Tenets of Islamic Beliefs; Adl/19

Why Does God Test Us?

TEHRAN (IQNA) – According to the divine worldview, God knows what has happened in the past and what will happen in future. So does testing humans with hardships and adversities mean He doesn’t know what everyone will do?

News ID: 3484393

Date: 21 July 2023 - 16:51

The Holy Quran says: “We shall test you through fear, hunger, loss of life, property, and crops. (Muhammad), give glad news to the people who have patience.” (Verse 155 of Surah Al-Baqarah)

Based on the divine worldview, God knows what has happened in the past and what will happen in the future. So when He tests people with hardships and adversities, does that mean He doesn't know what everyone will do?

There is no doubt that there are differences between our test and God’s test. We examine in order to gain knowledge but God does not do it for that purpose. He already knows what we think and how we will act.

The purpose of divine test is for us to take an action so that we will be entitled to reward or punishment.

God does not give us reward or punishment based on His knowledge about us but based on what we do.

We do not pay a tailor, a painter, a carpenter or a builder because they are good at what they do. We pay them when they do something for us.