Earth Quakes, Tsunamis etc...

How does Islam Views the Human Sufferings that Result

from Natural Disasters.

Put together by: Saeed AbdulRahim

E-Mail : Islamic_wisdom@yahoo.co.uk

Index
This Article Consists of the Following Parts.

1. Introduction

2. GOD- 2.1 Decree of GOD 2.2 Dominion of GOD 2.3 Our Short memory 2.4
Death, -The Islamic Concept 2.5 GOD’s Promise of Resurrection.

3. Encapsulation of the Islamic View on the Human Sufferings resulting from

Natural Disasters.

3.1 TRIALS set by by God-3.2 Purpose for Creation; 3.3 Trials- a Pre-
Requisite to Paradise; 3.4 Bestowal of Grace-also a Trial; 3.5 Things that
we will be Tried in; 3.6 GOD Who Causes / Allows Whole Communities to
be Decimated Can Recreate them Again to the Exactitude of their
Finger-Prints.; 3.7 Prophets Who were Tried-Prophets in general;
Prophet Mohammad – Prophet Issa - Prophet Moosa [Moses ]- Prophet
Abraham - Prophet Dawood [David] – Prophet Ayyub [Job] – Prophet
Yousef [Joseph] - Saul

4. Patience in Adversity- 4.1 In Awe of God 4.2.GOD is with those Who are
Patient in Adversity; 4.3 Taffakur- The Importance of Reflection; 4.4 The
Truly Pious and the Truly Devout?; 4.5 What Do You Think?; 4.6 The Future
Belongs to The GOD Conscious; 4.7 Being deeply Grateful to GOD; 4.8
Patience even in an Argument / Debate; 4.9 Repel Evil with Some Thing that
is Good and Wholesome; 4.10 GOD’s Promise of Resurrection; 4.11 The
Decline of Faith;

1
 More on Patience in Adversity 4.12 We will be tested through “One
Another”; 4.13 GOD Gives us Strength to Endure Adversity 4.14 Gardens of
Bliss and Garments of Silk 4.15 Enjoining One Another to be Patient in
Adversity

5. Requirement to be Patient in Adversity. 5.1 Addressing Human beings

in General 5.2 Addressing Believers Specifically. 5.3 Vying To Show Patience
in Adversity 5.4 Preventing our Spirits and Moral Strengths from Deserting
Us 5.5 GOD is the Best of ALL Judges 5.6 Moral lessons to be drawn from the
Stories of the past 5.7 GOD takes notes of even small little things 5.8
Believers should Not seek a speedy doom for those who are bent upon
denying the truth.

6. Rewards for showing Patience in Adversity 6.1 Basic Pre-requisite for

Rewards; 6.2 who are the Rewards for? ; 6.3 What are the Rewards for? ;
6.4 Various Kinds of Rewards Ratio of Rewards ; 6.5 Gardens with Rivers
Flowing Beneath 6.6 Reward Beyond All Reckoning 6.7 Triumph 6.8 Ratio of
Rewards to Deeds 6.9 Are the Deeds Lost upon Death?; 6.10 Rewards for
the “People of the Books”

7. Apostles who were Patient in Adversity 7.1 All the Apostles; 7.2 Moses;
7.3 David; 7.4 Noah; 7.5 Joseph 7.6 Ayoub (Job) 7.7 ISHMAEL AND IDRIS
7.8 Jonah (Younus)

8. Notable Relevant Islamic Notions

8.1 Islamic Concept of time 8.2 God Created things in Pairs 8.3 Stability
Provided by Mountains as pegs 8.4 When will The Hour be established? – 14
signs from the Hadith

1. Introduction:

This Article is not in any way a definitive answer to the Question i.e. “How does
Islam Views The Human Sufferings that Result from Natural Disasters Like Earth
Quakes, Tsunamis etc?”, but it is a humble attempt to pull together some of the
range of textual references drawing mainly from the two main sources The
Quran and the Hadith, and examining them for the purpose of our query.

Methodology

When researching a subject or running an enquiry about a matter, the widely

accepted Islamic wisdom is not to pick just one reference from the sources and
then run away with it thereby shredding to pieces the context of that quotation,
but instead, the methodology should be to collect together all the possible
references from the various resources, The Quran and Hadith being the two
2
main sources, and then studying them all together in a combined way in order
to reach an educated and informed conclusion.

2. GOD
2.1 Decree of GOD.

When wondering about the decrees of GOD in the wake of natural disasters and
devastations like Earthquakes, Tsunamis etc one must reflect upon them in the
context of GOD’s entire Cosmos and His Limitless Powers to Re-Create
communities Again right down to the very fine details of their finger-
prints, and not only this, but that, we must also reflect upon the harmony and
balance that exist elsewhere in the rest of the Cosmos and think also of GOD’s
Mercy on the rest of His creations that Preceeds and Overwhelms His wrath.

An Expression that “God Has Willed Upon Himself the Law of Grace and Mercy”
has appeared in the Quran at least twice1We must therefore view GOD’s
decrees which may appear to an un-reflecting mind as Him playing out the role
of an Avenger but we must view this in the light of Him being The Most Merciful
not forgetting also His contention that His Mercy Preceeds His Wrath and
His Pardon Preceeds His displeasure. Therefore those who speak about
GOD should not dishearten people with talk of punishment all the time NOR
should servants of GOD who may have transgressed against their own souls
despair of His Mercy, for GOD is Oft-Forgiving and MOST MERCIFUL.2

Peace. The word Peace has appeared many times in the Quran and is a
standard form of Muslim greeting. However, it has a spiritual connotation
comprising the concepts of Ethical Soundness, Security from all that is Evil and
Freedom from all Moral Conflict and disquiet3

Dependence on GOD: The Quran affirms emphatically that there is no

creature with soul on earth that does not depends on GOD for it’s sustenance,
and so complete is GOD’s knowledge of and over every thing that He knows the
time-limit on earth of every living creature and also knows it’s resting-place
(both temporary and permanent) after death; all of which is laid down in a
clear record of His Decree.4

God continuously reminds us of our dependence on Him in order to test us, to

see which one of us is best in deeds, not that God does not already knows, but

1
Quran 6:12; 6:54
2
Quran 39:53
3
M. Assad’s Note to his translation of verse 6:54 of the Quran at www.islamicity.com
4
Quran 11:6 (M. Asad’s translation of the Quran at www.islamicity.com)
3
this is for the benefit of our own argumentative minds so that on The Day of
Judgement we will have no excuses left to argue.

2.2 Dominion of God.

The Dominion of God is not limited to just China, Chile, Haiti, Kashmir Thailand
or Aceh, but in includes many planets, some several times bigger than our
earth, and many Galaxies each consisting of millions of stars, and when,
frequently entire Galaxies pass through each other without any cataclysmic
accident occurring as a result of such Gigantic galactic movements, all pointing
to a Supremo who is controlling all of the Cosmos and all other Creation,
keeping everything in their proper perspectives and in due balance.

Therefore, when we are affected or afflicted by some Natural Disaster we should

see it in the context of its position relative to the rest of God’s Cosmos and
Creation and not act as if this world is the only one and only about us.

In a Chapter called “Dominion”, The Quran Says that “Blessed be He in Whose

hands is Dominion; and He over all things hath Power;- He Who created Death and
Life, that He may try which one of us is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might,
Oft-Forgiving.5

What is interesting here is that God is talking about Death First, and then, does He talks about
Life. This highlights the notion carried in many faiths, that there is Life after Death.

Islam maintains that, that Life in the Hereafter is Permanent through the oft repeated assertion,
repeated at least 14 times in The Quran, that the Life of the Hereafter will abide for ever.6
Thus, with this realisation that present Life is only temporary, chances are that we will then be
able to better bear Divine Trials, Tests and Tribulations by Submitting to GOD’s Will with
Patience.

2.3 Our Short Memory –

We allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by Grief and Sorry When struck by some disaster, but
we quickly forget GOD’s uncountable favours spread over vast areas of our lives. The Quran
frequently reminds us of How Quickly “man” forgets the favours of GOD.

