40. A Life of Toil

The Quran affirms: “I swear by this city—and you are dwelling in this city—and by parent and offspring, that We have created man into a life of toil and trial.” (90:1-4)

This verse explains the divine plan for earthly life. The world we live in is not meant to be a place of comfort and rest, but a place of trial and struggle. Since human beings are under test, both men and women inevitably encounter difficulty, hardship, and pain in different forms.

Without challenges, there can be no testing. Hardship, therefore, is not a punishment, but part of the divine plan—meant to awaken human strength, patience, and faith.