Allah the Exalted said: << أحسب الناس أن يتركوا أن يقولوا ءامنا وهم لايفتنون >

The Shaykh: His saying: His saying: This is the point of interrogation, meaning: Do people think that they will be left alone if they say, "We have believed," without being tested? This is something that will not happen; rather, testing is a necessity. The stronger a person's faith, the more he will be tested. Indeed, Allah the Exalted tests people; the righteous are tested, the best of them being tested the most, so that it may be seen whether there is strength in his religion or whether it is a weak religion. And His saying: means "think." And His saying: Who does it include? It includes the believers and the non-believers. This is because the statement "I am a believer" may come from a true believer, or it may come from a hypocrite. It is not correct to call a hypocrite a believer in an absolute sense; rather, it is said: "A believer with his tongue, a disbeliever with his heart." That is, by their saying: , meaning: People think that they will be left without trial if they say: "We have believed" They will be tested by what reveals the reality of their faith. "Is this interrogation for affirmation or for denial? It is for denial, meaning: Do not think that if you say, 'We have believed,' you will be left without trial. Rather, trial and testing are a necessity. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, tests a person sometimes with the actions he performs for Allah, and sometimes with the actions of others whom He sends against him. As for his own actions, Allah the Exalted may test a person with calamities to test his faith: financial calamities, calamities concerning his family, or bodily calamities. Indeed, some people, when these calamities befall them—may Allah protect us from them—cannot bear to be patient, and they may even apostatize after their Islam and become disbelievers, may Allah protect us from that. And some people are patient and seek reward. Likewise, a person may be tested by a matter that Allah sends against him, which is not from Allah's own action, such as a group being sent against him to harm him by speech or by action, or by both. This is what happened to whom? It happened to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)... It happened to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was subjected to great harm by his people and by others, and his Companions were also subjected to great harm, were they not? And yet, they were patient and sought reward. Indeed, 'Ammar ibn Yasir and his family were subjected to great harm, as were others among the believers. Some were harmed by speech, some by action, and some by both speech and action. And His saying:

and they will not be tried?

وَهُمْ لا يُفْتَنُونَ

[Al-'Ankabut 29:2]

He says: It was revealed concerning a group who believed, and the polytheists harmed them. " Now, [Al-'Ankabut: 10] then he apostatizes, may Allah protect us from that. Likewise, among people today, especially among the youth who are turning to religion, there are those whom those open sinners harm and deter, saying: "You are a fanatic," "You are a reactionary," and the like. This is a trial from Allah and a test for Him, Glorified and Exalted is He, to know whether this person will be patient in his religion or whether he will... then return out of fear of the harm from these people. Also, among people, there are those who are harmed for adorning themselves with the morals of the believers, such as growing the beard. They are harmed for this either by speech, mockery, and belittling, or by action, being beaten for it or imprisoned. You will find that he shaves his beard out of fear of this matter. And this is not permissible, because it is obligatory to be patient. Yes, if you are coerced into this: your hand is tied, a razor is brought, and it is shaved, this is a matter not in your control. But as long as the matter is in your control, it is not permissible for you to commit a sin out of fear of people. It is obligatory that a person never commit sins out of fear of people. He must be patient and seek reward. .
[Al-'Ankabut: 3]