Why doesn’t Allah assist me in achieving my goal despite me being obediant?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Brother,

It appears you believe that success lies in doing well in the exams and getting jobs in big companies. That is a misconception. If secular and material success had any merit, then Firoun would be successful. He was a great king with great influence and powers. See the following Aayat :

وَقَالَ مُوسَى رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ آتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالًا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ (يونس: 88)

Translation: "Moosa prayed, Our lord you have bestowed upon Firoun and his nobles pomp and wealth in the present life, whereby they lead people astray from your path. Our lord destroy their riches and harden their hearts, so that they shall not believe until they are faced with  grievous punishments".

Qaroon too would be successful. Allah Ta'ala refers to his wealth :

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَى فَبَغَى عَلَيْهِمْ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ  (القصص: 76)

Translation:"  Qaroon was one of Moosa's people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. we had given him such treasures that their very keys would have weighed down heavy on a band of strong men. His people said to him "do not exult in your riches, for god does not love the exultant".

Yet in the sight of Allah they were failures.

The benchmark of success is not in passing exams and finding a job in a big company. Rather it is the happiness of Allah Taa'la. This world is temporary and the next life is everlasting. This world is the place of striving and the Hereafter is the place of reward or punishment, where the believers will be rewarded with Paradise. If we contemplate over the shortness of this life, then even if we were to lose some material comfort in this life, we should still consider it an accomplishment because of the reward we will attain in the hereafter.

See the following Ayaat:

وَلَـنَبلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىءٍ مِّنَ الخَـوفِ وَالجُـوعِ وَنَقصٍ مِّنَ الاَموَالِ وَالاَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِؕ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِينَۙ‏ (سورة البقرة-155)

Translation :  And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient. (Surah al-Baqarah:155)

الم  أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ  وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ

(  (سورة العنكبوت 3-2

Translation: “Do people think that they will be left simply to say: We believe! and they will not be put to the test?  Yet, very truly, We have tested all those who came before them.  Thus Allah shall, most surely, distinguish those who speak the truth about their belief.  And He shall, most surely, distinguish the liars.” –)Surah al-‘Ankabūt: 2-3( 

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) states:

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهُ قَالَ "‏ عِظَمُ الْجَزَاءِ مَعَ عِظَمِ الْبَلاَءِ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ قَوْمًا ابْتَلاَهُمْ فَمَنْ رَضِيَ فَلَهُ الرِّضَا

  (سنن ابن ماجه2/ 1338)

Translation:  Anas bin Malik (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure. ( Sunan Ibn Majah 2/ 1338)

Brother, remember, Allah will never test you with conditions beyond your ability.

Allah says in the following Ayah:

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفسًا اِلَّا وُسعَهَا (سورة البقرة-286)

Translation: Allah does not lay a responsibility on anyone beyond his capacity. (Surah al-Baqarah:286)

If you had exerted yourself  in your studies and tried your level best to find a job, yet you did not succeed, then know that this a test from Allah. Adopt patience and keep in mind that Allah Ta’ala is Al-Hakeem (the Absolute Wise). Every decree of Allah Ta’ala has wisdom, irrespective of us comprehending it or not. We have to place our trust in Allah and have conviction that we are under His care.

عَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (سورة البقرة -216)

Translation: "You may dislike something although it is good for you, and like something although it is bad for you, Allah knows but you do not." (Surah al-Baqarah:216)

Brother, think positively and keep the following Hadeeth in mind :

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "عجبا لأمر المؤمن، إن أمره كله خير، وليس ذاك لأحد إلا للمؤمن، إن أصابته سراء شكر، فكان خيرا له، وإن أصابته ضراء، صبر فكان خيرا له " (صحيح مسلم-2295)

Translation :   The messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said :" The condition of a believer is  truly amazing. Every single situation of his only consists of goodness and this is for no other person except a true believer. If a goodness befalls him he has gratitude, this is good for him (he gains reward). If a bad condition befalls him he has patience and this is also good for him(he gains reward)". ) Sahih-Muslim  2295)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ahmad Patel

Student Darul Iftaa

South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

(2020-02-05)