ADNAN OKTAR: There could be no test any other way, if there were no pain and no discomfort. A young child may die, for instance, someone may be hit by a car. The other way we would be like the angels. But Almighty Allah does not regard that as sufficient, does not regard the angels as sufficient. Allah has sent souls down that think of themselves as independent, able to distinguish good from evil. Human beings are what Allah likes most of all. Human perfection is the appearance Allah likes most. That is why Allah loves the prophets and the holy persons (wali) most of all.

For example, our Prophet (saas) says that Hazrat Mahdi (as), Hazrat Hasan, Hazrat Hussein, Rasulullah (saas), Hamza. Rasulullah (saas) says “we are the sayyid of the people of Heaven.” In other words, Allah loves them, He loves them more than He does the angels. Because they undergo pain and suffering. They are able to demonstrate loyalty. An angel has no need to demonstrate loyalty because it has to be loyal. It has no need to demonstrate devotion. It has no need to bear pain because it suffers none.

In other words, human beings have 90% or 95% of all the virtues. That is why they can be far superior to the angels. Human beings are the entities Allah loves most, what He refers to as His successor. Allah is delighted when people display courage or heroism. When they die a martyr for the sake of Allah, when they take the bull by the horns. Allah delights in that. They go to prison for Allah’s sake, and serve 5, 10 or 15 years. Allah delights in that. Because it is a complete expression of love. It is the most evident expression of love and passion for Allah.

That happens even in this world. Someone mothers may throw themselves in front of a car to save their children. That is a very lofty virtue. People go and put up with pain and suffering for those they love. They freeze but will not allow those they love to freeze, isn’t that right? They go hungry but make sure they are full, they put up with everything that is painful but do not allow the ones they love to do so. That makes the other party be attached to them with bonds of love.

But if they are selfish, if they have money and get married and never give their wives any money, they want everything to be under their own possessions. Is there any sense of trust in that? They do not trust, and if they do not trust, wouldn’t the other side understand that they do not love? They understand.

Trust is something peculiar to humans.  When they demonstrate that trust then the woman knows the person really loves her. One may put his goods and property in her name. Something frightening may happen and he steps in front of her, he does not allow it to reach her. He will go and work even if his arm or leg hurts, but he will not let his wife to go out and work. Out of his affection for her, because he feels sorry for her. That is bravery, that is sacrifice. Allah likes this very much. This is the root of love. This is the root of affection. His wife may say something hurtful, for example, but he assumes a humble and still replies kindly. That is patience. Otherwise he would pull a gun and shoot her. Some people stab their wives 30 or 40 times and then say that they lost control, they were unaware of what they were doing. But the believer responds very well to such behavior. The other person will then be amazed and love the believer many times more.

Love requires hard work. You have to set the bricks out one by one, like an architect and make sure the mortar is right. But when they take such care, people may reach the pleasure of Paradise.