Allah said,
﴿لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِى أَمْوَلِكُمْ
وَأَنفُسِكُمْ﴾
(You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in yourselves),
just as He said in another Ayah,
﴿وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ
مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الاٌّمَوَالِ وَالاٌّنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَتِ﴾
(And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth,
lives and fruits) ﴿2:155﴾.
Therefore, the believer shall be tested, in his wealth, himself, his offspring and
family. The believer shall be tested according to the degree of his faith, and when
his faith is stronger, the test is larger.
Allah said to the believers upon their arrival at Al-Madinah, before Badr, while
comforting them against the harm they suffered from the People of the Scriptures
and the polytheists;
﴿وَإِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ
فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الاٍّمُورِ﴾
(but if you persevere patiently, and have Taqwa, then verily, that will be a determining
factor in all affairs.)
Therefore, Allah commanded the believers to be forgiving, patient and forbearing
until He brought His awaited aid.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Usamah bin Zayd said that Allah's Messenger rode a donkey
with a saddle covered by a velvet sheet and let Usamah ride behind him (on the donkey).
The Prophet wanted to visit Sa`d bin `Ubadah in Bani Al-Harith bin Al-Khazraj, and
this occurred before the battle of Badr. The Prophet passed by a gathering in which
`Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul was sitting, before `Abdullah bin Ubayy became Muslim.
That gathering was made up of various Muslims as well as Mushriks, who worshipped
the idols, and some Jews. `Abdullah bin Rawahah was sitting in that gathering. When
the Prophet reached `Abdullah bin Ubayy, the donkey caused some sand to fall on
the group. Then, `Abdullah bin Ubayy covered his nose with his robe and said, `Do
not fill us with sand.' The Messenger of Allah greeted the gathering with Salam,
called them to Allah and recited some of the Qur'an to them. `Abdullah bin Ubayy
said, `O fellow! No other speech is better than what you said, if it was true! However,
do not bother us in our gatherings. Go back to your place and whoever came to you,
narrate your stories to him.' `Abdullah bin Rawahah said, `Rather, O Messenger of
Allah! Attend our gatherings for we like that.' The Muslims, Mushriks and Jews then
cursed each other, and they almost fought with each other. The Prophet tried to
calm them down, until they finally settled. The Prophet rode his donkey and went
to Sa`d bin `Ubadah, saying, `O Sa`d! Have you heard what Abu Hubbab said (meaning
`Abdullah bin Ubayy) He said such and such things. ' Sa`d said, `O Messenger of
Allah! Forgive and pardon him. By Allah, Who sent down the Book to you, Allah brought
us the truth that you came with at a time when the people of this city almost appointed
him king. When Allah changed all that with the truth that He gave you, he choked
on it, and this is the reason behind the behavior you saw from him.' The Messenger
of Allah forgave him. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah and his Companions used to
forgive the Mushriks and the People of the Scriptures, just as Allah commanded them,
and they used to tolerate the harm that they suffered. Allah said,
﴿وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ
أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ أَذًى كَثِيراً﴾
(and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received
the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners
to Allah;) ﴿3:186﴾, and,
﴿وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ
الْكِتَـبِ لَوْ يَرُدُّونَكُم مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَـنِكُمْ كُفَّارًا حَسَدًا مِّنْ عِنْدِ
أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِّن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْحَقُّ فَاعْفُواْ وَاصْفَحُواْ حَتَّى
يَأْتِىَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ﴾
(Many of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) wish that they could
turn you away as disbelievers after you have believed, out of envy from their own
selves, even after the truth has become manifest unto them. But forgive and overlook,
till Allah brings His command) ﴿2:109﴾.
The Prophet used to implement the pardon that Allah commanded him until He gave
His command (to fight the disbelievers). When the Messenger fought at Badr, and
Allah killed, by his hand, the leaders of the disbelievers from Quraysh, `Abdullah
bin Ubayy bin Salul and the Mushriks and idol worshippers who were with him said,
`This matter has prevailed,' and they gave their pledge to the Prophet and became
Muslims.''
Therefore, every person who stands for truth, enjoins righteousness and forbids
evil, will be harmed in some manner. In such cases, there is no cure better than
being patient in Allah's cause, trusting in Him and returning to Him.
﴿وَإِذْ
أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَـقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ
وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً
فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ ﴾
﴿لاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ
الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوْاْ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُواْ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُواْ
فَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴾
﴿وَللَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَـوَتِ
وَالاٌّرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴾
(187. (And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture
(Jews and Christians) to make it (the truth) known and clear to mankind, and not
to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some
miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought.) (188. Think not that
those who rejoice in what they have done (or brought about), and love to be praised
for what they have not done, think not that they are rescued from the torment, and
for them is a painful torment.) (189. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens
and the earth, and Allah has power over all things.)