Here the generic term "man" primarily, to the agnostics who are either unconvinced of the
existence of God or are "bent upon denying the truth"; in its wider implication, however, it
applies also to those who, while believing in God, are weak in faith and therefore easily swayed
by external circumstances, and particularly by whatever happens to themselves.7

GOD reminds us in the Quran of How He lets human beings taste some of His Grace and then
takes them away from us, and this may be disappointing to GOD, that when that happens,
“man abandons all hope” forgetting to be Grateful to God for all his past favours.8

5
Quran 67:1,2
6
Quran : 2:39, 81-82,257 / 3: 107, 116 / 7:36,42 / 10:26-27 / 11:23 / 13:5 / 23:11 / 58:17
7
M. Asad’s Note 16 to his translation of the Quran 11:9
4
What is meant here by the term “man abandons all hope” is that he is or becomes utterly
hopeless and despairing, a condition described by the Quranic Term “Ya’us” inasmuch as he
attributes his past happy state to a merely accidental chain of causes and effects-in short, to
what is commonly regarded as "luck"-and not to God's grace. Hence, the term Ya’us, in its
Qur'anic usage, is indicative of spiritual nihilism.9

GOD then tells us about a slightly different situation, that instead of being faced with disaster
after feeling Grace, there is another situation in which after hardships a man faces “Ease and
Plenty” and quite often when that happens man is bound to exclaim that he is “free from all
afflictions” thus engaging in vain exultation and glorifying himself claiming credit for
achievements which were enabled only by GOD10

The above may be the case with most people, however, those who are patient in adversity and
do righteous deeds, then, GOD tells us in The Quran, that for such people; Forgiveness of sins
and a Great Reward awaits them11

2.4 Death the Islamic Concept:

In Islam “Death” is Not “The End” of everything, but it is merely a stepping stone or a means to
the ultimate end of the Hereafter. Every Soul shall Taste of Death says the Quran on at least
three occasions.12 With the exception of one soul, that of Jesus (Issa Son-of-Mary) which has
not tasted of death “Yet”, but, even He shall eventually taste of Natural Death subsequent to his
second coming.13

One word of caution here though with regards to the Permanence of the Hereafter, and that is
that Life then can range from everlasting Bliss in Paradise to Ever Lasting Damnation in the
Hell Fire. Where one is stationed in this range will depend on God’s Mercy and the abundance of
our Good Deeds done in the temporary Life of this world.

Such is the Importance of TRIALS in Islam that a chapter of the Quran is titled Al-
Mumtahinah – the Examined one14

2.5 GOD’s Promise of Resurrection

Those who worry if they perish in a Natural disaster, would that be the end of
every thing? Should take heart from a Quranic assertion that GOD’s Promise of
Resurrection is true indeed, and therefore, we should not allow our minds to be
disquieted by those who are devoid of all inner certainty that Resurrection will
happen.15 God is with those who are Patient in Adversity
8
Quran 11:9
9
M. Asad’s Note 17 to his translation of of Quran 11:9
10
Quran 11:10
11
Quran 11: 11
12
Quran: 3:185 / 21:35 / 29:57

13
Hadith Quoted in the book Fateh-ul Bari page 304 and 305 Vol7
14
Chapter No. 60 of the Quran
15
Quran 30:60
5
3. Encapsulation.
In my humble opinion, the entire ethos of Islamic Response in the face of
Adversities, Calamities, Death, and Disasters etc is best encapsulated by Three
Specific Verses of the Quran which talk

First...

about the inevitable Trial by means of Danger, Hunger, Loss of Worldly Goods,
Loss of Lives AND Loss of Labour’s Fruits, and,

Secondly

That these verses then Talk about the Expectation that God has from the People
Who are afflicted with such Disasters, and what that Divine Expectation says to
such people is that they should show “Patience in Adversity” and say in
response to their Afflictions that “We have indeed come from God and
Indeed to Him is Our Return.”16

Thirdly

Then thirdly, these specific verses Give the Good News to those who fulfil the
above condition, a promise that they will then be bestowed with their
Sustainers’ Blessings and Grace and with a further additional benefit in the form
of a confirmation, that, such People are indeed on the Right Path.17

Let us therefore look at these elements of TRIAL, PATIENCE in

Adversity and the Reward of Blessings and Grace in some detail.

3.1 TRIALs Set by GOD...

There are nearly 54 Verses of The Quran dealing with the subjects of Trials and
Tests. And, In any examination of why a TRIAL has been set, we must first look
at the purpose of that Trial, with the Islamic notion that Our Tests and Trails
from GOD are to Test us for our resolve to submit to God and our resolve to
being Patient whilst these Tests are being made.

Flee to GOD: Prophet Mohammad (saw) is asked to urge People to Flee unto
GOD from ALL that is False and Evil, and is further asked to URGE them Not
to ascribe Divinity to anything besides God with the description that those who
do so are regarded by GOD as people with Overwhelming Arrogance.18 These

16
Quran 2:156
17
Quran 2: 155-157
18
Quran 51:55
6
instructions being a Test of Obedience Not only to GOD but also to the
Prophet for The Quran say Obey GOD and the Messenger.19

3.2 Purpose of Creation

It is the Overwhelming Arrogance which Quran refers to, that causes people to
ignore the Purpose of their Creation20 which is best explained as thus, that.....

The innermost purpose of the creation of all rational beings is their

Cognition of the existence of God, and the Arabic word that comes
closest in definition to the English word Cognition is Marifah.

Human beings and Genies and all those created with a soul, must show a
willingness to conform their existence to their perception of God’s Will and
Plan. Variations in this perception are what give rise to the differing levels of
Piety.

The cognition of God’s existence combined with the willingness to

conform to the Divine Will and Plan gives the deepest meaning to the
Islamic concept of Worship.

The call to worship however, does not arise from any need on the part of GOD
who is self-sufficient21 but is designed to be an instrument of self-surrender to
the all-pervading Divine Will, in the hope that the worshipper may hope to come
closer to an understanding of the Divine Will, and thereby come closer to God
Himself22

Therefore, Those who Knowingly, Deliberately and Obstinately Persist in denying

the Purpose of their creation and the call to worship GOD and continue to
ascribe partners to God, which they have been asked by God Himself Not to do
so, are deemed to have Failed in the Trials mentioned in The Quran and referred
to above, trials which may take the form of Dangers, Loss, Depravation and
Adversity that GOD has been setting for us. Only GOD knows what Punishments
await those who do not take heed or draw lessons from the Trials.

Trials are imposed upon those created with a soul such as Human Beings and Genies so that
God may reward the truthful worshippers for having been steadfast and true to their word, and
these trials cause the hypocrites to suffer –But if the hypocrites repent, and if it be God’s Will,
God can accept their repentance: for, verily, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of
grace!23
19
Quran 5:92, 64:12
20
Quran 51:56
21
Quran 2:263
22
Note 38 to Quran 51:56 translation by M. Asad at www.islamicity.com
23
Quran 33:24
7
3.3 TRIALS a Pre-Requisite to Paradise.

God rhetorically says that “do you think that you could enter Paradise without having
gone through some suffering in this life on earth.???”. He then reminds us of the
Misfortune and Hardships that befell Believers of the earlier generations who were so shaken by
their sufferings that, they and the Apostle cried out: “When will God’s Help Come?-But indeed,
The Quran assures us that God’s Succour is always near!24

3.4 Bestowal of Grace can also be a Trial.

The Quran gives a very interesting contrast between man’s different reactions to afflictions and
his reactions to Grace from GOD. When afflictions befall men, they usually cry unto GOD for
help, however, when GOD bestows some boon or Grace upon the same person he arrogates
himself and says in exultation that such blessings are by virtue of his own wisdom, but The
Quran insists that such bestowal of Grace is also often come as a Trial, and laments that most
men do not understand this.25

3.5 Things That We Will we be TRIED In?

Trials Will be by means of (1)Danger,

(2)Hunger, (3)Loss of Wordly Goods, (4)Loss of
Lives (5) Loss of Labour’s Fruits, (6) Hurtful things said by others (7) Game and
Gain that may have tantalisingly come within reach of our hands26 (8) By means
of One Another by giving material possessions to those who are Not Grateful to
God whilst keeping us in suspense27, (9) By way of what God has bestowed upon
us in terms of Character, Strength, Knowledge, Social Position, Wealth etc28(10)
By means of our own iniquitous doings29(11) By way of our worldly goods and
our children as temptations30(12) By Testing us Year in Year Out31(13) Bt
Frequent reminders of our dependence on GOD32(14) By means of the Spinning
of Yarns and the deceiving by others using their oaths33(15) By the story of the
Ascension of The Prophet(saw) and by the Tree of Hell cursed in the Quran34(16)
24
Quran 2:214
25
Quran 39:49
26
Quran 5 :94
27
Quran 6:53
28
Quran 6:165; M. Asad’s Translators Note; www.islamicity.com
29
Quran 7:163
30
Quran 8:28 ; 64 :15
31
Quran 9:126
32
Quran 11:7
33
Quran 16 :92
34
Quran 17:60
8
By means of All Beauty on Earth35(17) By means of delay in God’s
Judgement36(17) By sending “mortal men” as Messengers37(18) By GOD Willing
us to struggle38(19) By putting to TEST all our assertions39(20) By making us a
plaything by those who are bent upon denying the Truth40 (21) Through Death
and Life41(22) By creating us from Sperm intermingled with the female ovum42

3.6 GOD Who causes / Allows Whole Communities to be decimated can

recreate them again to the Exactitude of Our Finger-Prints.

