Alternating Days: How Allah tests and refines believers

Life has a way of placing us on a constant seesaw between ease and hardship. Some days bring joy and calm, while others leave us questioning, “Why me? Why this trial? What lesson does Allah want me to learn?” These ups and downs are not random — they shape our faith, our resilience, and our character.

The Qur’an itself addresses this alternation of days, reminding us that neither comfort nor struggle is permanent. Even the Prophet ﷺ and his companions faced both triumphs and setbacks. Yet Allah makes it clear that these moments are not punishments, but rather purifications — ways to refine the believer’s heart and strengthen his imān.

One powerful example that reshaped my perspective on what we often call “failure” is the Treaty of Ḥudaybiyyah. The story is remarkable. The Prophet ﷺ, after seeing a dream of himself performing ʿUmrah, set out from Madinah to Makkah with about 1,400 of his companions, many of them on foot. The journey was nothing short of brutal — under the blazing heat of Dhul Qaʿdah, with only a few mounts to share, the Sahabah trudged mile after mile across the desert, their feet blistered and sore, their bodies aching with fatigue. Water was scarce, and by the time they reached Ḥudaybiyyah, the only well there had completely dried up. The thirst became unbearable until the Prophet ﷺ, by Allah’s permission, caused it to gush forth again by placing an arrow in it, quenching the parched caravan and restoring their strength.

Yet just as relief seemed near, an even heavier trial awaited them. When they reached the outskirts of Makkah, they were denied entry to the city. Imagine the crushing blow: after days of suffering, with hope of fulfilling the Prophet’s ﷺ dream in sight, they were turned away and told to return the following year. Hearts sank, disappointment weighed heavily, and the sense of loss was overwhelming. In that moment of despair, the Prophet ﷺ commanded them to slaughter their animals and shave their heads to exit ihrām. But grief and exhaustion paralyzed them, and not one companion moved, even after he repeated the command three times.

Sahih al-Bukhari records: “When the writing of the peace treaty was concluded, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said to his companions, ‘Get up and slaughter your sacrifices and get your heads shaved.’ By Allah, none of them got up. He repeated his order thrice, but no one stood. So the Prophet ﷺ went to Umm Salamah and told her about the people’s attitude. She said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, do you want your order to be carried out? Go out and do not say a word to anyone until you slaughter your sacrifice and call your barber to shave your head.’ The Prophet ﷺ went out and did exactly that. When the companions saw him, they all rushed to slaughter their sacrifices and began shaving one another’s heads, to the point that there was such a rush it seemed they might harm one another.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2731, 2732)

From the outside, it looked like a humiliating defeat. Here was the Prophet ﷺ, the Messenger of Allah, turned back from the House of Allah, his companions broken and exhausted, their ʿUmrah deferred for another year. To many, this would have seemed like a moment of weakness, a setback that stripped the Muslims of dignity.

But what seemed like a defeat was, in reality, a decisive victory. The actions of the Sahabah — eventually rising to perform the sacrificial slaughter despite enduring a grueling journey and facing what appeared to be fruitless labor — speak volumes about their character. It highlights their resilient spirit and their steadfastness in holding onto faith, even when the situation outwardly seemed against them.

It was on their return from Ḥudaybiyyah, after the treaty had been finalized, that Allah revealed:

“Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory.” (Surah al-Fatḥ, 48:1)

The true victory was not in entering Makkah that year, but in the unwavering resilience of the Sahabah. Their imān shone through when everything seemed lost — when exhaustion, disappointment, and grief weighed them down, yet they still surrendered to Allah’s command. That ability to stand firm, to reset, and to prepare to return the following year was the real triumph in Allah’s sight.

As the Qur’an reminds us, days of ease and hardship alternate by His wisdom — not to break the believer, but to test his sincerity. Whoever responds with faith and submission has already attained victory:

“If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched the opposing people. Such days We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe, and so that He may take martyrs from among you.”

(Surah Āl ʿImrān, 3:140)