Answer
Salam Dear Questioner,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
The way each person perceives this world is different; that’s why there is faith and Islam is mostly about faith. So a believer always sees Allah’s justice and mercy. A person who has worked hard would love to get to Paradise; so if it didn’t exist then it would be a great loss for him or her.
As for the one who is ungrateful to His Lord, surely things don’t matter because he wishes to eliminate the Hellfire; then why not eliminate Paradise as well and claim that God is unjust for not giving us the choice to exist.
We must realize that the Creator wished it that way in order to distinguish the good from evil among us; therefore, either reward or punish us. Just like taking a university exam, the one who studies hard will pass and the one who slacks fail.
Our Creator really wishes to reward us tremendously, beyond our imagination but we just have to do just a little bit of effort in this short span of time in this world in order to gain eternal bliss in the Hereafter. Allah has already given us all the answers, so unlike a math test, we just have to read or ask and we get the answer.
If we fail by not following what we learned, we are given multiple chances to try over and over again.
Sometimes we are even tested with something beyond our control. Allah says in the Quran what means:
{O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: “They are dead.” Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not. Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, who say, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return”:- They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah, and mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.} (Al-Baqara, Chapter 2:153-157)
Allah is with those who believe, and who seek His help with patient perseverance. If Muslims happen to die from severe illnesses, calamities, etc. then Allah will reward them like martyrs, who appear to be dead in this world but are not really dead according to the above verse.
Won’t we appreciate an eternal life of bliss, bypassing the torment of the grave, the questioning of Judgment Day for just a little bit of agony in this world, which we won’t remember anyway?
The following hadith demonstrates that the person who is admitted to Jannah but lived a miserable life will not remember his/her misery and the one who lived a luxurious life but was destined to to Hell will not remember any luxury.
Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Among the inmates of Hell, a person who had led the most luxurious life in this world will be brought up on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Fire and will be asked: ‘O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you happen to get any luxury?’ He will reply: ‘By Allah, no, my Lord.’ And then one of the people of Paradise who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in it. Then he will be asked: ‘O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?’ He will say: “By Allah, no my Lord, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship”. (Muslim)
Allah is not merely a spectator over His creation, nor He is powerless; He is in full control of everything. He allows what He wills, and prevents what He wills, and none of us are in the position to challenge His actions or motivations.
We must also remember Allah’s blessings upon us. Those who are not suffering must be more appreciative of Allah’s wisdom over His creation. This life is about opportunities for rewards that we need to seek and look for.
If we don’t have a vision for the Hereafter then our sight is merely narrowed to this world and we can only see what is in front of us. Our understanding and attitude towards life changes misery into challenge and the full satisfaction with Allah’s decree.
In order for Allah’s test to work there must be good and evil. If there is only good then we won’t be tested, we might as well just go straight to Paradise. Maybe that’s what many people wish for but this is not Allah’s plan; He does what He wants and He may not be questioned about what He does (see answer above).
The reward is Paradise if we win, which is an eternal life of continuous pleasure where we won’t remember this world’s hardships. We will get whatever we desire for and none of us will be dissatisfied.
There should be no reason for any one of us to go to bed every night sinless since a bad deed is counted as one sin, while a good deed is counted as at least ten rewards.
When we sin and ask Allah’s forgiveness, He will erase that sin as if it didn’t really exist.
I advise you to have a better outlook on life and to understand faith rather than complain about things that you cannot change. You don’t have the ability to change God’s will, therefore submit to His will and accept the way life is; otherwise, you will be facing a great loss.
No matter how much you complain about God’s decree, you are in confrontation with the Creator; you don’t stand a chance to win your case.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Salam and please keep in touch