What is a Trial?

What is a Trial?

We should now try to understand the meaning of  (Trial). We should also try to find out the teachings of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم for all of us to obey in order to remain safe from the harms of these trials. We are not aware of the real implications of this term, although we use it from morning till evening. This word has also been used in the Holy Qur'an many times. It has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an at one place: وَالۡفِتۡنَةُ اَشَدُّ مِنَ الۡقَتۡلِۚ meaning that the creation of a trial is more grievous a sin than murder.

The meaning of Trial

The word فتنہ is an Arabic word the dictionary meaning of which is to find out the purity or impurity of precious metals like gold or silver by melting it on fire. Melting the metal on fire discloses the reality. For the same reason, it is also used to mean testing and examining something. Thus, a second meaning of this word is "trial". When hardships and misfortunes descend on a man his real worth and character are tested by his conduct and behavior under these trying situations. It is observed whether he bears these trying hours/days with patience makes a fuss and raises hues and cries, this testing is also called فتنہ (Trial)

The word (Trial) as used in the Ahadith

The Word فتنہ (Trial) has been used in the Ahadith to express a situation at any time. When the truth is obscure and it becomes very difficult to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong and truth and falsehood. When such a situation arises, it is said that it is a time of trial فتنہ  It is also a time of trial when sins, crimes and disobedience become rampant. In the same way to regard falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood and to put forward something as a proof which is not proof; these are forms of فتنہ (Trial). For example, if you tell a person that such an act is unlawful and strictly prohibited, the person shall reply that the entire society, the whole world including Saudi Arabia is doing this act. In our times it has become a common practice that when an objection is raised to any act, the doer at once replies that he has seen the same act being done in the Saudi Arabia. This is also a فتنہ (trial) to put forward some act or practice as a proof which is not at all a proof. In the same way we find that many groups and parties have sprung up in the city, each with its slogan and tenet and it is difficult to decide which is on the right path and which is on the wrong path. Truth and falsehood have thus become mixed up. All these fall within the definition of فتنہ (Trial)