Good, evil and suffering

Question 1

what do muslims believe about the nature of good and evil actions?

Answer 1

• muslims are born with a fitrah that is pure
• people have free will which leads us to act in positive or negative ways
• things are not good or bad in themsleves, rather, how they are used or misused determines their benefit or harm
• people have a limiting understanding od good and evil, and often make mistakes,
• following islam helps people avoid making mistakes
• good actions are rewarded in paradsie, while evil deeds are punished in hell

Question 2

What does the Qur’an promise rewards for those who do good

Answer 2

“God will […] rewards them, for their steadfastness”‘

Qur’an gives vivid descriptions of the afterlife, describing people sitting on couches, wearing ‘garments of green silk’, eating from ‘silver plates, and being given ‘pure drink’. Soem muslims interpret these teachings literally. Others believe they are figurative and refer to the spiritual comforts and delights of paradise.

Question 3

why do people suffer?

Answer 3

1. people have been given reason and understanding so that they can follow the ‘right path’ described by the prophets. When they do not make proper use of their reason, understanding, and free will, they suffer.
2. Allah is responsible for the suffering some sinners experience because he puts a ‘disease’ and ‘darkness’ into their hearts for their continued disobedience.

Question 4

What are the non-religious attitudes to suffering and muslim response?

Answer 4

1. As there is no God and, therefore, no divine explanation for the universe, we have to make sense of suffering ourselves

muslims disagree and say that people shoulf make use of their minds to realize that there is a greater power in the universe, God, and that God can help to explain the existence of suffering.

2. Life is a struggle, which the human community needs to try to overcome.

suffering can have a positive side. It can teach resilience and provide people with opportunities to perform good acttions.

3. whenever anyone suffers, we should seek to relieve their pain.

muslims agree that helping people who are suffering is part of being a khalifah of the Earth. This is why zakah is one of the sunni Five Pillars and one of the Shi’a Tne Obligatory Acts, and why there are many muslim charities