The looming presence of the exam timer often times haunts many students while they struggle to finish their seemingly endless assessment. For some, even after studying for hours, their hopeful spirits become filled with gloom once they receive an unsatisfactory score. This is a universal experience for all students, which can be undeniably frustrating at times. Studying hours upon hours for a highly anticipated exam, only to not perform as well as they expected. However, there is always wisdom behind the outcome that Allah has specifically chosen for a person.
Failing at a certain goal should not be viewed as a punishment, instead it is a test that will either increase one’s resilience or reveal their lack thereof. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said, “The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.” Essentially, students should view failure as a stellar opportunity to display their strong Iman and perseverance. Conversely, if they react impatiently and express their frustration, they should recognize the flaw and work on improving.A beloved Quran teacher at BHA for many years, Ms. Nouhad Sahyouni also once emphasized this, “Not doing as well as you expected is a test from Allah. Allah will see how you react, and you must instead remain calm and remember your blessings. Instead try to do better next time Inshallah.”
Developing a love for learning about what an individual is passionate about is an invaluable asset to one’s mental skillset. Students must comprehend entirely that studying never goes to waste. Even if one receives poor grades, the knowledge learned while studying for that same exam will never cease to be beneficial. There are a multitude of actions a student can choose from after not achieving what they wanted to, and reflection should certainly be among the ones chosen. Reflecting upon the fact that building a foundation of knowledge, instead of being hyper-fixated on grades alone, will certainly aid a student in achieving inner peace and content. As Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” It is important to notice how seeking knowledge was highlighted as the obligation, which clearly supports the fact that achieving exemplary grades should not be the sole purpose of one’s learning journey.
This concept of patience and reflection when failing has not only been expressed in Islam, but even among non-Muslim historical figures such as Nobel-prize winning scientist Marie Curie. She famously once said, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” Therefore, students should remain open-minded and listen to advice throughout their life. They should never be afraid of not achieving what they immensely prayed and hoped for, because there is always a lesson in the experience. Although a pleasant reward if Allah wills, scores will not always properly elucidate the benefits of the testing experience.
Instead, they may often lay in the unseen. Whether it be increased wisdom, patience, humility, or even a strengthening of one’s connection with Allah, students should appreciate the beauty behind the hidden lessons and never cease to embark on the revered journey of gaining knowledge.
