Being trialed with certain unlikable traits opens the chance for massive rewards; the struggle to undo them never goes unrewarded and with the right approach, one will definitely come through. (A.T, 2021)
ibn al-Qayyim RH wrote about the wisdom behind Allah’s creation of the devil and evil in Madārijus Sālikīn:
He created this creation (Iblīs) that is the most wicked of beings and source of all evil in contrast to the person of Gabriel, which is the noblest and purest of beings and source of all good. Blessed is God for this and that. Similarly, His power becomes evident to them in the creation of night and day, light and dark, disease and remedy, life and death, heat and cold, beauty and ugliness, heaven and earth, water and fire, and good and evil.
If these causes were to be eliminated because of their evil, the much greater good that results from them too would cease to exist, like sin, the rain, and the wind, which have benefits that are far, far greater than the evil and harm that may come from them; if they were eliminated in order to avoid that limited evil, the incomparably greater good that results from them too would disappear.
“…if they were eliminated in order to avoid that limited evil, the incomparably greater good that results from them too would disappear.”
The Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith reported by Muslim in his Sahih (2749): If you did not sin, Allah would remove you and bring those who would sin and ask for forgiveness so He would forgive them.
The propensity to fall into error is what differentiates men from angels. Allah in His ultimate wisdom and indescribable mercy has created unlikable traits. The worshipper trialed with one or more of these traits might be deluded by the devil and his constant slips despite his quest for perfection to feel demoralized.
“What if I meet Allah while my heart is not pure?” “Why can’t I purify my heart despite all the efforts I make?”
Every unlikable trait opens the door for an abundance of goodness:
Merely loathing the trait because Allah does not like it is an act of worship— believers love for the sake of Allah and hate for His sake.
Falling into error presents an opportunity to make repentance; repentance pleases Allah and is a cause for salvation.
Understanding the self’s tendency to fall into error guides the servant’s heart to humility and gratitude. If it weren’t for Allah’s grace, we would not have been able to have faith.
Relying upon Allah to save one from his destructive self is act loved by Allah ﷻ
Employing means to purify the self, such as reciting the Qur’an, making du’a, listening to lectures and generally seeking knowledge is immensely rewarding.
Reproaching the self for an evil whisper out of fear of Allah is a source of taqwah, khashyah and hayaa.
Fighting the nafs is a hidden act, and it is only witnessed by the doer and his Lord; hidden acts of worship protect the heart from hypocrisy.
When the person trialed with these traits continues to have hope in Allah’s mercy, he has dissociated himself from the disbelievers: Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve. (Surah Yusuf: 87)
The worshipper should understand the incomparable good that results from a single bad trait and strive to attain it. It is enough that Allah witnesses the heart’s striving for His sake, as He promises that no good deed shall be lost.
And be patient! Certainly Allah does not let the rewards of those who do good go to waste. (Hud: 115)