Why Does Allah Allow Suffering In The World?

[00:00:13]Why do pain and sufferings exist in the world? We find sickness, old age, and death. We see things that are ugly.

[00:00:24]People who are insane and foolish. There are storms, earthquakes, floods, and famine. We also see people commit sins, show disloyalty, unfaithfulness, greed, and insincerity. We see people commit rap, murders. They fight and make wars.

[00:00:47]We know all these and many more problems. There are evils caused by human beings and there are natural disasters.

[00:00:56]There are sufferings for individuals and there are those that involve a large number of people. But we also know that this is not the whole story. Besides all these negative things, we also see beauty, health, prosperity, life, birth, wisdom, intelligence, growth and progress. We also see goodness among people, faith, sincerity, charity, love and the spirit of sacrifice.

[00:01:33]We also see a lot of virtue and piety.

[00:01:37]It is wrong to see one side of the coin and not to see the other side.

[00:01:45]It is also the fact that the element of good is more in the creation than the element of evil. We all see that there are more people who are healthy than those who are sick. There are more that eat well than those who starve. There are more that lead decent life than those who commit crimes.

[00:02:10]Goodness is the rule and evil is the exception. Virtue is the norm and sin is the aberration. Generally trees bear fruits, the flowers bloom, the winds move smoothly.

[00:02:30]But then the question is why does Allah allow these exceptions to the rules? Let us ask this question to understand Allah's ways in his creation. The Quran tells us that good, evil, and whatever happens in this world happens by Allah's will. Only Allah knows fully his will.

[00:02:55]He runs his universe the way he deems fit. The Quran tells us that Allah is wise and everything that Allah does is right.

[00:03:06]just, good and fair. We must submit and surrender to his will. The Quran has not given us all the details about Allah's will, but it has enlightened us with a guidance that is useful and sufficient for us. There are several points that we should keep in our mind to understand this issue. First of all, Allah didn't make this world a permanent world. This is a temporary world and everything here has a time limit. When its times come, it'll die, come to an end and finish.

[00:03:44]Neither the good things of this world are forever, nor the bad things eternal.

[00:03:50]We are here for a short time and we are being tested.

[00:03:56]Those who will pass this test will find an eternal world that is perfect and permanent. Those who will fail this test shall see the evil consequences of their sins and corruption.

[00:04:14]Allah has placed a physical law and a moral law in this universe. Allah allows suffering to occur when one or more of these laws are broken. The physical law is based on cause and effect. Sickness comes if one does not take care of one's health or is exposed to infections. A car accident occurs when one is not alert or drives in a careless manner or if the cars are not checked, roads and freeways are not made and kept in right shape or the traffic laws are not right or not properly enforced. Study of causes and effects is very important to facilitate safeguards. Even here we should keep in mind that Allah often saves us and he does not let us suffer from every negligence. How many times it happens that we are not careful and still we reach safely to our destinations. The way people drive in some cities, it is a miracle that more accidents do not happen and more people do not suffer. Allah says, "Allah most gracious, it is he who has taught the Quran. He has created man. He has taught him speech and intelligence. The sun and the moon follow courses exactly computed. And the herbs and the trees both alike bow in adoration. In the firmament has he raised high. And he has set up the balance of justice in order that you may not transgress due balance.

[00:06:03]So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. It is he who has spread out the earth for his creatures. The way we exceed the measures set by Allah and violate his laws of cause and effect is incredible.

[00:06:24]It is really the mercy of Allah that we are saved. Strictly speaking, the questions should not be why does Allah allow suffering, but how much Allah protects us and saves us all the time in spite of our violations and negligence.

[00:06:45]The Quran says if Allah were to punish people according to what they deserve, he would not leave on the back of the earth a single living creature. But he gives them respite for a stated term.

[00:06:59]When their term expires, verily Allah has in his sight all his servants.

[00:07:08]But sometimes Allah does punish people because of their violations of his laws.

[00:07:14]whether they are physical or moral. The Quran tells us that many nations and communities were destroyed because of their sinful lifestyles. If they treat thy mission a false, so did the peoples before them with their prophets. the people of Noah and Had and Tammud, those of Abraham and Luth and the companions of the Median people, and Moses was rejected in the same way. But I granted respite to the unbelievers, and only after that did I punish them. But how terrible was my rejection of them. How many populations have we destroyed which were given to wrongdoing? They tumble down on the roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and neglected and castles lofty and well-built?

[00:08:11]Suffering can also be a test and trial for some people. Allah allows some people to suffer in order to test their patience and steadfastness.

[00:08:24]Even Allah's prophets and messengers were made to suffer. Prophet Aub is mentioned in the Quran as a prophet who was very patient. Good people sometimes suffer. But their sufferings heal others and bring goodness to their communities.

[00:08:44]People learn lessons from their good examples. Soldiers give their lives for their nations and this brings liberation and freedom to their people. Allah sometimes allows some people to suffer to test others how they react to them.

[00:09:04]When you see a person who is sick, poor and needy, then you are tested by Allah.

[00:09:09]Allah is there with that suffering person to test your charity and your faith.

[00:09:15]In a very moving hadith, divine hadith, the prophet peace be upon him said, "Allah will say on the day of judgment," "Oh son of Adam, I was sick and you did not visit me." He will say, "Oh my lord, how could I visit you when you were the lord of the worlds?" Allah will say, "Did you not know that my servant so and so was sick and you did not visit him?" Did you not know that if you had visited him, you would have found me there? Allah will say, "Oh son of Adam, I asked for food and you fed me not." He shall say, "Oh my Lord, how could I feed you and you are the Lord of the worlds?" And Allah will say, "Did you not know that my servant so and so was in need of food and you did not feed him? Did you know that if you had fed him, you would have found that to have been for me? Oh son of Adam, I asked you for water and you did not give me to drink. The man shall say, "Oh my Lord, how could I give you water when you were the Lord of the worlds?" Allah will say, "My servant so and so asked you for water and you did not give him to drink.

[00:10:29]Did you know that if you had given him to drink, you would have found me that to have been for me?

[00:10:36]To summarize, we can say that sufferings occur to teach us that we must adhere to Allah's natural and moral laws. It is sometimes to punish those who violate Allah's natural or moral laws. It is to test our faith in Allah and to test our commitment to human values and charity.

[00:11:00]Whenever we encounter suffering, we should ask ourselves, have we broken any law of Allah?

[00:11:08]Let us study the cause of the problem and use the correct methods. Could it be a punishment? Let us repent and ask forgiveness and reform our ways. Could it be a test and trial for us? Let us work hard to pass this test. Believers face the sufferings with prayers, repentance and good deeds. The non-believers face the sufferings with doubts and confusions. They blame Allah or make arguments against him. May Allah keep us on the right path. Amen.