The point here is that many spiritual wayfarers and seekers contemplate the Lord’s lordship and the forbidden things He has decreed to occur. They go no further than contemplating this reality of His universal decree, supposing that this constitutes contentment with the divine decree and submission to it. This is ignorance and misguidance that may lead to disbelief and abandonment of the religion. Allah has not commanded us to be content with the disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience that occur. Rather, He has commanded us to hate them and repel them as far as we can. As the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue. If he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.”

Allah Most High has said:

“He does not approve disbelief for His servants.”

And He has said:

“Allah does not love corruption.”

How, then, could He command us to be content for ourselves with what He does not approve for us? He has made the evil that occurs a trial and a test for us, as He Most High has said:

“We have made some of you a trial for others—will you be patient?”

After commanding fighting, He Most High said:

“Thus it is. Had Allah willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them, but He tests some of you by means of others. Those who are killed in Allah’s cause—He will never let their deeds go to waste.”

In Sahīh Muslim, it is reported that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“By Him in whose hand is my soul, Allah decrees nothing for the believer except that it is good for him. This is true of no one but the believer: if prosperity comes his way, he is grateful, and that is good for him; if adversity befalls him, he is patient, and that is good for him.”

Thus, when a believer is patient and grateful, the afflictions decreed for him are good