Why Does Allah Allow Suffering In This World?

We find sickness, old age and death. There are storms, earthquakes, floods, draught and famine (food shortage). It is the fact that the element of GOOD is more in the creation than the element of EVIL.

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.

Goodness is the rule & Evil is the exception. Virtue is the norm and Sin is the aberration.

But the question is Why Allah allow these exception to the rules.

The Quran mentioned that good, evil and whatever happens in this world happens by Allah’s Will. Only Allah knows fully His Will. Also, it mentioned that Allah is Wise and everything that Allah does is right, just, good and fair. We must Submit and Surrender to His Will. 

There are several facts that we should keep in our mind to understand this issue:

1.   Allah did not make this world a permanent

This is a temporary world and everything here has a time limit. When its times comes it will die, come to an end and finish. Neither the good things of this world are forever, nor the bad things eternal. We are here for a short time and we are being tested. 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.

2.   Allah has placed a physical law and 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. 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.

Strictly speaking, Why does Allah allow suffering, but how much Allah protects us and saves us all the time in spite of our violations and negligence?

Allah does punish people because of their violations of His laws whether they are physical or moral.

3.   Allah allows some people to suffer in order to test their patience and commitment

Suffering can also be a test and trial for some people. Even Allah’s Prophets and Messengers were made to suffer. The Quran mentioned Prophet who was very patient. Good people sometimes suffer but their sufferings heal the others and bring goodness to their communities. People learn lessons from their good examples. 

4.           Allah allows some people to suffer to test others, how they react to them

When you see a person who is sick, poor and needy, then you are tested by Allah. Allah is there with that suffering person to test your charity and faith. It is to test our faith in Allah and to test our commitment to human values and charity. 

Whenever we encounter suffering we should ask ourselves, “Could it be a punishment? “Could it be a test and trial for us? 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.

Here are some verses from the Quran that might help you understand the nature of human suffering in this life:

“It is Allah who creates you and takes your souls at death; and of you are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known (much): for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.”  Quran An Nahl, 16:70

“Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “we believe”, and that they will not be tested?”  Quran Al Ankabut, 29:2

“Everyone is going to taste death and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good.  And to Us you will be returned.”  Quran Al Anbiya, 21:35

“Behold We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which We put men to a test, (showing) which of them are best in conduct; and verily, (in time) We shall reduce all that is on it to barren dust!”  Quran Al Kahf, 18:7-8

“And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward.”  Quran Al Anfal, 8:28

“Verily, it is We who have created man out of a drop of sperm intermingled, so that We might try him (in his later life): and therefore We made him a being endowed with hearing and sight.  Verily, We have shown him the way: (and it rests with him to prove himself) either grateful or ungrateful.”  Quran Al Insan, 76:2-3

“And most certainly shall We try you by means of danger, and hunger, and loss of wordly goods, of lives and of (labour's) fruits. But give glad tidings unto those who are patient in adversity - who, when calamity befalls them, say, “Verily, unto Allah do we belong and , verily, unto Him we shall return.”  It is they upon whom their Sustainer's blessings and grace are bestowed, and it is they, they who are on the right path!” Quran Al Baqarah, 2:155-157

Try to keep in mind that even the trials of others are trials of our own.  All the horrible things that make us question Allah: death, sickness, suffering children, poverty...all these things are trials that we need to show patience through; help each other through, and maintain our devotion and worship of Allah through.  Being tried in this life is a gift from our Most Merciful Creator.  Can you begin to see what this means by Allah Will?

Through all trials that we are struggling, keep this in mind:

“And If you would count the favours of Allah, never could you be able to count them. Truly, Allah is The Forgiving, Most Merciful.”  Quran Al Nahl, 16:18

Allah Knows The Best. Allah will keep the believers to the right path. 

Amin & Alhamdulilah