Similitude is given in The Quran about a man who passed by a hamlet and saw
it in utter ruins and total destruction, and wondered, how can GOD bring back to
life a Community that has been given such complete death?

GOD then caused this man to die as well, and kept him in the state of death and
sleep for 100 years thus. Resurrecting him after a century, GOD asked this man,
“How long do you think you have been asleep?” the man replied, “perhaps a
day or a part of it!!!”-GOD told him that, No, Not for a day or two, but that you
have been in this state for 100 years.

GOD then asked that man to look at his Food and Drink, and both appeared
fresh as if the passage of time and age had not touched them. So, whilst GOD
kept that man in a state of Death for 100 years, miraculously, He kept that
man’s Food and Drink fresh as ever for that time-showing that GOD has Power
of giving Death and Freshness and Sustenance to whomever and to whatever
He wishes.

Then as a further demonstration of His Power and Majesty over every thing,
GOD asked that man to gaze at his donkey, and lo and behold!, that man’s
donkey who had also experienced death for a 100 years slowly began to re-form
and re-shape with his bones restructuring back to the state they were in 100
years ago, flesh forming around the bones again and all being re-clothed in the
skin that was on him before, and all his limbs and senses returned.

35
Quran 18:7
36
Quran 21:111
37
Quran 25 :20
38
Quran 47:4
39
Quran 47:31
40
Quran 60:5
41
Quran 67 :2
42
Quran 76:2
9
GOD’s recreation of the above was meant as a Sign Post for All People to come,
of his Majesty and Power to recreate even after the most utter of destruction.
No Wonder then, that when the man saw himself and his donkey re-created just
like that whilst his food and drink were kept fresh all the while, submitted to
GOD’s Will, Power and Majesty and admitted by saying that I know that ALLAH
hath Power Over All THINGS..!!!43

So Thorough is GODS’s re-creation of souls, and this recreation of His is to such

a fine degree of exactitude, that we are told that we will all be put
together in perfect order to the point of having exactly the same
finger-prints44.

We are also told of the debate that Prophet Ibrahim (Biblical = Abraham, peace
be upon him) had with Pharaoh whence Ibrahim referred to GOD’s power to give
life and death. In arrogance, Pharaoh claimed that he also grants life and death
referring to the powers that he had assumed to spare the life of whosoever he
lets to live and send to the gallows any one he wishes, to which, Ibrahim
retorted, but it is ALLAH who causes the Sun to rise from the East, and then he
threw the gauntlet at Pharaoh by challenging him to get the Sun to rise from the
West, instead.?!45

Abrahams’ (Prophet Ibrahim) own spiritual development and His Firm belief in
GOD’s Power to recreate after death came after an exchange with GOD in
which he asked GOD to show him “How He gives life after death?”

GOD then set Ibrahim an assignment whereby he was asked to take four birds
and train them to respond to his summons. And, after they were trained, he was
asked to chop them into several pieces and shuffle those pieces thoroughly. He
was then asked to put a portion of those shuffled pieces on the various hills
around. Then Ibrahim was asked to address those thoroughly mixed and
shuffled pieces and summon those birds as if they were originally, and, Lo and
behold, just as he summoned them, those birds reformed with each chopped up
piece going back to its original bird, and the reformed-birds came flying to
him with speed.

The above incident as told in the Quran serves as guidance and a reminder to
all who believe, of ALLAH being exalted in Power, Wise.46

3.7 Prophets who were Tried

43
Quran 2: 259
44
Quran 75:4
45
Quran 2:258
46
Quran 2: 260
10
Prophets in General: Prophet Mohammad(saw) is told in The Quran that GOD
has never sent as His Messengers any but Mortal Men who indeed ate food like
all other human beings and went about life trading and performing as other
human beings only to Test us, the followers of those Messengers to see how
well we are able to endure this test, and to test people’s moral perceptions and
dispositions as manifested in their reactions to the Prophets’ message i.e. their
willingness or otherwise to accept it on the basis of it’s intrinsic merit without
demanding or expecting any supernatural proof of it’s origin. God then reminds
us that Our Sustainers’ is Truly All-Seeing.47

The Quran tells us about how Apostles of earlier times were tested for their
resolve by being put in situations where they were labelled as liars, but they
endured all the hurt done to them and the charges of falsehood levelled against
them till succour from their Lord came to them as promised for there is No
Power that could prevent the Promise of GOD’s succour from coming true.48

Prophet Mohammad: Persecution, threats, actual physical harm, hunger

through laying of blockades and sieges, tribal and family pressures through
abandonment were the standard lot of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and his
companions during the early days of Muslims in Mecca. Gradual enhancement of
persecutions forced them to leave Mecca and emigrate* to Medina where they
established themselves into an expanded community regained their strengths
and came back to liberate Mecca.

*Some Oreintalist writers on the history of Islam have referred to this

emigration as a “Flight to Medina” when in actual fact it was an emigration
rather than a flight planned a couple of years ahead and executed in several
stages. In the first stage a small band of Muslims were sent to Abyssinia where
they found Asylum under the protection of Emperor Negashi. Some other
Muslims were then asked to gradually and surreptitiously emigrate in dribs and
drabs to Medina. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) himself was invited to emigrate by
the Medinans whom he met in secret rendezvous on two separate occasions
over a year negotiating terms, and when these were agreed, he was one of the
last to leave Mecca and emigrate to Medina.

Prophet Issa (Biblical = Jesus) Son-of-Mary

The Trials faced by Issa Son-of-Mary begin from the time of his birth with the
awesome calumny uttered against his mother Mary. This then expanded into
overstepping the bounds of truth in people’s religious beliefs whereby Issa
(Jesus) was assigned a part in Trinity with him being assigned son ship of God.

47
Quran 25:20 and M. Assad’s Note in his translation as on www.islamicity.com
48
Quran 6:34
11
People are asked to desist from such assignments for God is described as being
utterly remote in His Majesty and Glory from having a son49

GOD then consoles Issa (Jesus) by saying to him that He will raise him (Issa)
upto Himself and cleanse him of all the falsehoods attributed to him by those
who blaspheme. GOD then promises Issa (Jesus) that He will make those who
follow him (rather than the followers of the Christianity attributed to Paul50)
superior to those who reject faith till the day of Resurrection. GOD then tells all
of us that we shall all return to Him and that He will judge between us on
matters where in we have disputes.51

Prophet Moses: Moses and his people were ALSO put to an awesome Trial
from their Sustainer52 through Pharaoh’s people who subjected them to cruel
torture by slaughtering their male born children and sparing their women.

The story of the suffering of the Israelites during their bondage in Egypt, their
deliverance through Moses and the destruction of Pharaoh and his hosts and
GOD’s promises of His blessings On the Israelites for their Patience in Adversity
are mentioned in The Quran53

Prophet Abraham: Abraham was ALSO subjected to what may appear to be an

extreme Trial by His Lord through His Commandments of sacrificing the thing
most beloved to Abraham in the way of God, which Abraham duly set out to
fulfil, but which, being meant only as a Test and a Trial of Abraham’s resolve to
obey God, was switched at the last moment to a symbolic sacrifice of a lamb.54

Prophet Dawood (Biblical = David).

