"(It is He) Who has created death and life, that He may test you, which of you is best in deeds..."

Sheikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbaad حفظه الله تعالى said:

Allaah created His slaves to worship Him alone without ascribing partners to Him. He said in His Revered Book:

"And I did not create the Jinn nor Mankind except to worship Me [alone]." - Adh-Dhaariyaat: 56.

And He sent His Noble Messengers so as to illustrate to them the (correct) path of worship. He said:

"And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taaghoot (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taaghoot besides Allaah). Then of them were some whom Allaah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth)." - An-Nahl: 36

And He made their wordly life an abode to trial and test them as to which one of them is best in deeds. He said:

"(It is He) Who has created death and life, that He may test you, which of you is best in deeds..." - Al-Mulk: 2.

Then He said: "...And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving." Clarifying that from those tested, were those who did good deeds, and as such they will be recompensed (by Allah) in a way which is alluded to in His Name, Al-Ghafoor (the Oft-Forgiving); (i.e. they will be recompensed with forgiveness).

(And of those tested) were those who did evil deeds, and therefore are deserving of being punished in manner which is alluded to in His Name Al-Azeez (the All-Mighty).(i.e. they will receive a mighty, severe punishment).

This is like His- the Most High- saying:

"Declare (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful. And that My Torment is indeed the most painful torment." - Al-Hijr: 49-50

- العبرة في شهر الصوم (ص ٢)