A Muslim needs to note and accept that belief and striving in the course of Allah do not commence and terminate with a claim and the actual acting out of such. Thus, the bliss that is provided for in Islam, for those who believe and strive hard is not and must not be conceived as an expectation that will immediately follow the struggle. Bliss in Islam is a permanent experience that is eventually or will ultimately be enjoyed – but not from this world. Those who are in haste to start that experience have the wrong understanding of Islam. In other words, godliness does not exempt the believer from the difficulties of this world.

Thus, the overcoming of one problem is not a license for exclusion or freedom from a further problematic experience, as long as one is living. This applies not only to the past exemplary generation of Muslims but to all generation of believers. Being with Allah is therefore not to be mistaken for exemption from facing problems, be they political, economic, social, intellectual, military, within or without.

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying: “We believe,” and that they will not be tested? Qur’an 29:2
Do they think that because we have granted them abundance of wealth and sons, We will hasten them on in every good? Nay, they do not understand. Qur’an 23:55 – 56
O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. Qur’an 2:153

The attitude turning to Allah that will have the relevance of patience and perseverance is to be cultured by asking for His forgiveness of one’s sins, obeying His commandments, submitting in every sense, with every sense, everywhere and at all times and in every form. This amounts to remaining strictly within the bounds provided by Allah. It’s to such practitioners, such believers, such Muslims that Muhammad (S.A.W) is to convey good news of Allah’s promise of eventual bliss. Not, to ad-hoc practitioners, immediate expectants, part-time or partial members or those who restrict such practices to when they are home, are abroad, in good health or while they are ill. It rather applies to those who make it their way of life, those who carry it about in all their businesses.