This article discusses why God allows evil and suffering to occur.
Overview
Evolutionary need for suffering
During the minute that it takes me to compose this sentence, thousands of animals are being eaten alive, many others are running for their lives, whimpering with fear, others are slowly being devoured from within by rasping parasites, thousands of all kinds are dying of starvation, thirst, and disease. It must be so. If there ever is a time of plenty, this very fact will automatically lead to an increase in the population until the natural state of starvation and misery is restored.
– Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life
According to evolutionary biologists, suffering ‘must be so’. The fourth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community addressed the issue from a Quranic perspective:
“Blessed is He in whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things; It is He Who has created death and life that He might try you – which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Most Forgiving.” (Quran 67:2-3)
The answer to the question ‘Why is there suffering?’ is clearly implied in this verse in its widest application.
The profound philosophy of life and death, the innumerable shades in between, and the role they play in shaping life and improving its quality are all covered in the above verse. It is the very scheme of things that God discloses here. We know that life is only a positive value, and death merely means its absence, and no sharp border exists separating one from the other. It is a gradual process, the way life travels towards death and ebbs out, or from the other direction we view death travelling towards life gaining strength, energy and consciousness as it moves on. This is the grand plan of creation, but why has God designed it so? ‘That He might try you – which of you is best in deeds’, is the answer provided by the Holy Quran.
It is the perpetual struggle between life and death that subjects the living to a constant state of trial, so that all who conduct themselves best survive and gain a higher status of existence. Herein lies the philosophy and the machination of evolution as described in the verses above. It is this constant struggle between the forces of life and the forces of death which provide the thrust to the living to perpetually move away from death or towards it. It may result either in the improvement or deterioration in the quality of existence in the wide spectrum of evolutionary changes. This is the essence and spirit of evolution.
– Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth
Small amounts of suffering may prevent greater suffering
Suffering Human-made
Solutions to suffering worse than suffering itself
One obvious solution to human-made suffering at least would be for God to remove the ability of humans to act evilly. However this would require the removal of all choice from human endeavors. Any moral actions by humans could no longer be considered good deeds, because they would have no choice to act otherwise. Most would reject such a scenario and prefer liberty – even with the risk that some humans behaving evilly.
Another form of suffering is losing those we love; our longing for those who have passed away causes us to suffer. A solution would be for humankind to lose the ability to love. Again, most would reject this scenario, as one famous poet writes:
I hold it true, whate’er befall;
I feel it when I sorrow most;
‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
– Alfred Tennyson, In Memoriam A.H.H.
Suffering necessary to appreciate joy
Suffering could only be considered objectionable if it were created as an independent entity with no meaningful role to play in the scheme of things. But without the taste of suffering or an awareness of what it means, the feeling of relief and comfort would also vanish. Without an encounter with pain and misery, most certainly, joy and happiness would lose all meaning. Indeed the very existence of life would lose purpose, and the steps of evolution would stop dead in their tracks.
– Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth
Islam teaches that humans should endeavour not to cause any suffering and should instead relieve the suffering of others:
[The virtuous] fulfil their vow, and fear a day the evil of which is widespread. And they feed, for love of Him, the poor, the orphan, and the prisoner, Saying, ‘We feed you for Allah’s pleasure only. We desire no reward nor thanks from you.
– Quran 76:8-10
Show kindness to parents, and to kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbour that is a kinsman and the neighbour that is a stranger, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer– Quran 4:37
The orphan, oppress not, And him who seeks thy help, chide not
– Quran 93:10-11
The Messenger of Allahsa has ordered us to visit the sick, to follow the funeral (of a dead believer), respond to the sneezer (i.e., by saying to him: Yarhamuk-Allah after he says: Al-hamdu lillah), to help those who vow to fulfill it, to help the oppressed, to accept the invitation extended by the inviter; and to promote greetings.
– Bukhari
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Asia, Islam, Peace Conference, The Muslim Times
ALLAH—KING—WORKERS—REWARD—AND— PUNISHMENT.
Introduction.
Allah is King of the King on earth. Allah create universal and His workers(Human), to work for Him. Those who works according to His laws will receive reward, but those who ignore His laws will be punished. So, the purpose we live on earth is to work for Allah merely. Allah love His people unconditionally, Allah has provide every things abundantly for His workers.
The first man and woman; Adam dan Hawa.
God created Adam and his wife in heaven.Genesis. 2:7
God took same soil from the ground and formed a man out of it. God breathed life giving breath into his nostril and the man began to live. Genesis 2:7.
It is not good for the man to live alone,God will make wife. Then God made the man fall into deep sleep and while he was sleeping,God took out one of the man’s Rib and closed up the the flesh.–brought her to him.–named is Eve.Genesis 2:21. Look at Taurat.Genesis.3:1-19.
God said to Adam.
God said; God punished Adam and his wife and sent them on earth, because they ignore God’s laws “You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from the soil, and you will become soil again” (Genesis 3;16-19.)
So the God sent him out from the Garden of Eden(heaven)and made him to cultivate the soil from which he had been formed,Genesis 3:23.
I will make you and the woman hate each other;her offspring and your trouble in pregenancy and your pain in giving birth.In spiet this you will still have desire for your husband,yet you will be subject to him.
Genesis 3:16
And when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before ’Adam!” So, they prostrated themselves, 18 all but Iblis (Satan). He refused, showed arrogance and became one of the infidels. (34) And We said, “O ’Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise; and eat at pleasure wherever you like, but do not go near this tree, otherwise you will be (counted) among the transgressors.” (35) Then, Satan caused them to slip from it, and brought them out of where they had been. And We said, “Go down, all of you, some of you the enemies of others; 19 and on the earth there will be for you a dwelling place and enjoyment for a time.” QS 2;34-36.
Then ’Adam learned certain words (to pray with) from his Lord; so, Allah accepted his repentance. No doubt, He is the Most-Relenting, the Very-Merciful. (37) We said, “Go down from here, all of you. Then, should some guidance come to you from Me, those who follow My guidance shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (38) As for those who disbelieve, and deny Our signs, they are the people of the Fire. They shall dwell in it forever.” (39)
Say: “If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”QS 3;31
Verily Allah will not deal unjustly with man in aught: it is man that wrongs his own soul.QS 10;44
Whatever good, (O man!) happens to them, is from Allah; but whatever evil happens to theem (poverty, disaster,misery and sorrow ), is from they (own) fault. And We have sent them as a Messenger to (instruct) mankind. And enough is Allah for a witness. QS 4;79.
May Allah’s verses above can convince those who does not know what the purpose our life on earth.
MY CONCLUSION.
1.Why people are suffering? because from their own fault–kind of punishment.
2.The purpose of our life on earth is to work for Allah’s sake.
3.Those who works for Allah according His laws will successful and prosperity.They will receive 2 paradise, on earth and hereafter.
4.Those who ignore His laws (Atheist), probably will receive only one paradise on earth, but not hereafter.
Feel free if you have any question.
Was salam.