by Liaqat Ali

Created on: July 20, 2009

Why there is suffering in the world? The answer to this question may depend on someone's religious beliefs. In a way, the question directly challenges God's concept of mercy. In other words, if the God is so great and merciful, why there is so much suffering in the world?

I am a Muslim so I will attempt to address this from my own religious point of view as I understand it. But before I even discuss religious point of view, let me tell you an interesting story. During my college years, I was going through a very tough time. I did not have lot of money and I would go through most of the days without having a good meal. Most of my money would go to my tuition fee and I would be lucky if I had a good meal every other day. I was literally hand to mouth.

During that time, I was taking a Humanity course. Our class was assigned a book of Francois-Marie Aruet commonly knows as Voltaire, a French prolific writer and essayist. I don't recall the name of that book, but one of the book lines stunned me. It said something like adversity makes a person stronger. After reflecting on this line, I understood that the adversity or suffering is not a curse from God but actually it is a blessing. I have a firm belief, that if there is no suffering in the world, humanity will be the weakest link. We are because we suffer. And suffering and tribulations makes us stronger and wiser.

I believe that suffering is a God's way of putting us on test. In other words, suffering = testing. The holy book of Quran states " Do men think they will be left alone on saying, 'We believe', and they will not be put to test? And certainly We tested those before them, so God will differentiate those who are true from those who are false (Quran 29:2-3)

At another place, Quran declares, We will surely test you with something of fear and huger, and the loss of wealth and lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, who saywhen afflicted with calamityTo God We belong, and to Him we shall return! They are on those whom descend blessings from their Lord, and Mercy. Such are the rightly guided. (Quran 2:155-157)

There are several other places in the Quran, where God openly declares that He will test us. Well, folks, here we have it. God tests us but His testing is not for the fun sake; He surely has a clear cut purpose as the above verse explains.

Here is another interesting story. A king was on the boat with lot of his men traveling with him. After a mile or so, one of his men start crying and screaming. He was very fearful of the water and never has been in the boat before. Everybody tried to calm him down but to no avail. King was very upset of all the screaming and yelling. He then thought of a trick. He ordered his men to throw this annoying man in the water. Men obeyed the king and threw the man in the water. When the man was almost ready to drown, king ordered his men to bring the drowning man back in the boat. Now the poor man was silent during the entire trip. King's minister asked him the wisdom of throwing the man in the water and why the man was silent?

King replied this man had never experienced the drowning in the water. Now he understands the value of the boat and being safe.

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