The Quran frequently guides us USING the examples of various Prophets (peace be upon them
All), and one such Prophet mentioned in the Quran is Dawood (Biblical = David) who was
endowed with tremendous inner strength which he used to good effect by always turning to
GOD at times of Trials, Tests and Tribulations, and though his example ALLAH (swt) urges us in
The Quran to be Patient in response to whatever the disbelievers might say.55

Prophet Ayyub (Biblical = Job)

49
M. Asad’s Translation of Quran 4:171
50
“The First Christian-St. Paul’s Contribution to Christianity” – by Karen Armstrong
51
Quran 3:55
52
Quran 2:49 ; 7 :141
53
Quran 7:137
54
Quran 2:124
55
Quran 38:17
12
Prophet Ayyub had been afflicted with an Illness that struck him for nearly 40 years, a story
commonly told in the Bible and The Quran albeit with slightly differing angles.

In the words of the Bible (The Book of Job ii,9) Job’s wife reproached him for persevering in his
faith and cursed The Divine ostensibly at the behest of the Devil.

Commentators of the Quranic verses relating to Prophet Ayyubs’ (Job) story as above, have
narrated Prophet Ayyubs’ (Job’s) response to that insult, by swearing that if GOD would restore
him to health, then he would punish his wife’s blasphemy with a hundred stripes. But when he
did recover, he bitterly regretted his hasty oath, for he surmised that his wife’s blasphemy was
an outcome of her love and pity for him; and there upon he was told in a revelation that he
could fulfil his wow by striking her symbolically just once with a “bunch of grass with a hundred
blades or more”.56

This brings into focus, another Islamic Notion that wows against natural instincts e.g.: Taking
an Oath to Not eat food or drink, not to sleep, or not to have matrimonial relations with one’s
spouse, must not be kept and should be broken for GOD will not take us to task for
Oaths which we may have uttered without thought.57

Prophet Ayyubs’ (Job) afflictions ended when he showed supreme submission to Allah’s Will by
putting an insect back onto his body, saying to it, that if it be GOD’s Will that you should
partake of my flesh then don’t crawl away, but take your intake to the full. And, No sooner had
he done that, that the Divine Word of “Be” was ordained and Prophet Ayyub (Job) was
miraculously restored to normal health. Such is the reward to those who are Patient
in Suffering.

Prophet Yousef (Biblical Name = Joseph):

Prophet Yousef (Joseph) was tested by GOD by having his brothers scheme
against him by abandoning him in a well and then going home to their father
and concocting a story that a wild animal had devouvered Yousef (Joseph). He
was then tested further by the temptation of Zulekha58, and even further by
being thrown into a prison where he languished for several years. But eventually
GOD’s succour to Yousef (Joseph) caused him to be placed above those who had
harmed him.

Such is GOD’s Plan that He had revealed it to Yousef in a dream59, even

though he had not perceived it at as such at that time, through a dream where
he saw the Sun, the Moon and 11 stars (nocturnal representations of his family
members) prostrating to him.

The entire Story of Yousef (Joseph) is summarised in a chapter (No.12) of The

Quran.

56
M. Asad’s Translators’ Note No. 41 re: Quran 38:44
57
Quran 5:89
58
Quran 12 :23-24
59
Quran 12:4
13
Saul: Saul’s forces were tested by a river bank to see how well they obeyed his
commandments, for he said to his forces not to drink from that river. However,
save a few of them, they all drank to their fill. But as soon as they got to the
other side of the river to face Goliath and his forces, they mysteriously lost all
strength to stand up and fight. Yet, those who knew with a certainty in their
heart that they were destined to meet their Lord, said: “How often has a small
host overcome a Great?

4. PATIENCE in ADVERSITY.
4.1 In Awe of GOD

Showing Patience in face of Adversity is mentioned along side the virtue of

being in Awe of GOD’s majesty and its manifestation is described as having a
heart that trembles with awe whenever GOD is mentioned. Grouped together
with these virtues is the requirement to show constancy in prayer and to spend
on others out of what GOD provides for them as sustenance.60

The Quranic word for the “Provision of Sustenance” is Ar-Rizq and this applies to
all that may be of benefit to GOD’s creation. This may include concrete things
like food, drink; material possessions off-springs etc or the term may also apply
to abstract things like Knowledge, Piety etc. The spending on others, as in this
verse and in the verse 2:3 of The Quran is mentioned in one breath with GOD-
Consciousness and Prayer to demonstrate that true piety comes to its full
fruition through selfless acts of charity.61

4.2 GOD is With Those Who Are Patient in Adversity.

The subject of Patience in Adversity is picked up early in The Quran when

addressing those who have attained to Faith. The Quran urges them to Seek
GOD’s help with steadfast patience and prayer, assuring those who do so, that
indeed “GOD is with those who are Patient in Adversity”62 . Islam also
encourages people to vie with one another in exhibiting and exhorting Patience.

The Quran even regards the act of showing Patience in Adversity as an act of
those who have surrendered to GOD as VIRTUES and Blessings to be prayed for
as demonstrated by the verse: O our Sustainer! Shower us with Patience in Adversity,
and make us die as men who have surrendered themselves unto Thee!"63

4.3 Taffakur - The Importance of Reflection....!!!!.

60
Quran 22:35
61
Note 4 Verse 2:3 M. Asad’s Translation of the Quran available on www.islamicity.com
62
Quran 2:153
63
Quran 7:126
14
One major problem with adherents of most of the Faiths these days is that,
people only recite their texts and read it with only with their eyes but not with
their heart, and even if they do read it, they do so formally without reflecting on
what has been said in that reading.

Reading is so important in Islam that, the “Very First” word that was revealed to
Prophet Mohammad (Peace of Allah be upon him, as it may be on All Other
Prophets) was “READ”..!.

He was off course Ummi i.e. Un-Lettered who had never been taught by any
temporal teacher, so his gut response to the instruction by the Arch Angel
Gabriel to READ met with the response that “I am un-lettered”, the Angel then
grabbed him in a very tight hug and repeated the to READ instruction, again
getting the same response that “I am un-lettered”. This process of hug and then
release and then the instruction to READ was repeated several times, each time
getting the same response. Then finally, the READ Instruction was paraphrased
differently by saying “READ in the Name of Your LORD...”64

The Contextual Meaning of the word READ vis-a-vis Religious Texts is not that
one should READ them with the Optical Eyes only but READ with the “Inner Eye”
of Reflection and Understanding and attempting to digest what is being Read. In
the context of READ being the Very First Word Revealed to Prophet Mohammad
(pbuh), the wider meaning of it also implies the obligation to “Proclaim” that
which is being Read.

TAFAKKUR or Reflection is highly recommended in Islam. So much so, that it is

reported that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) on one occasion highlighting it’s
importance said that “Even a Moment spent in REFLECTION is far Superior than
a Whole Night spent in voluntary (non-obligatory) prayers.”

4.4 The Truly Pious and Truly Devout.

Such is the importance of being Patient in Adversity in Islam, that The Quran
describes this as being one of the definitions of the Truly Pious that they are
those who are Patient in misfortune, hardship and in time of peril. These
people are then said to be those who have proved themselves true and are
further defined as those who are conscious of GOD.65

Spending in GOD’s way and seeking forgiveness from their innermost hearts are
defined as further qualities of those who are Patient in Adversity and True to
their word, such people are said to be the ones who are truly Devout.66

64
Quran 96 : 1
65
Quran 2: 177
66
Quran 3: 17
15
There are at least 12 occasions when the Quran focuses on the Requirement to
be Patient in Adversity.

Addressing people of Faith, The Quran asks them to be “Patient in Adversity”

and instructs the Believers to vie with another in adopting the virtue of Patience
being always conscious of God in what they do so that they may reach a happy
end.67

And in another place, once again Highlighting the need and importance of
Patience, The Quran says, that if people are “Patient in Adversity” and
forever conscious of God in whatever they do, then guiles of those who are our
enemies and those who harbour jealousies in their hearts because of our
blessings, will not be able to harm us in the least for indeed God encompasses
all that they do.68

4.5 What do you think? Asks God, in another place in the Quran, that if he
were take away our hearing, our sight and had sealed up our hearts so that we
do not feel, is there any deity other than God who can bring all of these gifts of
God back to us?. This is God’s way of showing His Message in many different
facets, but in spite of all these some, using their Free Will, still turn away from
God in disdain.69 Little do they think that even their Free Will is a gift from God.

