Blessings

A university student has just finished all his courses. 
But before he could take his diploma, the university asks him to return his student card.
Is it unfair this student has to give back his student card? Even though he did nothing wrong? 

Of course it's fair. Firstly, the card always belonged to the university, who only lent the student the card for his student period. So of course the university can take it back when he graduates. 

The same applies to all blessings. We don't actually have what we have. They all belong to Allah.

وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللّهِ  

(And whatever you have of blessings/favor, is from Allah)

So when the Owner takes back what He Owns, we need to accept and allow Him to take it back. Aka إخلاص. We have no right to complain.

But remember, Allah is Al-Hakim, al-Alim. The Most Wise, the all-Knowing. And Allah is Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim. Allah is very, very kind to us, despite our sins and mistakes. He loves to give. So when Allah takes, there is definitely a good reason, and He gives back so much more. 

Maybe you lost hundreds of millions but you gain billions. Or you avoid law problems. Or your children become righteous.  I am sure all adults have lost something but in return, gained good or avoided evil. And not just in this world; insyaAllah Allah will makes us better Muslims and forgive our sins for all hardships we suffer. So losing our blessings is a blessing!

ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ

But we have to be ikhlas. If the university student from before refuses to give his card, the university will not give his diploma and his years of study will be wasted. And similarly if we complain about Allah's Qadr, then we may lose without gain. It is okay to be sad, but we should not reject nor complain about what happens to us.

That's the attitude we should have if a blessing is taken from us. What about the blessings we still have? Allah gave them to us with terms & conditions: our wealth for our family and sadaqah, not for buying haram. Our food to enjoy and be grateful to Allah. And so on.

Allah will question you on the blessings He gave you. What did you do with the ears I gave you? What did you see with the eyes I gave you? What did you do with the time I gave you? Did you use them positively? Or did you waste them? Or worse, did you disobey me with them?

No one wants to have to defend themselves in court- it's a nerve-wracking experience being  incessantly questioned and knowing you could be punished with fines or jail. How about the Final Questioning before the Lord of the Worlds with the worst outcome being eternal punishment?

Recently, I looked at my CV and realized it looked a bit empty. I regretted not making use of my opportunities to fill it more, because applying for work was more difficult. But if we regret not filling our worldly CV, how about our ultimate CV? What kind of regret will you feel if you fail to get accepted into Paradise because your life CV lacked good deeds?

 رَبَّنَا أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ 

("Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain.")

So with the blessings you have, do what is good, avoid what is bad. Please, make use of these blessings before you regret, because they will be taken from you, whether before death or through death. There's a hadith to take advantage of 7 before 7: take advantage of free time before business, health before sickness, and so on.

To conclude, Allah is Lord of the Worlds. He owns everything, we own nothing. We should accept that He can take back what He has given. And we should use what He has given properly, before we regret it on the Day. I pray we will use our blessings properly, to do good and avoid evil, so that we may all enter Allah's Mercy on the day of Judgement.