Need Help Understanding

[jcecil3]

Peace to All:

In this question, it is not my intent to "prove" the Qur'an has a contradiction. However, I ran across an apparent contradiction I do need some help understanding. I approach this question with the humble certainty that Muslims can help resolve my confusion.

Sura 4:79 says "When they are blessed with good fortune, they say; 'This is from Allah.' But when evil befalls them, they say 'The fault was yours.' (Mohammed's) Say to them; 'All is from Allah!' What has come over these men that they should show such lack of understanding? Whatever good befalls you, man, it is from Allah; and whatever ill from yourself."

The question is whether bad things come from Allah, or whether bad things come from the frailty of human beings?

I can accept an answer that bad things come from the interaction of both Allah and humanity, but I want to make sure I am not imposing my own understanding on the text. How does Islam interpret this passage?

[seekeroftruth]

i hope this helps!!! > sadiq!!







The difference between punishments and trials

Question:


Allah menitions in the Quran that when an evil befalls us it is due to what our own hands have earned. Also our beloved Messenger, Muhammad (sallalahu 'alayhi wassallam) said in a hadith that the most tried are the Prophets, then those in piety after those. So therefore in our day to daylife when things go wrong in our lives how do we decide whether it is due to our sinfulness or that Allah loves us . and therefore sends a trial upon us
Jazakallahu khairun

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Punishments are what happen to people in return for their evil deeds. Trials are tests which are sent to try people, and people may be tested by good things or by bad.

Concerning punishments, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself…” [al-Nisa’ 4:79]

Concerning the phrase “is from yourself”, Qutaadah said: “[It means] the punishment is for you, O son of Adam, because of your sin.” Abu Saalih said that “whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself” means “because of your sin, and I [Allaah] am the One Who decreed it for you.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

Allaah also says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” [al-Shoora 42:30]

Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: “[It means] whatever misfortune happens to you, O people, is because of evil deeds that you have already done, and ‘He pardons much’ refers to evil deeds – He does not punish you for them but He pardons them. ‘And if Allaah were to punish men for that which they earned, he would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of the earth…’ [Faatir 35:45 – interpretation of the meaning].”

Concerning trials, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If Allaah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever has patience will have patience, and whoever is anxious will be anxious.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1706).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also said: “The extent of the reward will be in accordance with the extent of the trial. If Allaah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever is content will have contentment, and whoever is angry will have anger.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2320; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2210).

The following outlines how one may tell whether a given event is a punishment or a trial:

If the misfortune results from doing an act of obedience to Allaah, such as being wounded in jihaad, or losing money when migrating for the sake of Allaah, or losing a job because of becoming Muslim or increasing one’s commitment to Islam, then this is a trial. Whoever bears it with patience will be rewarded, but if one reacts angrily then one will earn the wrath of Allaah. If the misfortune results from sin, such as sexually-transmitted diseases or illnesses caused by drinking alcohol and taking drugs, and so on, then this is the kind of punishment that comes in this world (as opposed to being deferred until the Hereafter). If the misfortune is connected neither to a good deed nor a sin – such as other kinds of disease and sickness, losing a child, or failing in business – then it depends on the person’s situation. If he is good and devout, it is a trial, and if he is sinful, it is a punishment.

The misfortune may be a punishment to atone for sins, or it may be a trial aimed at raising a person’s status and increasing his hasanaat (good deeds/rewards) – this may be determined by whether a person is obedient or disobedient. A person should not praise himself, rather he should criticize himself for his shortcomings and strive to attain perfection. He will benefit from misfortunes in any case, if he has patience and hopes for reward. And Allaah knows best.



Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)

[jcecil3]

Thank you for such a well thought out response. Your answer makes sense, and raises another question.

In Christianity, we also believe that trials befall the righteous and the letter of James indicates that God disciplines those who love him. So we do have the same idea. However, when I feel a trial is upon me, I do pray that God will see me through and remove the trial (in other words -- I don't like it). The Psalms in the Old testament contain complaints to God about suffering not related to sin, and Jeremiah (pbuh) wrote one of the most anguished complaints to God ever written (Jer. 20:7-18 in the NAB) and Job (pbuh) complained as well.

You mention being humble during trials, and we should always have a proper humility before the Almighty. I think of my complaints before God as a very young child crying to his parent. Is complaining during trials considered an appropriate response to Allah in Islam?

[Mardhiah]

LAST EDITED ON 07-12-01 AT 09:37 AM (GMT)[p] Firstly, never ever have bad assuption towards Allah.He knows what is good and what is bad for a person."Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope." (2:286).It may seems that an incident happenning to one being is a burden to him.We human do not know much but must be willing to accept fate and look at whatever bad happens to us as a test.Life is like a wheel.At one time we could be happy and pleased with things around us but at another time it could be the opposite.You might have complained but you didn't know the good result it could bring.In Islam, whenever there is hardship, ease will always await.That is the reason why Muslims are told to be patient." Follow thou the inspiration sent unto thee, and be patient and constant, till Allah do decide: for He is the best to decide." (10:109)

By the way, I will try to answer your latest post after visiting www.answering-islam.org. Want to know what you get from there.

Mardhiah Mansor