Why Allah Allows Evil to Happen to Good People

Many people are asking questions such as: “Why does God allow for bad things to happen to good people?”, or “All religions are talking about loving God but just look at all the evil that is happening in this world” etc. Here we have our Lord Allah (SWT) giving us wisdom and perfect explanation through the Quran.

Each day something terrible happens to someone – perhaps someone even good. Here we have an excellent explanation by the Quran on why evil exists in this world which can help us in our daily lives and to go through every hardship with ease.

“Most certainly, there is ease with hardship” (Quran, 94:6)

Two times in this beautiful book, the Lord of all the worlds, as the All-Knowing and therefore the Creator, the Knower, and the Owner of the future, ensures us that, with every single hardship, ease there is.

And indeed, at the end of every tunnel in our lives, there is the light — even at the moment of our death. The despair that we are feeling is what Shaytan wants us to feel because this is what has brought him out of the Jannah.

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favour of Allah upon you – when you were the enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favour, the brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah makes clear to you His verses that you may be guided” (Quran, 3:103)

We should always hold on to this rope no matter what. The devil wants us to fall into despair and to lose hope so we can succumb to our misery and fail the test that we have. This is the deception of him and his wretched followers.

The Wisdom of Our Quran

If this God (SWT) wasn’t a good and freedom-loving God, you would be like an angel, with no free will.

He doesn’t create evil, you are.

You are using your free will to choose whether you would help a poor man or humiliate him because he is poor. Everything you do, you are doing it for yourself and to yourself.

“Indeed, Allah does not wrong the people at all, but it is the people who are wronging themselves” (Quran, 10:44)

Allah (SWT) knows all the outcomes (if you know all the outcomes then nothing can actually surprise you), gives you tests, and is watching how you will utilize your free will to perform.

This life is for worshipping the One who gave you life and is keeping you in it and is giving to you all the good that you are receiving and will receive in this life and the Hereafter.

You got where you are for free, you didn’t pay for it.

Our situations may seem worse than others because you have to grow more; that is why all people don’t have equal chances (being born into rich vs poor/abusive families).

Everyone has a unique set of problems to solve in this life and an equal chance of earning the highest place in Jannah.

Our beloved Prophet SAWS says:

It was narrated that Abdullah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘No one will enter Paradise who has even a mustard seed’s weight of arrogance in his heart, and no one will enter Hell who has even a mustard seed’s weight of faith in his heart.’”  

So, Allah (SWT) will test you in this life to make you humble and ready for the Jannah where, in this life, you have a unique opportunity to build, grow, and hone your virtues to become your nature.

If you have ever had a complaint or a doubt like: “Why couldn’t God already have made us all good and put us all in Paradise instead of sending us to Hell and torturing us?”, then remember: Yes, he could have already made us like that but — do you really value the things that come easy to you? Or, would you ever drive a car that is not tested to see if it will allow you to survive?

No, you are taking these things for granted. But if you lose them or you have to work for them, then you are feeling the satisfaction and you know how to value them because of the sweat, blood, energy, struggle, and suffering you have invested in it.

And Allah (SWT) rewards it with over 10 times better and more.

“Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold. But whoever comes with a bad deed will be punished for only one. None will be wronged” (Quran, 6:160)

“And Satan will say to his followers after the judgment has been passed, ‘Indeed, Allah has made you a true promise. I too made you a promise, but I failed you. I did not have any authority over you. I only called you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; blame yourselves. I cannot save you, nor can you save me. Indeed, I denounce your previous association of me with Allah in loyalty. Surely the wrongdoers will suffer a painful punishment” (Quran, 14:22)

The thing with Jannah is, that for the ‘poorest’ person, there will be all the might of kingdoms that have ever existed in this world’s history plus the entire universe to enjoy just for themselves.

All that for being humble. This is why you are being tested. And this is the Will of our Lord.

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References

Sunan Ibn Majah 59, Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 59, Grade: Sahih