Jamiatul Ulama KZN Council of Muslim Theologians
Nasihah (Advice): The infinite mercy of Allah Ta’ala
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala has divided mercies into one hundred parts, out of which He has sent down only one for jinn, mankind, animals and insects, through which they love one another and have compassion for one another; and through it, wild animals care for their young. Allah Ta’ala has retained ninety-nine mercies to deal kindly with His slaves on the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih Bukhari)
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Question and Answer:
- I have a question regarding suffering.
People in general suffer, some a lot and some not at all regardless of their religion. What is the reason behind these sufferings? Is it sin?
In so many books it is said Allah is the most merciful, most kind and most loving yet we don’t see his love and mercy.
My question is what is the reason and how do we make it stop?
- The first thing we must understand is that this world is only the stepping stone to our true abode which is the hereafter. This world is our place for trial and examination. In this world, we understand that the higher the qualification, the harder the exam.
Our true test in this world is not a test to gain qualifications or degrees. It is for eternal life in gardens of paradise. It is for the supreme success. How can such a test be easy? If we study the life of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam we will find that no one went through greater tests and trials than him. Did Allah Ta’ala not have mercy on him?
In the Quran, Allah tells us, “Indeed Allah has purchased your lives and wealth in exchange for Jannah.” This means that everything we are and everything we have is at Allah’s disposal and we should be ready to sacrifice them in the attainment of Jannah.
We sometimes witness children, whose parents have given them everything, yet their ingratitude is of a level that they say, “My parents have done nothing for me.” The child sees only the negative and their eyes have become blind to the many sacrifices and privileges his parents have afforded them.
This is similar to saying that we do not see Allah’s mercy. In the Qur’aan, Allah tells us, “If Allah had to punish humanity in accordance to their sins, then not a creature would be left living on the earth (due to the intense punishment befitting our sins).”It is Allah’s mercy that he affords the creation grace. It is Allah’s mercy that despite our sins, we may eat and drink and breathe and enjoy times of comfort and joy. The Nabi of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam informed us, “The first favour of Allah that we will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement will be, “Have I not given you a sound body and quenched your thirst with cold water?” These are great favours of Allah upon us but how many of the creation are thankful?
There is another aspect that we must also consider. Allah Ta’ala has created this world as a place of means, a place of cause and effect and, by and large, Allah Ta’ala allows it to run its course. A person who wants to do good can do good. A person who wants to do evil can do evil. The judgement and consequence are not in this world but in the hereafter. When people cause suffering and when greed and hatred cause war, genocide, looting and rape, do we blame Allah Ta’ala? No, the blame is on the wrongdoers. When governments usurp their country’s wealth and leave the population in want and desperation, the blame is on them.
Allah Ta’ala asks us in the Qur’an, “Why would Allah punish you if you are grateful and believing?”
Hence, suffering is not necessarily a sign of Allah’s punishment. It is a further mercy from Allah Ta’ala that in lieu of any suffering that a believer undergoes, He not only forgives their sins but He will grant them immense reward in the hereafter.
It is the promise of Allah Ta’ala to change conditions for the better if the Ummah reforms itself. Consequently, if the Ummah will en masse return to Allah Ta’ala, then He will divinely intervene to change their condition for the better. But if they continue to live as they please then He will leave them to their own devices.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Moosa Salie
Mufti Taahir Hansa
(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.)
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