If a situation “appears” to demand a response to either a verbal or a physical

attack, then even here the extent of the response should be very finely
balanced to the magnitude of the attack, and inspite of this permissibility of
response, the choice, The Quran says, to bear one selves with patience is
preferable for indeed God is with those who are “Patient in Adversity”

4.6 The Future Belongs to the GOD Conscious.

Forgiveness of Sins and a Great Reward awaits THOSE who are Patient in
Adversity reminds us The Quran70 which exhorts us to follow the example of
Noah71 who was Patient in Adversity for indeed, The Quran tells us that The
future belongs to those who are GOD CONSCIOUS.72

At every natural disaster, If God was to respond to the cry “Where is God in all
this..?”About human sufferings resulting from natural disasters, then He would

67
Quran 3:200
68
Quran 3:120
69
Quran 6:46
70
Quran 11:11
71
Quran 11:49
72
Quran 11:49
16
most probably reply with the lyrics of a song which state: “You are so vain;
you think that this song is about you”

In our clamour when disasters befall us, we fail to appreciate or acknowledge

that we Human Beings and our Earth are only a minuscule part of God’s
Universe, and we fail to see the harmony that exists in rest of God’s creation.

4.7 Being deeply Grateful to GOD.

Being deeply Grateful to GOD should accompany the virtue of being Patient in
Adversity. As we are reminded in the story of Moses who was sent with GOD’s
Messages to a people who had arrogated themselves. Moses was then asked to
Lead the Israelites out of the depths of darkness into Light and to remind them
of the Days of GOD when they were supposed to keep the Sabbath. GOD often
reminds people of events and promises stating that in these reminders are
Pearls of Guidance, but only those who are wholly Patient in Adversity and
who are Deeply Grateful to GOD73 pay heed to the reminders and draw benefit
from the messages therein.

4.8 Patience Even in an Argument / Debate.

If we get into a situation where we are embroiled in an argument, then the

response should be only to the extent of the charges levelled against us,
although far better it is for us to bear ourselves with patience for the Quran
reminds us that GOD is with those who are Patient in Adversity74

We are then asked to endure all the false arguments, denials of the existence of
GOD and of the truth by the disbelievers always remembering that it is None
but GOD who gives us the strength to endure with Patience in Adversity the
distresses caused by the false arguments devised by the disbelievers75

The believers are admonished and asked to observe self-restraint while

arguing with people of another persuasion. Although retaliation in
argument is permissible if one’s integrity is impeached by an opponent, the
sequence makes it clear that it is morally preferable to renounce it altogether
and to bear the unjust attack with patience.76

On this theme, we remember the occasion, when an opponent was hurling

arguments and allegations against Abu Bakr (who later became the first Caliph
after Prophet Mohammad) in the presence of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) who

73
Quran 14:5
74
Quran 16:126
75
Quran 16 :127
76
M. Asad’s Translators’ Note No. 150 to Quran 16:126 at www.islamicity.com
17
was smiling all the while. However, when Abu Bakr stood up to respond to those
attacks, the Prophet (pbuh) walked away from the gathering. On being asked by
Abu Bakr why did he walk away, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) replied, that,
“Whilst that man was hurling abuse at you, Allah (swt) had sent an Angel to
respond on your behalf, but, the moment you stood up to defend yourself, the
Angel left and in his place the Devil appeared”, and so, he the Prophet (pbuh)
cannot remain in a gathering in which the Devil is present, so, he left.

4.9 Repel Evil With That Which Is Good and Wholesome.

Since Good and Evil cannot be equal, therefore The Quran extols us to respond
to Evil with some thing that is better, good and wholesome. Perchance that
Enmity that exists between us and others that we may then become as though
we had always been close and true friends.

But this restoration of harmony in relationships is awarded only to those who

are Patient in Adversity and who are endowed with The Greatest of Good
Fortune.77

However, if it should happen that due to a prompting from the

devil that we are stirred into a rage and blind anger, then we
are asked to seek refuge with GOD for He alone is all knowing
and All Hearing78

4.10 GOD’s Promise of Resurrection.

Another subject that is brought into focus whilst practicing Patience in Adversity
is GOD’s promise of Resurrection, whence the Quran advises against allowing
those who are devoid of the inner certainty about this Resurrection and we are
asked Not to disquiet our minds with their denials regarding it, and we are
asked to Remain Patient in Adversity.79

4.11 Decline of Faith.

The Quran often alludes to the decline of FAITH among the people of earlier
times, and the tendency among many of their leaders and learned men to
corrupt the texts of their religious books and thus to overlay the truth with
falsehood.80
77
Quran 41:34
78
Quran 42:36
79
Quran 30:60
80
M. Asad’s Translators’ Note No. 19 re: Quran 32:24; see also 2:42, 75 and 79 and the
corresponding notes
18
The Quran is destined to provide guidance and light so long as the Muslim
Community’s Religious Leaders are patient in adversity and steadfast in their
faith. 81An implied understanding here is that The Quran will cease to be of
benefit if the Imams, like the religious leaders of earlier times, cover-up the
truth and assign people to suicide missions which the The Quran and Hadiths
both specifically prohibit.

More on Patience in Adversity

4.12 We Will be Tested through “One Another”

One of the Tests set us by GOD is the sending of mortal men as His Message
Bearers who indeed ate food like other human beings and went about the
market places. And, it is not just being tested through the Prophets, but the
wider meaning of this verse is that we will be Tested through one another as
well, and then The Quran poses this Rhetorical Question: Are we able to endure
this Test with Patience?82

4.13 GOD Gives us Strength to Endure Adversity

Apart from adversities handed out by Natural Disasters, there can be other
forms of Adversities as well. Spiritual and Intellectual adversities being two
other forms. The Quran emphasises that we must remember at all times that “It
is none but GOD who gives us the strength to Endure Adversity” and this
Patience in Adversity must not be allowed to become a source of spiritual
arrogance or false self righteousness83. There are people who are scheming by
inventing false and irrelevant arguments against GOD’s Messages. God
therefore asks us not to allow our minds to be distressed by such false
arguments and also not to grieve over the people who invent them84"

4.14 Gardens of Bliss and Garments of Silk

One form of rewards for those who demonstrate Patience in adversity is that
they will be presented with Gardens of Bliss where in they will be given
garments of silk to wear85

4.15 Enjoining One Another to be Patient in Adversity

One of the requirements for those who have attained to faith is, that, they
should enjoin upon One Another the virtues of being Patient in Adversity, and, in

81
M. Asad’s Translators’ Note No. 20 re; Quran 32:24
82
Quran 25 :20
83
M. Asad ‘s Note 151 to his translation of the Verse 16 :27 of The Quran
84
Quran 16:127
85
Quran 76:12
19
addition to this, they should also enjoin upon one another Compassion and the
keeping to Truth.86

5. Requirement to be Patient in Adversity

5.1 Addressing Human beings in General

When GOD addresses people, he addresses them either in the general term as
human beings or he addresses those who have Faith in Him. Of the first
category there is a verse of The Quran in which GOD unequivocally ask human
beings, as in general, to show Patience in Adversity, the most prolific of these

86
Quran 90:17; 103:3
20
verses being the one in which all human beings are asked to “endure all
adversity with goodly patience”87

5.2 Addressing Believers Specifically.

Then GOD also specifically addresses those who have attained to Faith in Him
by charging them the task of Seeking His Aid with patience and Prayer assuring
them that GOD is with those who are Patient in Adversity88

5.3 Vying To Show Patience in Adversity

hen in another verse, GOD asks those who have attained to Faith in Him Not
only to be Patient in Adversity but urges them further to vie with one another in
doing so and expects them to be ever ready to do what is right and to be
conscious of HIM in all that they do in the hope of attaining to a happy state.89

87
Quran 70:5
88
Quran 2:153
89
Quran 3:200
21
5.4 Preventing our Spirits and Moral Strengths from Deserting us.

Paying heed to GOD and His Apostle and not allowing ourselves to be at variance with one
another lest our spirits and moral strengths desert us is linked in another verse to the
Requirement to be Patient in Adversity emphasising once again the assurance that: GOD is with
those who are Patient in Adversity90

5.5 GOD is the Best of ALL Judges

In some verses of the Quran, the addressing is indirectly to the person of Prophet Mohammad
(pbuh) and then through him to the rest of his followers, urging that we follow only that which
has been revealed to him and asking further that in situations of disputations, disagreements

90
Quran 8:46
22
and conflicts of interests with others we should not feel overburdened with adversity but
instead await GOD’s Judgement in all such situations with the assertion that GOD is the Best of
all Judges.91

