Benefits of Suffering

This article is not strictly concerned with solving the problem of evil (see its own article) but will list some of the many wisdoms Allah may have created suffering.

Benefits Related to Faith

  1. Makes people recognize the power of Allah
  2. Makes them recognize their own weakness
  3. Reminds them of death

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”

Quran 2:155-156
  1. Pain in this world makes them understand and fear the pain of Hell

And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent.

Quran 32:21
  1. Prevents them from arrogance or some sin Allah knows they might fall into without suffering

And if Allah had extended [excessively] provision for His servants, they would have committed tyranny throughout the earth. But He sends [it] down in an amount which He wills. Indeed He is, of His servants, Acquainted and Seeing.

Quran 42:27

Benefits Related to Actions

  1. Makes them return to Allah remembering His punishment

[…] And We tested them with good and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience].

Quran 7:168
  1. Makes them sincere to Allah since no one else can lift the suffering

And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, there are [some] of them who are moderate [in faith]. And none rejects Our signs except everyone treacherous and ungrateful.

Quran 31:32
  1. Makes them seek Allah’s help in dua, and that is rewarded

And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues [in disobedience] as if he had never called upon Us to [remove] an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing

Quran 10:12
  1. Makes them show patience, and that is rewarded

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.

Quran 2:155
  1. Gives them the ability to forgive someone who has wronged them, and that is rewarded

Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.

Quran 3:134

Benefits in the Hereafter

  1. Erases and forgives their sins instead of them facing punishment for them in the hereafter
  2. Raises rank and reward in Paradise

The Messenger of Allah said: “The believer is not afflicted by the prick of a thorn or what is worse (or greater) than that, except that Allah raises him in rank and removes sin from him by it.”

Sunan Tirmidhi, Sahih Muslim

Corruption has appeared in the land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].

Quran 30:41

Benefits of Seeing the Suffering of Others

  1. Gives people the chance to help those who are suffering and gain reward
  2. Makes them realize the blessings they have

The Messenger of Allah said: “Look to one who is lower than you, and do not look to one who is above you. For indeed that is more worthy so that you do not belittle Allah’s favors upon you.”

Sunan Tirmidhi, Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

And Allah knows best.

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