Is God Evil - Muslim Response

Conversations with Talk Islam

Sheikh Wesam Charkawi: Theologian with Masters in Shariah
I’ve had many people come up to me and tell me that their loved one has passed away. This has caused them to disbelieve in God or deny God.

…Voice-over…
Stephen Fry: Stephen Fry on God | The Meaning Of Life | RTÉ One

“How dare you create a world in which there is so much misery that’s not our fault. It’s not our fault, it’s utterly, utterly evil”

Sheikh Wesam Charkawi:
These things don’t happen because God is evil, God is not evil. First and foremost why do bad things happen?

Why Do Bad Things Happen

You know this world is such that we don’t know all the answers. But God has given us some of the answers, and some of the answers entail the following.

This world is a test and on that path you’re going to find obstacles, and on that path you’re going to find things that are difficult.

He Who Created Death & Life So That He May Test You
- Quran 67:2

Sheikh Wesam Charkawi:
But God says in that difficulty that you endure, know that I am with you.

Allah Is With The Sick, The Hungry & The Thirsty
[Bukhari]

If we can understand that, then we have reached some way into understanding this component which has driven many people away from faith.

#2 - Hardships Will Not Go Unrewarded

And number 2 that those hardships that a person has endured, would not go unrewarded. And you will see on the Day of Judgement your patience and your endurance with patience, God will reward you immensely. As God clearly states…

“We will test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, loss of life… but give glad tidings to the patient”.
- Quran 2:155

Sheikh Wesam Charkawi:
So the evil that people experience, or the suffering that people experience, it’s a temporary suffering.

Think of it like a bad dream, upon waking there’s nothing there.

It’s all over, it’s temporary.

Likewise this world is a test, given that it’s a test, you will find obstacles and there will be suffering, and there will be some hardship. But at the end of it, there’s a great reward waiting for those who have suffered.

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YouTube - Syrians Respond to Barrel Bomb in Aleppo

By God Almighty Those That Are Dying From Us Are Going Straight To Paradise And We Are More Happier Than You.

God Is The Greatest.

Sheikh Wesam Charkawi:
In fact the person that in this world had suffered greatly, when he sees Paradise and enters Paradise, he will state “I never saw a difficult day” and this is the person that suffered dearly when he was in this world.

“I Have Never Experienced Any Hardship”
When They Enter Paradise
[Muslim]

So whatever difficulties, whatever hardships, whatever calamities that you face and the loved ones that you’ve lost. That feeling will be temporary.

I want to also comment on the fact that some people will perform bad actions.

Let me explain, God has given mankind freewill. The freedom to choose between what is right and the freedom to choose between wrong.

God Gave Man Free Will
Right, Wrong

Now what that means is inevitably, it is the choice to do evil which is evil and not the fact that God created it.

It Is The Choice to Do Evil Which Is Evil

The choice of man, despite it being evil, will be created. But this does not mean that God is happy with that decision, it does not mean that God is pleased with that decision.

God’s Will ≠ God’s Pleasure

But because God has given him that choice, He has created and given that choice an external manifestation.

But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a plan or wisdom to that fact or thing that has occurred.

We Are Like An Ant On A Big Rug
- Quote From Scholar

One great scholar said that we are like an ant on a big great rug. That ant can’t see the entirety of that rug. God has the absolute ability of foresight.

We see that sometimes when catastrophes occur, what do people do?

Calamities Bring The Best From Us

It brings sometimes the best out of people. We see people flocking to centres where they can donate their time, where they can donate their wealth. And they want to help the poor, they want to help the weak, they want to help the destitute. We don’t understand the knowledge or have the information about everything.

That’s something I want to leave you with and leave you with the very fact, that God does love His creation. And the one’s who patiently endure the sufferings that occur in this world will be greatly rewarded in the Hereafter. It’s part and parcel of the test that God has given His creation.

waakhiru daAAwahum ani alhamdu lillahirabbi alAAalameen

…And the last of their call will be, “Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!”
- Quran 10:10