5.6 Moral lessons to be drawn from the Stories of the past.

Then GOD strengthens our resolve to being Patient in Adversity by relating to us stories of
earlier Prophets which would otherwise have remained beyond the reach of our perceptions
such as the story of NOAH who was patient against his own folk who ridiculed him but he was
patient in such adversity for he knew very well that, “the future belongs to the GOD-
Conscious”92

M. Asad, points out in this -that "narrative" as such is never the purpose of the Qur'an.

91
Quran 10 :109
92
Quran 11:49
23
Whenever it relates the stories of earlier prophets, or alludes to ancient legends or to historical
events that took place before the advent of Islam or during the lifetime of the Prophet, the aim
is, invariably, a moral lesson; and since one and the same event, or even legend, has usually
many facets revealing as many moral implications, the Qur'an reverts again and again to the
same stories, but every time with a slight variation of stress on this or that aspect of the
fundamental truths underlying the Qur'anic revelation as a whole93

5.7 GOD takes notes of even small little things.

For those who may wonder, whether if GOD ever makes or takes note of small little things, can
take heart from an assertion of the Quran that GOD does not fail to requite the doers of Good

93
Quran 11:49 and M. Asad’s Note No. 73 to it’s translation
24
and specially if they are Patient in Adversity.94

Requiring and asking us to “be” Patient in adversity is supplemented by GOD urging those who
are, to REMAIN steadfast in being Patient in Adversity just as all the apostles who were
endowed firmness of heart, bore themselves with patience.

5.8 Believers should Not seek a speedy doom for those who deny the
truth.

Believers are then cautioned to not ask for a speedy doom for those who persist in denying the
Truth. Their matter is with GOD who on the Day of Judgement will make those people see the
fulfilment of what they were promised by way of requital for their disbelief, the entire life span

94
Quran 11 :15
25
of such people will appear to them to be cut short to no longer than one hour of an earthly day.
This is GOD’s message to those who deny the Truth. The Quran then puts forward a rhetorical
style of Question asking if any will be destroyed except the iniquitous folk.95

6. Rewards for being Patient in Adversity

6.1 Basic Pre-Requisite for Rewards

FAITH & BELIEF is the basic pre-requisite for earning of rewards.96For how can

95
Quran 46:35
96
Quran 16:97
26
you expect Reward from a GOD if you don’t believe in him?

6.2 Who are the Rewards for?

Whoever works righteousness, Man or Woman, and has Faith, GOD will give
them a New Life, a life that is good and pure and will bestow on such people
irrespective of their gender a reward according to the Best of their Actions.97

The fact that GOD rewards people without making any distinction between them
for their gender is stated very succinctly in another verse of The Quran which
states that rewards are for :

“ For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men

97
Quran 16.97
27
and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and
constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women
who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for
men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage
much in Allah's praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great
reward.”98

6.3 What are the Rewards for?

The Rewards are given for various various virtues and deeds, included amongst
which are “Good Deeds”99, “Seeking of Allah, His Messenger and the Home of
the Hereafter”100,”Belief and Deeds of Righteousness”101,”Belief and Spending in
Charity”102, “for Those who Give Thanks”103,”for Those who give a Beautiful Loan
to Allah”104,”Fearing Allah”105, “for Those who Fear their Lord Unseen”106, “for

98
Quran 33:35
99
Quran 32:17
100
Quran 33:29
101
Quran 34 :4, 34 :37, 35 :7, 41 :8, 95 :6
102
Quran 57:7
103
Quran 54:35
104
Quran 57:11, 57:18
105
Quran 65:5
106
Quran 67:12
28
Those who are Patient and Constant”

6.4 Various Kinds of Rewards.

The Quran describes “Rewards” in many different ways, included amongst

which are descriptions such as “Delights of the Eye”107, “Great”108, “Forgiveness
and a Sustenance Most Generous”109, “Forgiveness and a Magnificent
Reward”110,”Forgiveness and Great Reward”111,“Residence with Security in the
Dwellings on high”112,”Reward that Never Fails”113,”Reward that is
Complete”114,”A Grace from God”115”Reward that is Liberal”116,”The Highest of all
the Rewards”117,”Removal of ills and an Enlarged of Reward”118,”A Garden and

107
Quran 32:17
108
Quran 33:29, 57 :7
109
Quran 34:4
110
Quran 35:7
111
Quran 67:12
112
Quran 34:37
113
Quran 41 :8, 68 :3, 84 :25, 95 :6
114
Quran 53:41
115
Quran 54:35
116
Quran 57:11, 57:18
117
Quran 64:15
118
Quran 65 :5
29
Garments of Silk”119.

6.5 Gardens with Rivers Flowing Beneath

The image of “Gardens with Rivers Flowing Beneath” is a constantly repeated

image of Rewards for those who Believe and do Good Deeds.

More specifically, In some of these verses the Garden is mentioned in

conjunction with the rivers flowing beneath120, whilst in some of the verses the
Garden is mentioned on it’s own121, and in one verse this, i.e. the Garden is
described as one of Eternity.122

On one of such occasions it is said that “One of the rewards from GOD is that he
will admit the recipients into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath which is then
defined as “A Reward from the presence of Allah, and since it is a present from

119
Quran 76:12
120
Quran 3:136
121
Quran 10:26; 20:76
122
Quran 16:31; 98:8; 20:76
30
the presence of Allah, it has got to be the best of the rewards."123

6.6 Rewards beyond All Reckoning.

The reward for being “Patient in Adversity” is of such a nature that frailty of
human perceptions cannot comprehend its magnificence or magnitude, for
verily, those who are patient in adversity will be given their reward in full
beyond all reckoning. The caveat being that we servants of GOD who have
attained to faith must at all time be conscious of our Sustainer! For Ultimate
good awaits those of us who persevere in doing good in this world. And we must
never forget that Wide is GOD’s dominion.124

123
Quran 3:195
124
Quran 39:10
31
6.7 Triumph

Reward from GOD for showing Pateince in Adversity is said by the Quran to be a
real Triumph.125

6.8 Ratio of Rewards to Deeds

Rewards Without Measure...! One of the Best thing about the rewards from
God that he can give Rewards without Measure. It is stated emphatically that if
someone Believes and Does Right, then they will have a Reward Without
Measure.126

This Relationship between Good Deeds and Rewards of More than in Measure is
stated again where, in addition, in a further description of the Rewards, it is
stated that “No darkness nor shame shall cover the faces of those in receipt of

125
Quran 23: 111
126
Quran 3:179
32
Rewards from their Lord, and additionally, the recipients will be companions one
of the other in the Garden (Nominal description of Paradise) wherein they will
abide forever. 127

According to the Best of Our Deeds and Efforts

The Grace of Allah (swt) is so profuse, that in so far as the ratio of deeds to
rewards is concerned, it will be based on the best of our deeds and efforts128.
What this means is, that, if we make several efforts of various grades in

127
Quran 10:26
128
Quran 16:97
33
attempting to achieve a virtue, then our Rewards will reflect the “best of those
efforts”—hence, Muslims and everyone else should relate to the very famous
adage that says that:

“Good, Better, Best...Never let it Rest, till your Good is Better, and, Your Better,
Best.”

Having determined a Reward for us which is according to the Best of Our Deeds,
GOD’s benevolence then adds to it even more out of His Grace, and goes even
further as His prerogative of giving “Without Measure” to whoever He wills.129

129
Quran 16 :96, 24:38, 39 :35
34
RATIO of Rewards

1:1 and 1: Without Measure Ratio

It is indeed due to the Mercy of Allah (swt) that He Requites those who do evil
with a measure equivalent to their deeds in a 1:1 ratio, but He “throws Open
the doors of His Mercy” upon those who Believe and do Good Deeds By Giving
them Rewards whose magnificence cannot be imagined or measured by the
faculty of human minds and these rewards remain without stint and without
measure130

This is emphasised once again in another verse of the Quran which states that if
any one does a good deed then the reward for them is better than their deed,

130
Quran 53:31
35
but the doers of evils are punished only to the extent of their deeds131

6.9 Are the deeds lost upon death?

In the context of the subject of this Article i.e. How does Islam views the human
sufferings that result in Natural Disasters a very interesting rhetorical question
that is posed in The Quran itself is as follows:

That is that, after we die and become dust and bones will we still receive the
rewards and punishments that we have accumulated over our life by virtue of
our deeds?132

131
Quran 28 :84
132
Quran 37:53
36
Such a question suggests a lack of knowledge of what is to come in the
hereafter where not only we will be re-created, but be re-created to the
exactitude of the finer details of our finger prints.

