Of course, Allah, who has infinite power and is the creator of all existence, has the power to prevent injustice and evil.[1] However, since these are experienced in life, Allah does not directly intervene and prevent the difficulties and oppressions on earth. The primary reason for this is that the life of this world is a test place for everyone on the journey to eternity. If Allah prevents injustice and evil, the test for man will disappear. Because when an injustice occurs, if a divine power intervenes and prevents it in front of everyone, everyone who witnesses it necessarily believes in the existence of this power. In this case, the human will is disabled.
Due to the value he places on human will, Allah has set up an inclusive order that is valid for everyone in the world( Dunya) test. For example, if only Muslims and children were saved and the unbelievers and sinners died during an earthquake, and if the attempts of the armies that threatened the innocent during a war did not yield any results, then there would be no choice for conscious people to believe or not. For this reason, Allah did not prevent even His most beloved servants, His envoys, from experiencing difficulties and injustices from time to time.[2]
One of the reasons why people are sent to this world is to be tested.[3] Test is experienced through the troubles and difficulties that Allah gives to test people, and sometimes through gains and blessings. Information about this test is expressed in the Quran: “And know that your wealth and your children are only a test and that with Allah is a great reward.”[4] We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure—”[5]
In addition to all this, When the injustices experienced by innocent people due to the test are considered together with the world of eternity, they do not have a bad meaning in the real sense. When injustice is mentioned, Allah states that He will compensate for these grievances and provide absolute justice both in this world and in hereafter.[6]
It means that Allah does not intervene in some injustices, but also gives time (to make repenting to Allah) to people who do wrong. In the Quran, “Do not think ˹O Prophet˺ that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them until a Day when ˹their˺ eyes will stare in horror—”[7]. While Allah’s postponement of punishment is an opportunity for people who will repent from their sin while they are in this world, and it is a trap that will increase their torment in the Hereafter for people who will persist in doing evil. As a matter of fact, there are many people who were not punished immediately despite committing great injustices and bad deeds, and later changed their behavior with regret and became very good persons.
According to Islam, the main and harmful calamities are those related to one’s faith. The troubles caused to religion; To deny Allah, to sin and not to be aware of it is to be caught in spiritual diseases such as backbiting, hypocrisy and jealousy. It is good for a person to take refuge in Allah from these misfortunes. Because these trouble cause the person to lose an eternal happiness, although they do not seem to harm the worldly life.[8]
According to Islam, the death of babies and children is not a trouble for these children. The prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon him) stated that children who die before puberty will go to heaven. There is no query or account for them. For parents to lose their children is a test for them. Because in Islam, children do not belong to their parents, they are entrusted to them by Allah.[9]
According to the stories of the prophets told in the Quran, when some communities in the past went to extremes in evil and were no longer able to return to goodness, Allah prevented them with various great calamities. However, this intervention means that the tests of the mentioned tribes and communities are over and their punishments are given: “Say, “Have you considered: if the punishment of Allah should come to you unexpectedly or manifestly, will any be destroyed but the wrongdoing people?”[10] “That is because your Lord would not destroy the cities for wrongdoing while their people were unaware.”[11] “˹Imagine˺ how many societies We have destroyed! Our torment took them by surprise ˹while sleeping˺ at night or midday.[12]
[1] One of the names of Allah is Al- Qawiyy which means the One with the complete Power. Another name is Al-Matin which means The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted, and He does not get tired. Al-i İmran, 29.
[2] For example, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born lost his mother when he was 6 years old. He had to migrate from Mecca, the city where he was born and raised, to Medina. (Mahmûd Pasha el-Felekî, et-Taḳvîmü’l-ʿArabî ḳable’l-Islâm, p. 33-44.) Prophet Yusuf was thrown into the well by his brothers and abandoned. (Yusuf, 9) When Prophet Musa (PUH) was a newborn baby, his mother had to leave him in the river and lived a life away from his family. (Al-Qasas, 7)
[3] Al-Ma’idah , 94
[4] Al-Anfal,28
[5] Al-Baqarah, 155
[6] Al-Ma’idah,8 ; Al-An’am,115 ; Yunus, 54
[7] Ibrahim, 42
[8] At-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Supplication, 79
[9] See, “What is the Condition of Children Who Died According to Islam?”
[10] Al-An’am, 47
[11] Al-An’am. 131
[12] Al-A’raf, 4