Before the Praise Comes the Storm

07 Aug Before the Praise Comes the Storm

“I read the Quran and noticed that Allah never praised a person except after testing him.” — Abul ‘Abbas Ibn At’aa (rahimahullah), as quoted in The Deceptions of the Devil by Ibn al-Jawzi (rahimahullah)

There’s a quiet truth tucked inside this quote, and it hits home deeply, reminding me that divine recognition isn’t handed out in moments of ease. It’s born in the storm. In the ache. In the surrender.

When I think of the people Allah praised in the Quran, I don’t see comfort—I see courage. I see Prophet Ibrahim (AS) walking toward the sacrifice. I see Maryam (RA) alone beneath a tree, her body trembling with pain and purpose. I see Prophet Yusuf (AS) choosing dignity in a dungeon.

They weren’t praised because they were perfect. They were praised because they were patient.

The Storm Is Not the End

If you’re in a season of testing, it doesn’t mean you’ve been forgotten. It might mean you’re being refined. Storms strip away what’s superficial. They reveal what’s real. And in that rawness, Allah draws near. So, when life feels heavy, when the path feels unclear, when your heart whispers “I can’t do this”—remember: You’re not being punished. You’re being prepared.

💫 A Gentle Practice for the Week

Each morning, before the day rushes in, take one quiet moment to ask: “What is this test teaching me about who I’m becoming?”

Write it down. One line. One lesson. Let it be your anchor.

A Dua for the Becoming

Ya Allah, when You test me, let me not shrink. Let me rise. Let me trust that Your praise is not distant—it’s waiting on the other side of this storm. Ameen.

With tenderness and Tawakkul,

R