05 Oct Outcomes from the tests of this Dunya

Painful experiences in this dunya lead to one of two outcomes:

Either:

1. You learn the lesson and become a better, stronger, more mature person. This often brings you closer to Allah, seeking refuge in Him.

Or:

2. You fail to learn the lesson and just keep repeating the cycle and don’t change. You stay the same and your problems stay the same, and actually worsen over time. This often takes you further away from Allah, trying to flee from your problems with escapism, various maladaptive coping strategies, and ego defense mechanisms that are doomed to fail.

Allah says in the Quran,

فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ

“So where would you go?” (Surat at-Takweer, 26)

And He says,

فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ …

“So flee to Allah…” (Surat Adh-Dhariyat, 50)

All your problems and pain should lead you straight to Allah.

Then the pain has served a purpose and the problems were actually blessings.