Life is full of challenges and difficulties. It consists of different events that result in various feelings and emotions. Marriage, divorce, birth, death, success, failure, wealth, poverty, health, and sickness. Every human without exception experiences some kind of challenge. No one in this world is absolutely problem free, it is just the nature of life. Some people may not have financial problems, but they may have family problems. Others might have financial struggles but have strong families and good health. The Qur’ān explains:

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ
We have created man into toil and struggle. [Al Balad 90: 4].

How are we to understand and deal with these challenges?

The Qur’ān emphasizes that both difficulty and ease are not indications of Allah’s anger or love.
فَأَمَّا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِذَا مَا ٱبْتَلَىٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَأَكْرَمَهُۥ وَنَعَّمَهُۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّىٓ أَكْرَمَنِ
وَأَمَّآ إِذَا مَا ٱبْتَلَىٰهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّىٓ أَهَـٰنَنِ
As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honour and blessings, then he says (puffed up): “My Lord has honoured me.” But when He tries him and restricts his provision, he says, “My Lord has humiliated me.” [Al Fajr 89: 15, 16].

Empty people often value themselves based on their net worth or some material possession, but this is very superficial because they are valuing themselves based on something external such as wealth and not based on who they are as a person. Did Firoun not think of himself as better than Musa AS?

أَمْ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ
فَلَوْلَآ أُلْقِىَ عَلَيْهِ أَسْوِرَةٌ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوْ جَآءَ مَعَهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ مُقْتَرِنِينَ
Am I not better than this (Musa), who is a detestable wretched and can scarcely express himself clearly? Then why are not gold bracelets bestowed on him, or why don’t angels accompany him in procession? [Az Zukhruf 43: 52-53].

However, the Qur’ān explains that sometimes wealth can be a source of punishment.

وَمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْغُرُفَـٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ
And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us, but only he (will please Us) who believes and does righteous deeds; for such (people), there will be a double reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (of Paradise), in peace and security.” [Saba 34: 37].

وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
And let not their wealth and their children impress you. Allah only intends to punish them through them in this world and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers [At Tauba 9: 85].

These verses indicate that having and not having wealth is not a sign of Allah’s love. One may have a life full of challenges, poverty, and sickness. However, it is ultimately Allah’s pleasure that is most important and the source of true happiness and peace. The Prophet ﷺ said:

‏عجبا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله له خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن ‏:‏ إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيراً له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيراً له‏‏
“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affairs are good and this is not for no one except the believer. If something of good/happiness befalls him he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him he is patient and that is good for him (Sahih Muslim).

This changes the believer’s outlook on life. Something might be harmful, but he views it as a temporary difficulty and transforms it into an eternal blessing. By being patient when he or she is afflicted with something, they know that this affliction is actually good in the end.

Ultimately, everyone is challenged in life at some level. We are all equal in that regard and no one can escape both having and not having in some respect. Where we differ is in our attitude and perception of these events. The Qur’ān reshapes the human mind to not view wealth, fame, and materialistic luxury as sources of happiness and Allah’s pleasure. Rather, they can, in fact, lead to misery and sadness. Happiness is found in the attitude of being pleased with Allah’s decree and being near to Him.