Answer:

God created humans with an inner faculty known as the ‘ene’[1]. The faculty was created with an intention to fulfil the following objective: to allow humans to be able to compare their own abilities, attributes, possessions, etc. to that of God’s, so that they can understand the true nature of God’s attributes and names.

For example, an endless light without darkness may not be known or perceived. But if a hypothetical line of darkness is drawn, the endless light would then become known. In the same way, God’s attributes like knowledge and power, and names like Hakim (All-Wise) and Rahim (All-Compassionate) are all-encompassing and limitless. Without like they may not be determined, and what they are may not be known or perceived. It is necessary to have a hypothetical limit.  The ‘ene’ is this limit. The ‘ene’ is what gives the human his sense of ownership, his sense of power, etc. With this tiny unit of measurement, the human slowly starts to understand the true nature of God’s attributes and names.

When we discuss God’s attributes like beauty and perfection, we must keep in mind that they are all-encompassing and limitless. The beauty and perfection that exists in this universe is in fact God’s beauty and perfection; everything has been created in the form of a mirror. How the beauty and perfection of this world is preserved through change[2] is evidence to this.

However, humans because of the ‘ene’ are able to take ownership of the beauty and perfection that has been bestowed upon them. For this reason a human who is physically attractive or has perfected a skill cannot help but look at themselves and/or display it to others. So when we say ‘just like every possessor of beauty and perfection, God desires to see and display His beauty and perfection’ and we use humans as an example, it does not mean that God is like humans or vice versa. It’s just that we as humans because of the ‘ene’ can take ownership of the beauty and perfection that has been bestowed upon us, and act as if we its true owner. Although as mentioned above, humans are nothing but a mirror to God’s attributes and names.

[1]. There are many English translations for the ‘ene’ such as ego, superego, id, I, etc. but none are totally accurate so we have decided to just use the original terminology.

[2]. This points to how everything in this world is renewed.

Answer:

God’s being is infinitely beautiful and infinitely perfect. Beauty and perfection emanate from God. The beauty and perfection of everything that exists in this universe testifies to this. They all point to their Maker’s beauty and perfection.

In view of this, just like every possessor of beauty and perfection, God desires to see and display His own beauty and perfection. He creates, opens up exhibitions, and displays the marvels of His knowledge, the wonders of His art, the magnitude of His wealth, the sovereignty of His rule so that he can behold His beauty and perfection in two respects.

The first respect: so that He himself can behold His beauty and perfection with His own discerning eye.

The second respect: so that He can behold His beauty and perfection through the eyes of others.

Answer:

This question can be answered from various angles. To begin with, God created humans to study him and come to know him. This is predominantly why humans are here on earth. So under this context, we can understand why illnesses and calamities would exist. God has made the human body a place where he displays the manifestation of several of His Names. He has made the human to be a model on which He cuts, trims, alters and changes the garment of the body, disclosing many of His characteristics and attributes. Just as the Name of Safi (Healer) makes it necessary that illnesses should exist, so too the Name of Rezzak (Provider) requires that famine should exist. And so on...

Secondly, this world of ours is a field of examination, the abode of service. It is not a place of pleasure, reward or requital. Then considering this, illnesses and calamities—as long as they do not affect belief and are patiently endured—conform fully with service and worship. Each hour’s worship becomes equivalent to that of a day for any one afflicted with misfortune or sickness. Thus, any person who has been affected by an illness or has suffered harm from a calamity should offer thanks instead of complaining.

We should note that there are two kinds of worship. The first kind is obvious: praying, fasting, etc... The second kind is when the one afflicted with misfortune or sickness perceives his own weakness and helplessness, and turning to God, seeks refuge in Him offering a pure form of worship. If this person endures patiently, thinks of the reward attendant on misfortune and offers thanks, then each hour that he passes will count as a whole day spent in worship. There are even cases where a single minute is counted as equal to a whole day’s worship.

Thirdly, humans have no right to complain in the case of illnesses and calamities. A complaint arises from a right; although, no human right is lost that they should be complaining. The following comparison should make this a little more understandable.

A person takes a poor man on a tour to the top of a very tall building. On every floor he gives him a different gift, a different reward. At the top of the building, he gives him the biggest present. Although this person wanted thanks and gratitude in return, imagine the poor man forgets about the presents that he received on every floor or considered them to be of no importance, and offering no thanks begins to look up and complain. He starts saying, ‘If only this building was taller I could have climbed higher. Why isn’t it as tall as that other building over there?’ If the poor man complained in this manner, you could understand what great ingratitude it would be, what a wrong he would commit.

In just the same way, a human comes into existence from nothing, not as a rock or a tree or an animal, but a human, and most times sees good health and is the recipient of many bounties. Despite all of this, if he complains and displays impatience because he is not worthy of certain bounties, or because he loses them through wrong choice or abuse, or because he could not obtain them, and then criticise God saying “What have I done for this to happened to me?”, you could understand what great ingratitude it would be, what a wrong he would commit.

In summary, illnesses and calamities are not contrary to the concept of God. We have provided three reasons above to shed some light on this subject. As mentioned in the answer to a previous question, good or bad are all pleasurable when God exists.

Answer:

As described in the answer to a previous question, the subjective approach refers to the method in which God’s existence is proved through human thoughts, feelings and emotions. In other words, every human can by using his or her heart[1] and mind realise the existence of God. Here we’ll provide an example using death.

Firstly, imagine—God forbid—that your mother is diagnosed with cancer and after months of treatment the doctors finally announce that her cancer has spread and that it is now a matter of time that your mother will pass away. You instantly realise that within the next couple of days your mother will die, and that there is nothing you or any doctor can do to stop this from occurring. This means losing your mother forever; you will never again be able to see or talk to your mother. The reality of this incident becomes so painful that you start to wish you never existed so that you didn’t have to experience this terrible event. Then just when you thought no hope remained, a doctor arrives with some medicine and cures your mother’s cancer. Your dear mother opens her eyes, delivered from death. Think how much joy and happiness the doctor’s cure for your mother’s cancer will give you.

Using this analogy, just like your mother in the above example, millions of people from the past whom you earnestly love and are concerned for are rotting in graveyards and about to be annihilated because you don’t believe in God. The millions of people from the past can be broadened to include the millions of animals and plants that have passed away, your youth and all of those wonderful things that you once possessed which you don’t today. All of your past is dead and non-existent because you believe God does not exist. Do you understand the pain and suffering from these innumerable separations and eternal deaths that you inflict on yourself through unbelief? See how painful death is when God does not exist?

However, if God does exist, those millions of people from the past, the millions of animals and plants, your youth and all of those wonderful things that you once possessed have not gone into non-existence, they have not been annihilated. Rather they have been recorded and moved to another realm, and in the future they will enter a place of bliss. Like the doctor in the example, belief springs to life all of those dead. Do you understand the joy and pleasure the existence of God gives to you in this world? See how death does not afford pain but according to your belief, provides you with everlasting pleasure.

In summary, painfree pleasure is found only in belief in God, and is possible only through belief. Unbelief is a dark road and full of pain; what makes people take this path is bewildering. Since there are endless pains in unbelief, that way is certainly devoid of truth. While since the way of belief is easy and pleasant, surely that way is the truth.

[1]. Heart here does not refer to the physical heart.