The Qura’n and the self created hardships

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Tribulations that are God’s punishmentsSelf created problems

We find many verses in the Qura’n that speak about the hardships and their connection with the wrong doings of men. The language of some of the verses includes all kinds of hardships but some speak about specifics like verse 79 of Surah Nisaa that says:

“Whatever good happens to you is from God and whatever evil befalls you is from your own selves.”

The important point is that the verse is addressed to the Holy Messenger but actually the importance of the issue is being highlighted and when this is being said about the Messenger then what will be condition of others. We know for certain that the Messenger never did anything that could result in hardships for him. The goodness is being attributed to God because God has instilled al such talents in man and has also given him freedom to act. All the wrong doings is being attributed to him because man has reneged from using the talent instilled in him and has chosen some other objective. But God is the fountainhead of all causes and He has all the powers.

This may be the reason why in some verses all the doings have been attributed to God so this difference is due to the views about this topic. (Reflect)

We cannot deny that many hardships in human life are the results of his doings only. Defying the laws of hygiene, not protecting one’s health, gluttony, dirty habits, un-cleanliness, being lethargic and not giving the body a proper exercise, visiting dirty places and mixing with dirty people are all causes of diseases. Had man followed the rules instilled in him at the time of creation regarding health he would not have suffered these ailments. But we should also admit that some diseases are beyond human control e.g. the sudden changes in climates and winds often lead to people falling sick and we can find this cause in many other hardships and this is why we say that the generality of this verse is partially limited.

Fakhr Razi could not solve this issue so he took “Siyya” to mean sin (1) though this meaning is inappropriate because then the verse will mean, “The disobedience will all be from you” and the word “Sayyiat” includes sin and much more.

In the second instance drought and the problems of the sea have also been attributed to man. Verse 41 of Surah Rom says, “Mischief has appeared on the land and in the sea because of what men have wrought.”

The Alif prefixed to the word “Fasad” gives it a commonality which means that all the mischief or hardships in this world result from man’s doings.

The verse further states, “That He may make them taste what they have done so that they may return (To God and the right path)”. Some commentators have taken it to mean punishment and torture from God those results from the sins of men but the verse literally speaks about mischief and sin in the creative sense. The word “torture” has not been used in it. What is said that “they should taste some of their deeds?” And not their punishment. Some deeds are mentioned because due to God’s mercy man is saved from the results of most of his deeds.

We learn from this verse that things like chaos, war, plague the desperation of the poor result from the wrong doings of men and can in no way be attributed to God. His justice cannot be doubted because of them (Reflect).

From other verses we learn that man can merit rewards if he reforms himself. Verse 11 of Surah Ra’ad says, “Verily God will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in them.”

Verse 53 of Surah Anfal says, “Because God will never change the Grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (souls).” It is evident that God’s grace has a vast meaning but its distribution will be according to the talent and goodness of each person. If they have made correct use of His grace then they will be eternally rewarded but if they have used it to oppress other, and be vain then the grace will be changed by hardships. Actually it is being reiterated that most hardships result from the doings of men.

Qura’n then refers to the meanness of men and the connection between their deeds and hardships. In verse 36 of Surah Rom it says, “When we give men as taste of mercy they exult in it and when some evil afflicts them because of what their hands have sent forth, behold, they are in despair.”

Even though the majority of the commentators have declared such verses to be referring the punishment of God but if they put aside their ideology and belief then they will see that the verse means that the cause of hardships and tribulations our their own deeds. According to another commentary the deed is the cause and the tribulations are the result and if there is any punishment then it is the reflection of their deeds and character. So there is no proof according to many commentators to declare these verses to mean punishment and torture.

 

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