In more than one places, in the Quran GOD emphasises that "Never will I suffer
to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female”133

A fact that is stated again, that Allah suffereth not the reward of the Faithful to
be lost in the least134

Then again, Allah assures those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular
prayers that he will never suffer their reward to perish135

And, Once again, the assurance is given that: Allah suffereth not the reward to
be lost of those who do good136 and similar assurances are given in four other

133
Quran 3:195
134
Quran 3 :171
135
Quran 7:170
136
Quran 9:120, 12:56; 11:115; 12:90; 18:30
37
places in the Quran.

And even then, if some fear that their rewards will vanish with their death
should take heart from the verse of the Quran that states that: Allah is never
unjust in the least degree137

So, let us be prepared to answer for our deeds and be ready to receive both
rewards and punishments which our own hands and deeds have sent ahead of
us.

137
Quran 4:40
38
Before we delve into the specific subject of Rewards for being Patient in
Adversity let us look at the subject of Rewards in general.

6.10 Rewards for the People of the Books and others.

There is recognition in the Quran of those amongst the “People of the Books”
(i.e. those whose Prophets were given a Book as Revelation) WHO believe in
Allah and in the Revelation given to Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) apart from their
own true revelations, who bow themselves in humility to Allah and will not sell
the signs of Allah for a miserable gain, and with all these humbling qualities,
there is a reward from their Lord fro such people from amongst the People of
the Books.138

The Rewards for the “People of the Books” is mentioned in another verse of the

138
Quran 3:199
39
Quran where they are mentioned not just nomenclature wise as the People of
the Books but are identified severally by the name of their faiths as (a) Those
who believe in the Quran (b) Those who follow the Jewish Scriptures (c) the
Christians and (d) the Sabians..And...Indeed any Who Believe in Allah and the
Last Day and work righteousness shall have their reward with their Lord.139

7.The Apostles Who Were Patient in Adversity

7.1 All the Apostles.

The believers are asked to remain Patient in Adversity in the examples of All the

139
Quran 2 :62
40
Apostles who being endowed with firmness of heart bore themselves with
patience. We are told that we should not ask GOD for a speedy doom of those
who deny the truth for on The Day of Judgement such people will see the
fulfilment of what they were promised, and it will seem to them as if they dwelt
on Earth no longer than an hour of an earthly day.

The Quran then assures the GOD Conscious with a rhetorical question like
statement that the real destruction will only be of the iniquitous folk140

7.2 MOSES

Moses asked his people to Turn to GOD for aid, and to have patience in

140
Quran 46:35
41
Adversity. He further taught them that all the earth belongs to GOD and He
gives it as a heritage to His servants to such as He wills. He further urged his
followers to note that the future belongs to the GOD Conscious141.

GOD’s promise to the children of Israel was given as a result of their Patience in
Adversity whereas GOD Utterly Destroyed their opponents, the Pharaohs and
his people had wrought and built142

These Messages were sent forth to the people through the mission of Moses
who was asked by GOD to Lead his people out of the depths of darkness into

141
Quran 7 :128
142
Quran 7:137
42
the light on the understanding that the messages are for all those who are
wholly Patient in Adversity and are deeply grateful to GOD143

7.3 DAVID

In being asked to bear with Patience whatever Adversity befalls us, GOD refers
to the example of David who had faced tremendous adversities, but he was
endowed with such inner strength, that he would invariably always turn to GOD
in the face of an Adversity144.

7.4 NOAH

We are asked in The Quran to “be” like NOAH who was patient in Adversity145,
and once again, we are asked to behold the Divinely instructed belief that the

143
Quran 14:5
144
Quran 38:17
145
Quran 11 :49
43
Future belongs to the GOD Conscious.

In this connection it should be remembered that whenever The Quran narrates

Stories of earlier Prophets, People, Incidents or Events-and it cannot be stressed
too often-that "narrative" as such is never the purpose of the Qur'an. The aim of
asking us to reflect on such stories is, invariably, a moral lesson; and since one
and the same event, or even legend, has usually many facets revealing as
many moral implications, the Qur'an reverts again and again to the same
stories, but every time with a slight variation of stress on this or that aspect of
the fundamental truths underlying the Qur'anic revelation as a whole146.(Quran

146
M. Asads’ Note 73, to the translation of verse 11 :49 of The Quran
44
Ref: 11:49 )

7.5 Joseph

The news of the alleged death of Joseph carried by his brothers who went to
their father with their concocted story did not convince him in the least. The
father clearly saw through the thin veneer of their story and told them that,
what they were claiming was merely a figment of their own imagination. The
fact that the brothers showed little regret or sorrow at what they were claiming

45
had happened gave away the facelessness of their story.

The father was clearly resolved to show Patience in what “appeared” to be an

adversity, which he thought to be a most goodly gesture from to GOD147

7.6 Ayoub (JOB)

Prophet Ayoub (Job)’s story is a fine example of one fully immersed in being Patient in Adversity.
With an illness thought to have lasted for 40 years Ayoub persevered with his Faith in GOD. His
story is found both in the Biblical and Quranic Text.

147
Quran 12:83
46
In the words of the Bible (The Book of Job ii, 9), at the time of his seemingly hopeless suffering
Job’s wife reproached her husband for persevering in his faith: "Dost thou still retain thine integrity?
Curse God, and die."

Islamic legends has it, that Ayoub’s wife was approached by the Devil in disguise of a Pious looking
Holy man who advised his wife to thrash her husband with a Broom which she is thought to have
done so and may have uttered profanities against GOD whilst doing so.

The story is then picked up by classical Qur’an-commentators (where there is an assumption that
Ayoub was very upset with his wife for some reason);

Ayoub (Job) then swore that, if God would restore him to health, he would punish her blasphemy

47
with a hundred stripes. But when he did recover, he bitterly regretted his hasty oath, for he realized
that his wife’s "blasphemy" had been an outcome of her love and pity for him; and thereupon he was
told in a revelation that he could fulfil his vow in a symbolic manner by striking her once with "a
bunch of grass containing a hundred blades or more".148

A very important Islamic Notion is, that GOD will not take us to task for oaths which we may have
uttered without thought.(Cf. 5:89 - Quran Ref: 38:44 )

7.7 ISHMAEL AND IDRIS

Prophets Ishmael and Idris are mentioned here only as an example of all the Prophets, for all of
them had pledged themselves, and those who do so are referred to in the normative Arabic grammar
as Lit “him of the pledge”. The expression for this is dhul-kifl – which signifies “he became
responsible [for some thing or some one or the expression may also signify some one who has
“pledged himself to do some thing”149. This though can be a generic term as well as a name of a
person as some commentators have implied that this term dhul-kifl refers to a Prophet by that
Name.150

The Point here is, that, all of the Prophets had pledged to deliver the Message that GOD had
assigned them to deliver, and all of them were Patient when they faced Adversity in the performance
of the task assigned to them.

148
Quran 38:44, and M. Asad’s Note No. 41 to his translation of this verse
149
M. Asad’s Note 81 to his translation of the verse 21:85
150
M. Asad’s note 81 to his translation of verse 21:85
48
Prophet Idris (Enoch) [PBUH]151

Allah's Praises of Enoch

Allah has praised Enoch, describing him as being a prophet and truthful: And mention in the Book
(the Qur'an) Idris (Enoch). Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a prophet. And We raised him to a
high station. Chapter 19: 56-57

Birth and Teachings

151
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Idris (Enoch) was born and raised in Babylon following the teachings and religion of Prophet Adam
and his son Seth. Enoch was the fifth generation of the Prophet Adam. He called the people back to
his forefathers' religion, but only a few listened to him, while the majority turned away.

Prophet Idris (Enoch) and his followers left Babylon for Egypt. There he carried on his mission,
calling people to what is just and fair, teaching them certain prayers and instructing them to fast on
certain days and to give a portion of their wealth to the poor.

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The Wise saying of Enoch

He was the first of the Children of Adam to be given prophethood after Adam and Seth (PBUT). It is
reported that he was the first to invent the basic form of writing. Some of his wise sayings are:
"Happy is he who looks at his own deeds and appoints them as pleaders to his Lord."

