heading of free will. We are not automatons blindly walking through
life with following a single program. We are free thinking beings. The
laws can be ignored, and ignoring them is the cause of much of the
suffering we can describe, such as war, and violence and death. Other
suffering such as disease falls under the laws of God. For instance
there has to be bacteria, we need forms of bacteria and viruses or we,
as humans, cannot digest food properly. Bacteria and viruses are
therefore necessary to our survival. To eliminate all of them would
also kill us off, but to make only Good viruses would through off the
balance of Creation. Therefore, these exist, and we deal with them.
The basic method of dealing with the suffering of our earthly
existence is to know that this existence is not the end, just the
first step to a greater existence with God in the afterlife. A
Christian doesn’t fear death and accepts it when it comes as the
needed step to continue into that life promised to him. Suffering is
part of death since the power of life is strong and is frequently
related to the pain and suffering of birth.
The way a Christian faces the suffering in life is a show of the Power
and Presence of God, doing so as if the world is merely a place to be
human before going into the afterlife, shows the non-Christian this
power.
Martyrdom is another level of suffering, which is paying an ultimate
price through pain, torment and finally death, while keeping the faith
that this is part of God’s plan and the world is not the place where
happiness and joy are promised, but in the afterlife. The idea is here
is that the ideals are more important than the flesh, so destroying
the body doesn’t destroy the soul, only God has control over the soul.
Most of Christianities Saints are Martyrs.
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Islam:
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Taking away the life should be the domain of the One who lives life.
True, there is Pain and suffering at the terminal end of an illness,
but we believe there is reward from God for those who patiently
persevere in suffering (Quran 39:10 and 31:17).
“While Muslim Physicians are not encouraged to artificially prolong
the misery in a vegetative state, they are ordained to help alleviate
suffering. Quran says, "Anyone who has saved a life, it is as if he
has saved the life of whole mankind" (5:32). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
emphasized this by saying, " O Muslims, seek cure, since God has not
created any illness without creating a cure." “
"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and
the West, but righteous is the one who believes in Allah, and the Last
Day, and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and gives away
wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the
needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask and to set slaves free and
keeps up prayer and pays the poor-rate; and the performers of their
promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and
affliction and in the time of conflict. These are they who are
truthful; and these are they who keep their duty." Ch. 2:177
At times God allows innocent people to suffer, like Job (Qur'an
38:41). The full story is related in the book of Job in the Bible.
Often, God allows suffering so that people may learn a lesson (Qur'an:
7:94; Bible: Hebrews 12:5-13). God is not obliged to state reasons for
his sovereign will. He may allow that we may learn the cause of some
sufferings.
Much like the Christians the Islamic religions see suffering as part
of life. Referances to Job in the Qur'an show that sometimes things
just happen and it is not for the believer to question. It is right
that the believer seek to feel better or to seek help with his burden,
but not to question the behavior if his God. This is the world we are
given and this is the life we are to live. We do not question this. We
seek to better ourselves and to focus our minds on the glory of God.
Islam means submission ... believers are to accept the will of God in
the blessings or in the suffering, and in equal measure knowing that
each is the will of God and that each has the temptation to lead us
astray of the path.
For some Islamic Believers the suffering of life is also the test of
life. We are given it to show what kind of believers we really are.
This is more of the focus, than is the Christian focus on the free
will of others. Evil doers are not let go as easy as the New Testament
would allow, but they also serve the will of God. The Islamic Satan
was left “without God”
Qur'an:
And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape
(the noble shape of a human being), then We told the angels,
“Prostrate to Adam”;, and they prostrated, except Iblis (Satan), he
refused to be of those who prostrate. Allah said: “What prevented you
Iblis, that you did not prostrate, when I commanded you?” Iblis said:
“I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You
created from clay. Allah said: “O, Iblis, get down from this
(Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you
are of those humiliated and disgraced.” (Quran 7,11-13)
He (Satan) said, "My Lord, since You have willed that I go astray, I
will surely entice them on earth; I will send them all astray. Except
those among Your worshippers who are devoted .absolutely to You
alone." He (God) said, "This is a law that is inviolable: you have no
power over my servants; you only have power over the strayers who
follow you." [15:39-42]
And when thy Lord said to the angels, 'I am setting in the earth a
viceroy.' They said 'What, wilt Thou set therein one who will do
corruption there, and shed blood, while We proclaim Thy praise and
call Thee Holy?' He said, 'Assuredly I know that you know not.' {Surah
2 (al-Baqara), verse 28}
So the tests begin, and with comes much of the suffering in the world.
Those that allow themselves to listen to Iblis, are those that cause
suffering and feel it most. Even if their motive is good, such as
could be said of Iblis when he would not bow before anyone by God.
The greatest cause of suffering to the Islamic religion is pride. To
do something, even if it is right, but from a motive of Pride will
always cause suffering.
"Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they
live, finding their sustenance from their Lord. They rejoice in the
Bounty provided by Allah...the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on
them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. They rejoice in the
Grace and the Bounty from Allah, and in the fact that Allah suffereth
not the reward of the Faithful to be lost (in the least)." (3:169-71)
