turn toHim, who love Him above all and live for Him alone. He has
created them for paradise. But they are nevertheless tested in the
life of this world. There is a secret behind this. The test and the
difficulties involved in it are a sign ofsuperiority, love,
self-sacrifice and a genuine and sincere love of Allah. The prophets
addto their own beauty with the fortitude, honesty, self-sacrifice,
loyalty, devotion and moral virtuethey display. These moral virtues,
which make themone of the most valuable elements of paradise, are a
superior and worthy fortitude in the face of difficulty and submission
to Allah. Almighty Allah has prepared this difficult environment of
the test inorder for us and even them to witness their devotion and
love to Him.There is no doubt that Almighty Allah always supports and
protects believers and is always bytheir side. That is why it isso
valuable for believers to know this and display fortitude in difficult
environments. The prophets and those believers who follow them will
certainly enjoy eternal life in the hereafter and the finest reward
for this excellent fortitude. Almighty Allah reveals in verses:
Such people will be repaid for their steadfastness with the Highest
Paradise, wherethey will meet with welcome and with 'Peace'. They will
remain in it timelessly, for ever. What an excellent lodging and
abode! (Surat al-Furqan, 75-76)