minaret college human suffering: an islamic perspective professional development by: salifu baba may...

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HUMAN SUFFERING:

An Islamic PerspectiveProfessional Development

By: Salifu BabaMay 2005

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HUMAN SUFFERING

Learning Outcomes:

Participants should be able to:

1. Identify a range human suffering;

2. Explain the reasons for human suffering;

3. Explain how to alleviate sorrows.

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•Calamities•Diseases;•Lost of love ones e.g. parents & children;•Poverty - Lost of wealth and property;•Natural disasters e.g. earthquake, flood etc;•Sickness e.g. Physical/Mental disability•Wars; etc.

KINDS OF HUMAN SUFFERING

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·1. The Prophets and Messengers of God ·E.g: Adam and Eve, Abraham and his son Ismaeel; Aayub (Job), Yunus (Jonah), Yusuf (Joseph) Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) Sahaba (the early Muslims) etc.

·2. Nations e.g Thamud, ‘Aad, Saldom, Madyan, Jews;

·3. Individuals: e.g. Fir’awn, yourself, your friends and families

Examples of those who have suffered:

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"If there is a God in Heaven and if He is the 'Almighty' and has a 'compassionate heart,' then why doesn't He stop the suffering which is in the world today? Why doesn't He use His limitless power to put an end to the sorrow that fills the hearts of so many people? If the Almighty really does care for the human race, then why is He so strangely silent about mankind's cruel and crippling problems? Why doesn't He do something about them? And, above all else, why doesn't He answer my prayers?"

The following questions are often asked by people all over the world.

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This life is full of misfortune and sorrow which may be caused by different reasons. It is destined to be a place of hardships and trouble. Trials and tribulations are as inevitable in this

life as cold and heat.

THE CONCEPT OF SUFFERING IN ISLAM

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CAUSES OF HUMAN SUFFERING

1. Personal Sin

2. Communal or National Sin

3. Hidden Reasons known to Allah alone

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Personal SinTo begin with, suffering often comes to a soul as the direct result of personal sin; for it is the inevitable harvest of transgression. People may ignore God's instructions, they may foolishly imagine that His commandments are obsolete and unworthy of attention; but God is not mocked. Whether in rebellious defiance or, as often happens, in total ignorance, the fact remains - disobedience (sin) always attracts punishment and results in suffering, sorrow or death. The Qur’an provides ample evidence of this unpalatable fact.


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“But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger (Moses) so we seized him with a severe punishment.” Al-Muzzammil 73:16)


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Communal or National SinSecondly we suffer on a communal basis. God assesses mankind as individuals, as families and as communities. And He works to His own standards before He blesses or curses. Communal or national punishments come in the form of famine (brought on by freak weather) disease epidemics and earthquakes and so on. The Qur’an provides ample evidence of this unpalatable fact.


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Thamud and ‘Aad people denied the Qariah. As for Thamud, -- they were destroyed by the awful cry! And as for ‘Aad, -- they were destroyed by furious violent wind;….Do you see any remnant of them?. … And they disobeyed their Lord’s Messenger, so He punished them with a strong punishment.(Al-Haqqah 69:4 - 10)


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Core Belief

Belief in Allah's decree and preordainment is one of the pillars of Islamic faith. - Muslims believe that nothing happens in this universe except by His will.- This belief helps us to understand other reasons for human suffering.

THE CONCEPT OF SUFFERING IN ISLAM

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Hidden Reasons

It often happens that people suffer for no apparent reason or fault of their own or their nation. In these cases there are 'hidden reasons' operating behind the scenes; for suffering may be permitted by God for a special purpose.


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(a) To glorify the Most High or to vindicate His Name before the entire heavenly host, the sufferer bearing in his own body living testimony to the fact that God’s Word is true and Satan's is false. Read the story of Prophet Aayub (Job) where this fact is fully demonstrated.

Hidden Reasons for Human suffering:

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(b) To strengthen or test one's faith in God. A believer is afflicted with trials in order to refine him, not to punish him. He is tested in ease as well as in hardship. Allah says,

"And We tried them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn (to Allah's obedience)." (Al-A'raaf 7: 168).

Hidden Reasons for Human suffering cont. :

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Allah says:

"And certainly We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to those who are patient."


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(c) Trial is a test by which the truthful ones are distinguished from untruthful ones. Allah says,

"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, 'We believe,' and will not be tested." (29: 2)


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The human soul does not become pure except through trials, and it is during tribulations that real men are known. Ibn Jawzee said, "Whoever wants to have everlasting peace and well-being with no affliction does not understand the meaning of Allah's commandments, nor does he perceive the meaning of submission to Allah. Every soul (either believing or disbelieving) shall inevitably taste suffering in this world, for this life is based on hardships. Man lives between comfort and suffering.”


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(d)To kindle or even to rekindle faith; and to guide a wanderer towards the Almighty.

(e) To produce humility and to root out that monstrous sin - PRIDE.

(f) To produce, paradoxically enough, patience, endurance, courage and hope.


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(g) To perfect OBEDIENCE, which, next to faith, is the highest form of Muslim worship.

(h) To qualify or enable a believer to help others. This is done by allowing him/her to personally suffer, in order that he/she may in turn effectively console or rescue others who often suffer without understanding and without hope.


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When compared to the eternal bliss and glory believers are soon to experience, present suffering is really of small account. It is a passing phase, a tragic side-effect of mankind's decision to doubt God's Word and to learn by trial and error, to learn by experience rather than by divine revelation.

Dealing with suffering

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Something undesirable may sometimes have a pleasant result, while something seemingly desirable may turn out to have an unpleasant and abominable result. Do not therefore feel that harmful things cannot come to you through hardship. Allah says, "…And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know." (Al-Baqarah 2: 216).


