Title: Regarding the Misfortunes that Befall us Question: I understand that we are individually responsible for all actions that we do and must be prepared for the consequences, but in the Qur'an it says: "Whatever misfortune befalls you is the consequence of what your own hands have wrought. And Allah forgives many of your sins" ( Al-Shooraa 42:30). The verse refers to misfortunes of which there are many in life, main examples being illness and disease. But surely it is not our fault that we fall ill or have a disease which prevents us from carrying out our day to day activities, from which we are unable to support ourselves and hence fall into a life of hopelessness and misery (misfortune). Such is happening all over the world where people are afflicted by an illness, be it a genetic abnormality (hair loss in females) or acquired beyond our control (Cancer, Diabetes) which leads people to lose their dignity in front of their family and friends, slowly lose faith and lose hope in life, despite holding out and being strong in Imaan . Do we become ill because of our past sins and are made to suffer in this life as opposed to the afterlife? (I recall that there is a hadith in which reference is made to punishment in this life). What about people that have not committed many sins but are losing their dignity because of illness, where the suffering (immense) has outweighed the sins (minor)? Answer: An important factor that needs to be kept in mind for the correct understanding of the referred verse is that it addresses the infidels or the Kuffaar (who were persistent in their attitude of rejection of the truth, even after it had become as apparent as could be -- in the life of this world - by the direct intervention of the Almighty through His messenger - Mohammad). The verse is not universal in its address. The implication of the verse is that the Creator, in the life of this world, admonishes those who knowingly reject the truth and are averse to it. This admonition of the rejecters may take the shape of any misfortune - whether economic, physical or emotional. In the initial stages of their rejection, the basic purpose of such happenings is to warn and reprimand the rejecters of the truth to induce them to reconsider their attitudes and to press them into correction. In the later stages, when all admonitions and warnings have been ignored, then there is a change in the basic purpose of such happenings. Now the purpose of such happenings is to punish the rejecters. The verse really implies that when a person reaches this stage of rejection, all misfortunes that befall him are actually a punishment for his general attitude of rejection. I would like to stress once again that this verse addresses the rejecters of the Prophet (pbuh) who had rejected the truth, even after it had become clearly known to them. As far as the general principle of the distribution of 'good' and 'bad' times is concerned, the Qur'an says that the life of this world is a test. Our Creator, during this life, tests us through 'good' as well as 'bad' times. In 'good' times, we are tested for our gratitude toward our Creator, while in 'hard' times we are tested for our steadfastness in His way. The Qur'an says: "We test you with good and bad, to judge you. Finally, you shall all be returned to Us". ( Al-Anbiaa 21: 35) As far as the fact that some people, apparently, suffer much more than what seems to be bearable is concerned, it could be due to an infinite number of reasons. Some of these reasons, as can be derived from the various verses of the Qur'an or some incidents mentioned in it may be: The person faced with the particular [extra-ordinary] situation is tested with such a situation while others are made to realize the blessings of God and the privileges that they enjoy in life. Such a situation normally is to point out to others the great blessings of God that they tend to take for granted. A normal person suddenly loses his eyesight and is turned blind. This extra-ordinary event in the life of one person may point out to others the great blessing of "eyes that see", which we normally tend to ignore in our lives. Such an event may also help us realize the duties that are incumbent upon us for enjoying this extra-ordinary privilege in life. On the other hand, the particular individual faced with such a situation is tested for his steadfastness in the way of Allah. Our hardships normally fall into this category. The ideal attitude that we all must aspire to develop is that every time a hardship comes our way, we should consider it an opportunity of success in our ultimate life and pray to Allah to help us succeed in this test. Sometimes God selects a person, based on His absolute knowledge, to behave as an epitome of thankfulness and gratitude for all those around him. In such cases, the primary objective of putting an individual through an extremely severe situation is to teach others of the correct attitude of thankfulness and gratitude toward their Lord. In this situation, others are made to see the individual's faithful and thankful behavior toward his Creator in a very severe situation and thereby realize the importance of the good things God has given them and to compare their own behavior with that of the person put in such a severe situation. The basic difference between this situation and the one described in the first point above is from the particular individual's perspective that is taken through such extra-ordinary situation. In the first point, it is primarily a test for the individual, while in the situation under consideration, it is a privilege for the particular individual that he is selected by God for the purpose of teaching others the right attitude and to act as an example for them. An example of this may be seen in the life of Hadhrat Ayyub (pbuh) [For details, refer to the book of "Job", in the Old Testament]. To cleanse an individual of the bad deeds that he might - knowingly or unknowingly - have committed in the past. If the person remains steadfast and faithful to his Lord in this cleansing process, all his bad deeds are washed away in the life of this world, which guarantees his success in the life hereafter. To punish an individual for his general attitude of transgression against God in life. In such a situation, the severe condition is only a preamble for the real punishment that the person shall face in the life hereafter. Obviously, with our limited knowledge, we cannot be certain about the particular reason for which we are made to go through a severe situation. But, if a person has generally tried to submit to God's commands and has generally not been a transgressor, he can rest assured that the severe situation he is faced with is not a punishment from his Creator, but a test in which he is provided a great opportunity of success in the life hereafter. Another important aspect that should be kept in mind while faced with a difficult situation is that a person should never be over confident of his conduct in the life of this world. In fact a person should always try to look back on his behavior and conduct with a critic's eye. We must remember that it is not only our evil deeds that deserve punishment and cleansing but more so our arrogance and lack of humility. 15 th September 1999