Ever wonder why your life is full of hardships?

Ever wonder why your life is full of hardship? Or sometime, you wonder when will the hardship ever end?

Like any other mother, I go through many hardships, alhamdulillah. But as a mother of a child with complex needs, sometime those trials feel heavier. My daughter cannot walk or talk. She doesn't understand me and I cannot understand her. On top of that, she faces epilepsy  attacks. 

Yet, I remind myself of what Allah says in the Quran:

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

 

Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas Allah! With Him is a great reward (Paradise).

(Al Quran Surah At-Taghabun 64:15)

And again Allah says:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُمْ بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ

 

Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good, and to Us you will be returned.

(Al Quran Surah Al-Anbiya 21:35)

From these verses I learn that I am not special in being tested. Every mother, every human being is tested in this world, sometime with ease and sometimes with hardship. 

Why Does Allah Test Us?

Allah Himself tells us the purpose of these trials:

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

 

He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving

(Al Quran Surah Al-Mulk 67:2)

Masha Allah when my daughter cries all night and refuses to sleep, when she stiffens and screams in pain while I can barely keep my patience, I remember this verse. That moment is my test: will I act with patience, or will I lose it?

Allah reminds us clearly in another verse:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

 

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). 

 

(Al Quran Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155)

 

The Glad News for the Patient 

What is the “glad news”? It is greater than anything in this dunya: forgiveness and paradise. Allahu Akbar! What more would anyone wish for?

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ

 

Not so do those who show patience and constancy, and work righteousness; for them is forgiveness (of sins) and a great reward.

(Al Quran Surah Hud 11:11)

وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنْفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

 

Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their Lord; Establish regular prayers; spend, out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment of the (eternal) home,

(Al Quran Surah Ar-Ra'd 13: 22)

Subhana Allah, every hardship we face becomes a chance to earn not only Allah's forgiveness but also His paradise, Jannah. 

A Woman of Paradise 

One of my favorite hadiths gives me strength. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) once said:

Narrated 'Ata bin Abi Rabah May Allah be pleased with him Ibn 'Abbas said to me, "Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?" I said, "Yes." He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.' The Prophet May Allah's peace and praise be on him said (to her), 'If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke Allah to cure you.' She said, 'I will remain patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So he invoked Allah for her."

Hadith - Bukhari 7:555.

This woman’s illness became her pathway to Paradise. 

Why Does Allah Allow Us to Get Sick?

Sickness itself, even the smallest hardship, can wipe away our sins. 

The Prophet ﷺ said:

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri r.a. reported that the Prophet May Allah's peace and praise be on him said: Whenever a Muslim is afflicted with a hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm, or depression, even a thorn's prick, Allah expiates his sins because of it.

Hadith Muslim & Bukhari

Even pain has meaning in Islam. It is not wasted.

With Hardship Comes Ease Finally, 

Allah promises us something we should hold tightly:

فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

 

So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: 

(Al Quran Surah As-Sharh 94:5)

إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

 

Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.

(Al Quran Surah As-Sharh 94:6)

Alhamdulillah, every difficulty we go through will eventually pass, and with it comes relief.

Each test I face as a mother, sleepless nights, seizures, tears, and exhaustion, is a test from Allah. If I meet it with patience, I am promised forgiveness and Jannah. What more could a person hope for?

🌿 Let’s Reflect Together 

• What hardships have taught you patience and tawakkul?
• How do you remind yourself of Allah’s reward during tough moments?
• Share your reflections in the comments, your story might inspire another parent who is struggling.

💌 If you found this post meaningful, share it with a friend who needs a reminder that hardship never comes without relief.

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