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Between
Hope and Fear
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A
special file compiled and introduced by IOL editorial staff
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25/08/2003
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Philosophical
attacks on the Islamic monotheist creed often revolve around the
question of evil and the purportedly incongruous duality of a God
Who is both All-Merciful and Severe in punishment. The majority of
these skepticisms can be dismissed as superficial misgivings put
forth by people who, due to various societal biases and
reservations, place spiritual barriers around themselves as a
natural defense mechanism against unwanted proselytizing.
Nevertheless, a small band of fundamentalist atheists still poses an
intellectual threat to the Islamic call if left unchecked.
The
Ummah (Muslim Nation) needs fresh scholarship into these
common philosophical hang-ups with the aim of providing simple,
impermeable refutation to the ever-growing literary public. In
response to such demands, IslamOnline has gathered several relevant
articles from our archives that touch upon the balance and wisdom
behind Allah's Mercy and Wrath.
Allah
Is Merciful: Why Punishment?
Dr.
Muzammil H. Siddiqi assures that Allah (Mighty and Exalted Be He) is
indeed very Merciful, Loving and Compassionate, but He is also Just
and Severe in punishment. It is wrong to accept only some aspects of
Allah and ignore or negate some other aspects.
The
Concept of Punishment in Islam
Punishment
has always played an integral part in the concept of justice. Islam
considers crime an act of injustice towards society, a sin against
oneself and a transgression against Allah. Punishment is not
atonement nor does it erase the sin. A sin is only forgiven through
repentance. However, crime is an act of inflicting harm upon society
that cannot be forgiven by repentance alone. The object of all penal
systems is to punish the offender and protect society from
reoccurrence of the crime. Punishment serves as an educational
purpose, as well as a form of crime deterrent and prevention and the
system used must achieve this aim.
Why
Does Allah Allow Suffering and Evil in the World?
Dr.
Muzammil H. Siddiqi shows that sufferings occur to teach us that we
must adhere to Allah’s natural and moral laws. It is sometimes to
punish those who violate Allah’s natural or moral laws. It is to
test our faith in Allah and to test our commitment to human values
and charity.
Mercy
Through Hell
In
a straightforward manner, Waleed Ahmed Najmeddine
discusses the role of punishment in the afterlife as a logical
product of Allah's Justice and ultimate Mercy.
The
Justice of the Day of Judgment
Lamaan
Ball explains the balance between Allah's Mercy and Wrath on the Day
of Judgment as a means of humankind achieving perfect judicial rest
for all actions committed in the world.
I
Found Peace From the Colonial Madness
Too
often, we judge Allah's Mercy by man's mercy not recognizing that
Allah's Mercy is more forgiving of the things of the past and often
saving us from our mistakes of the past.
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