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Prepare yourself mentally for afflictions before they occur so as to make their occurrence light on you. Do not be worried because of tribulations, for they have their limits, and watch what you utter during your hard times for many a word has ruined its utterer. A resolute Muslim stands firm during hardships, his heart does not change and he does not complain. Console yourself whenever afflicted with a promise of reward from Allah.


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Wise people show endurance whenever they are stricken with misfortune so as not to add to their misfortune the malicious joy of their enemies, for whenever your enemies know of your misfortune they are overjoyed.

Endeavour to keep your misfortunes and pains to yourself, for concealment of afflictions and pains are of the qualities of noble people. Be patient over afflictions, they will soon be removed from you.


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Those who perished only suffered that because of their impatience while the patient ones are being recompensed with good rewards. Allah says,

"And those who are patient, we will certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do." (Al-Anaam 16:96).


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The reward of the patient ones will be doubled for their patience and Allah will be with them, remove their afflictions and make them victorious.


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“O afflicted one! Your Lord does not deny you what you want except what is better than that, He does not test you but for your well being and He does not subject you to tribulations but to purify you. He tries His slaves with pleasure as he blesses them with calamity. Do not therefore waste your time thinking over what has already been guaranteed for you. As long as one is still alive his provision will no doubt come to him.” Allah Ta'ala says,


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"And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah." (Hood 11:6).

Further, if Allah – out of His wisdom – closes a door against you, He opens out of His mercy a door better for you than the closed one. It is by afflictions that righteous and understanding people are increased in rank and reward. Sa'ad bin Abee Waqqaas said:


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I said, "O Messenger of Allah, who are the most afflicted of all people? He replied, "The Prophets, then the righteous people, then those who are nearest to them in perfection and those who are nearest to them. Man is tested according to his religiosity; if he is strong religiously, his test is increased and if he is weak in religion, his test is reduced. And a believer will be tested until he walks on the earth sinless [i.e. his sins have been erased by series of afflictions that he endured.]" (Al-Bukhari)


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"If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." (Al-Bukharee).

Some people of knowledge said,

"Whoever Allah creates for paradise will be having trials and undesirable things."


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Real trial, is the trial in one's religion and whatever trial besides that is regarded as well being, for it raises one in the rank and erases ones sins. Also all comforts that do not bring one closer to Allah are a tribulations. Do not therefore grieve over what you miss in worldly materials, for worldly pleasure begets pain and disobedience.


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It is only Allah who deserves all praise and is capable of attending to all complaints. It is only Him you must beseech to remove your misfortunes. Pray to Him during the night with submission and humbleness and request Him to make your affairs easy for you. Allah says,

"Is it not He who responds to the distressed one when he calls Him (better than your gods.)" (27: 62)


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WHAT A SUFFERER CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE HIS/HER OWN SUFFERING

Human Suffering: An Islamic Perspective

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1. To begin with, the sufferer should repent of personal sin and by God's grace - forsake the path of disobedience. This is the very first step in the process of reducing suffering.

Handling Human Suffering

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2. A balanced diet, regular physical exercise, sufficient sleep and fresh air etc. are also points to watch; for God will hardly heal a person who refuses to follow these fundamental principles of good health.


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3. Try to supplicate in the most appropriate periods like during prostration and the last hour of the night. Do not feel uneasy if your supplications have not yet been answered, and do not lose hope of Allah's mercy even though the period of your affliction may seem long, for relief is near, and continue to pray to Allah.


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4. The sufferer should HAVE FAITH IN GOD and carefully cultivate that faith by READING THE HOLY QUR’AN DAILY. This is beyond any doubt the best safeguard against a mental or spiritual breakdown, in which misunderstood suffering can so easily result. Maintaining faith in God amidst suffering is probably the best way of demonstrating one's love for God.


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6. And finally, do not waste your energies and time blaming yourself for your plight. It may be that you are being put through a test similar to Job, Abraham, or Prophet Muhammad. Your main objective in suffering should be to repent of and forsake every sin which may be your particular problem.


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7. Put your trust in the Omnipotent Lord and take refuge with Him with a humble heart, He will open the doors of His mercy for you.

Fudayl bin 'Iyaadh said, "If you lose hope in all people and you do not ask anything from them, your Lord will give you all that you want."


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8. Endeavour also, to give charity to the needy, for charity prevents and removes affliction. However, if your affliction is removed, give a lot of thanks and praise to your Lord and know that a false sense of safety is a big trial. Allah says,

"Say: Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Lord and Protector, and in Allah let the believers put their trust." (At-Taubah 9: 51).


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Whoever leaves his affairs to the hands of Allah will achieve what he aspires: Always recite the prayer of Prophet Yoonus:

"None has the right to worshipped except You (O Allah) Glorified (and exalted) are You (above all that they associate with You) Truly I have been of the wrong doers."

The 'Ulamaa said no one in distress recites this prayer except that Allah gives him relief from his distress.

Handling Human Suffering fered:

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Ibn al-Qayyim said,

"It has been tested that whoever says: "Verily distress has seized me and You are the most merciful of all those who show mercy!"

seven times Allah relieves him of his distress!


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No condition is permanent. Fortunate is he who is always God-conscious. Fear Allah in any condition you may find yourself. You can do nothing to prevent what has been destined to happen as you do nothing to attain what has not been pre-ordained. The ability to choose and control is with Allah alone and His choice for His slave is better for him than his choice for himself.

Dawood bin Sulaymaan said,


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"Three things indicate the piety of a believer; his trust in Allah in what he has not attained; his satisfaction with whatever he has attained and his patience over what he has missed.”

Examples of people who have suffered:

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THE END

minaret college human suffering: an islamic perspective professional development by: salifu baba may...

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