7.8 Jonah

Younus (Jonah) is another of those narrow band of “selected” Prophets who

have a whole Chapter of the Quran named after them152 but interestingly
enough, except for one mention of the people of Younus (Jonah) in the chapter
that bears his name in 10:98, the details of Younus (Jonah)’s story is narrated in
another Chapter Called Saffat (Lit serried ranks), i.e. Ch No. 37 from verse 139
- 149
Note 83 (Quran Ref: 21:82 )

According to the Biblical account (which more or less agrees with the Quranic
references to his story), Jonah was a prophet sent to the people of Nineveh of a
hundred thousand or more souls153, the capital of Assyria. At first his preaching
was disregarded by his people, and he left them in anger, thus abandoning the
mission entrusted to him by God; in the words of the Qur'an (37:140), "he fled
like a runaway slave’’. The allegory of his temporary punishment and his
subsequent rescue and redemption is referred to elsewhere in the Qur'an (i.e.,
in 37:139-148) and explained in the corresponding notes. It is to that
punishment, repentance and salvation that the present and the next verse
allude to. (The redemption of Jonah’s people is mentioned in 10:98 and 37:47-
148.)(Quran Ref: 21:82 ) 154

One Group of verses of The Quran that tell us the story of Younus
(Jonah) state as follows:

AND, BEHOLD, Jonah was indeed one of Our message-bearers155

when he fled like a runaway slave onto a laden ship156

And then they cast lots, and he was the one who lost157
152
Quran Chapter 10 Tiled Yusuf (Jonah)
153
Quran 37:147
154
M. Asad’s Note 83 to his translation of Quran (21:87)
155
Quran 37:139
156
Quran 37:140
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8.3 Stability Provided by the Mountains as Pegs...!

The Quran refers to the Mountains as Pegs on the Earth in a number of

verses222, for had it not been so, then the Earth would have shaken even more.
Scientists are of the view that these verses of the Quran allude to what they
think is a fact that the Mountains owe their rise to the gradual balancing process
that the crust of the Earth is subject to – this, in turn say the geologists, is due
to some internal geological struggles and stresses taking place under the
surface of the earth. The internal movements are, the scientist think, at least

157
37:141
158
37:142
159
37:143
160
37:144
161
37:145
162
37:146
163
37:147
164
Quran 6:86
165
Quran 68:48
166
Quran 7:54
167
Quran 70:4
168
Quran 97:3
169
M. Asad’s Note No. 63 Accompanying his translation of Quran 22:47
170
M. Asad’s Note No. 5 Accompanying his translation of Quran 70:4
171
M. Asad’s Note No. 19 “ “ “ “ “ Quran 79:46
172
Quran 76:1
173
M. Asad’s Note No. 1 Accompanying his translation of Quran 76:1
174
“ “ Note No. 2 “ “ “ “ “ “
175
Quran 103:1
176
M. Asad’s Note No. 1 “ “ “ “ “ 103:1
177
Quran 54:50
178
M. Asad’s Note No.30 Accompanying his translation of Quran 54:50
179
Quran 22:47
52
partially, kept in check by the enormous surface pressure of which the
mountains are the most vivid evidence.223
Note 11 (Quran Ref: 16:15 )

This is apparently an allusion to the fact that the mountains owe their rise to the gradual
balancing process to which the solid crust of the earth is subject -a process which, in its turn, is
the result of stresses and disturbances due to the cooling and hardening, progressing from the
-surface towards the centre, of the presumably molten or perhaps even gaseous matter of
which the earth's interior seems to be composed. It appears that part of this interior is kept
solid only by the enormous pressure of the overlaying material, of which the mountains are the

180
Quran 32:5
181
M. Asad’s Note No. 4 Accompanying his translation of Quran 32:5
182
“ “ Note No.4 “ “ “ “ Quran 70:4
183
Quran 70:4
184
Quran 97:3
185
The Quran 9:36
186
M. Asad’s Note No. 53 Accompanying his translation of Quran 9:36
187
Quran 10:5
188
M. Asad’s Note No. 11 Accompanying his translation of Quran 10:5
189
Quran 17:12
190
M. Asad’s Note No.10 Accompanying his translation of Quran 10:5
191
Constructed from an answer to a question on the subject at www.islamq&a.com

192
(Sharh Muslim, 15/3)as quoted on www.islamq&a.com
193
See: Fataawa al-‘Aqeedah by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/163 as quoted in www.islamq&a.com
194
Fataawa al-‘Aqeedah, 1/197
195
Quran 11;107
196
Quran 11:106
197
Quran 11:107
198
Quran 11:108
199
M. Asad’s Note 134 Accompanying his translation of Quran [ 11:107 ]

200
Quran 15:46
201
Quran 15: 47-48
202
Quran 44:51-57
203
Quran 2:166
53
most vivid evidence: and this explains the Qur'anic reference (in 78:7) to mountains as "pegs"
(awtad), i.e., symbols of the firmness and relative equilibrium which the surface of the earth
has gradually achieved in the course of its geological history. Notwithstanding the fact that this
equilibrium is not absolute (as is evidenced by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions), it is the
solidity of the earth's crust - as contrasted with its possibly fluid but certainly very unstable
interior - which makes life on earth possible: and this, to my mind, is the meaning of the
phrase "lest it sway with you" (or "with them") occurring in the above verse as well as in 21:31
and 31:10.(Quran Ref: 16:15 )

What we fail to acknowledge, when faced by an Earth Quake, that the “State of
Equilibrium” that exists between the Stresses Existing in the Core of the Earth
and the Stability provided by the Mountains acting as pegs, as alluded to by the
Quran, is one of those “Favours of God” that makes Life on Earth Possible. No
wonder then, that The Quran rhetorically ask frequently in chapter 55, that
“Which of the Favours of Your Lord will you deny?”224
http://www.islamicity.com/quranSearch

204
Quran 2:167
205
Quran 5:37
206
Quran 17:97
207
Quran 4:168
208
Quran 4:169
209
Quran 72:23
210
Quran 33:64
211
Quran 33:65
212
Quran 51:49
213
Quran 78:8
214
Quran 3: 191
215
Quran 20 :53
216
Quran 22:5
217
Quran 31:10
218
Quran 23:27
219
Quran 35:1
220
Quran 36:36
221
Quran 42:11
222
Quran 16:15; 21:31; 31:10, 78:7
223
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The REMINDER....!

The Quran constantly reminds us of the Fate of the People who denied or
Disobeyed God or both. It also describes itself as a Rehearsal and as a
Reminder225. A Rehearsal of What is to come in the form of the Hereafter and a
reminder of the Day-of-Judgement to come.

Pateince in Adversity...!

Wrath and Mercy.

We human beings are quick to complain about God’s Wrath but are not as quick
in acknowledging the Vastness of His Mercy ever present in innumerable forms.

8.4 When will the Final Hour arrive?

In a Hadith narrated by Sayidna Abu Huraira

Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established

(1) Till two big groups fight each other whereupon there will be a great
number of casualties on both sides and they will be following one and the
same religious doctrine

(2) Till about thirty Dajjals (liars) appear, and each one of them will claim that
he is Allah's Apostle

(3) Till the religious knowledge is taken away (by the death of Religious
scholars)

(4) Earthquakes will increase in number

(5) Time will pass quickly

(6) Afflictions will appear

(7) Al-Harj, (i.e., killing) will increase

(8) Till wealth will be in abundance ---- so abundant that a wealthy person will
worry lest nobody should accept his Zakat, and whenever he will present it to
someone, that person (to whom it will be offered) will say, 'I am not in need of
it

224
Quran 55:(31 verses in this chapter that Repeatedly ask “ Which of the Favours of Your Lord
Will You deny ?”)
225
Quran 15:9, 29:51
55
(9) Till the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings,

(10) Till a man when passing by a grave of someone will say, 'Would that I
was in his place

(11) And till the sun rises from the West. So when the sun will rise and the
people will see it (rising from the West) they will all believe (embrace Islam)
but that will be the time when: (As Allah said,) 'No good will it do to a soul to
believe then, if it believed not before, nor earned good (by deeds of
righteousness) through its Faith.' (6.158)

(12)And the Hour will be established while two men spreading a garment in front of them but
they will not be able to sell it, nor fold it up; and

(13) The Hour will be established when a man has milked his she-camel and has taken away
the milk but he will not be able to drink it; and

(14) The Hour will be established before a man repairing a tank (for his livestock) is able to
water (his animals) init; and the Hour will be established when a person has raised a
morsel(of food) to his mouth but will not be able to eat it."

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