Fourth Lecture
The Philosophy behind Unpleasant Events in our Lives

We have seen that some faultfinders have used the unpleasant events that occur in man’s life and the disasters which we constantly face to deny God’s Justice or to deny the very existence of God altogether.

In our previous discussion, we analyzed some of these events and provided two different philosophies. Let us now continue with this discussion.

Man Matures when he Faces Difficulties

Let us repeat what we have said previously: we should never try to create problems for ourselves. It frequently happens that certain difficult obstacles strengthen our determination and enhance our faculties. This resembles the act of a blacksmith who puts steel into hot ovens to make it stronger and more durable. We, too, become more determined in the oven of hardships.

Wars are abominable events, but sometimes an intense could enhance the capabilities of a nation and make it flourish; it could change disunity into unity and could redress backwardness.

A well-known western historian writes:

“Any brilliant civilization that has emerged in whichever part of this world has been caused by a strong foreign invader which has caused the hidden capabilities of the invaded nation to flourish.”

Of course, the reaction of all individuals and societies in the face of the bitter events of life has not been identical. Some individuals despair easily; so, they are drawn into pessimism; and end up being the losers. There are others, however, because of their potential are motivated by events and move forward energetically trying to amend their weak points and drawbacks. However, since most people judge superficially, they only observe the bitter and hard aspects of the hardships of life and do not notice the positive aspects of these difficulties.

We do not, claim that all bitter events always have such an impact on us, but they do in many cases.

If one studies the life patterns of those endowed with genius, you would find out that nearly all of them carried out their activities under hard and difficult circumstances. Few of those who have been pampered and spoiled have shown any genius or have reached lofty positions in life. Great, distinguished military leaders and generals have such high social positions because they have encountered difficult challenges in the military theater. By the same token, the experts in economics are those who have wrestled against daunting economic conditions and have emerged victorious.

In the same way, great politicians are those who have struggled against hard and unpleasant events.

In sum, it could be stated that hardships and pain nourish the human mind.

We read the following truth in the Holy Qur’¡n:

فَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئاً وَيَجْعَلَ اللهُ فِيهِ خَيْراً كَثِيراً.

Then if you hate them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah has placed abundant good in it. [Qur’¡n 4:19]

Hardships Prepare Man to Return to God

In the previous discussions, we found out that there is a specific aim for every one of our limbs and organs. There is even a philosophy behind the creation of our fingerprints, so, how could it be possible for our whole body to lack any pre-specified objectives?

We have seen so far, as well, that the main objective of man’s creation has been for him to develop and to flourish in all aspects of life.

In order to attain such perfection, man needs profound educational programs that could lead the entirety of his being, therefore such a program should be all-inclusive. For this very reason, God has provided man not only with a monotheistic nature but has sent heavenly books through great prophets to lead man to the straight path.

For man to accomplish such a profound feat God has revealed to him the consequences of his sins and wrongdoings and has made man suffer in those cases where he has disobeyed God’s orders and commands; in this way, God has taught man to take lessons from his previous errors and pave the way to approach Him. For this reason, some of the disasters and unpleasant events man encounters, are in fact God’s grace and signs of His Benevolence.

This fact is vividly stated in The Holy Qur’¡n:

ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ.

Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, so that they may return. [Qur’¡n 30:41]

Regarding the afore-mentioned topics, it is entirely baseless and illogical to consider disastrous events as evil, to interpret them as pernicious and to consider them as signs of God’s injustice. This is because the more meticulously we delve into this issue, the more we appreciate the philosophy behind it.