Assalamualaikum! Welcome back to Day 2 of our 2025 BeQuranic Challenge. If you’re just joining us today, no worries! You can check out yesterday’s post where I explained the whole idea behind this challenge. But here’s the quick summary:
Every day this January, we’ll be diving into the Qur’an—reading, understanding, exploring its timeless lessons, and figuring out how to apply them in our daily lives. Oh, and there’s an extra challenge too: memorising Surah al-Mulk, one aya per day! You can find all the details on our website at www.qaswa.house/bequranic.
Alright, let’s get started with today’s aya from Surah al-Mulk. We’re reading the second aya today, and we’ll also break down some tajweed rules. For our BeQuranic members, there’s an exclusive tafseer and reflection session to dive deeper into the wisdom of this verse. Not a member yet? Consider joining to get the most out of this journey!
Here’s the aya:
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلً۬اۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ
“˹He is the One˺ Who created death and life to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.”
This aya gives us an incredible insight into the purpose of our existence. Allah tells us He created life and death as a test. Think about that for a moment: everything we go through—whether we like it or not—is a test from Allah. And what’s the test about? Allah wants to see ayyukum ahsanu ‘amala—“which of you is best in deeds.”
This is so profound! Life throws so much at us—things we can’t control, things we don’t understand—and it’s easy to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” The answer is right here: Allah is testing us. He’s looking to see how we respond, how we strive to do our best in every situation.
Take hardship, for example. Allah already told us in Surah al-Baqarah (2:155):
“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear, hunger, and loss of wealth, lives, and crops. But give good news to those who patiently endure.”
Tests can come in the form of fear, financial struggle, loss of loved ones, or even natural disasters. But are these things necessarily “bad” for us?
In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Every difficulty a believer experiences—even being pricked by a thorn—becomes a means for Allah to forgive their sins or elevate their rank.”
SubhanAllah, this is a game-changer! Hardships are opportunities. When we’re patient, Allah forgives us or raises our status. It’s Allah’s love in action—even in difficulty.
But what about blessings? Good health, promotions, wealth—are these just for our enjoyment? Look at Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him). In Surah an-Naml, after being blessed with extraordinary wealth and power, he said:
“This is a favour from my Lord to test me—will I be grateful or ungrateful?”
Even blessings are tests, and the passing grade is shukr—gratitude.
Here’s the big takeaway: events themselves are neutral. Hardships don’t mean Allah is punishing you, and blessings don’t always mean Allah is pleased with you. Look at the lives of the Prophets—they faced immense difficulties. And then look at people like Pharaoh, who had power and wealth—was that a sign of Allah’s love? Definitely not.
What really matters is how we respond. If it’s a hardship, do we show sabr (patience)? If it’s a blessing, do we show shukr (gratitude)? And Allah’s test is personalised—ayyukum ahsanu ‘amala. He’s not asking us to be “the best” compared to others, but to give our best based on our circumstances.
Here’s a powerful reminder from Surah al-Qiyamah:
“Humans know themselves truly, even if they keep making excuses.”
Deep down, we know if we’re giving our best or holding back. That’s why Surah al-Mulk is such a great daily reflection tool. Before bed, ask yourself: Did I do my best today? If yes, say Alhamdulillah. If not, think about how you can improve tomorrow. Today should be better than yesterday, and tomorrow should be better than today.
So, here’s your homework for tonight: Do that daily review. Ask yourself, “Did I do my best today?”
Alright, that’s it for today! Don’t forget to take the short quiz and join our chat for tips on living a more Qur’anic life. See you tomorrow, InshaAllah!
