Document Type : Research Paper
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Abstract
Divine trials and tribulations are among definite and inclusive Divine traditions, which have been subject to the human being's serious concerns throughout history and thus created different attitudes as to their philosophy of existence and nature. In Islamic kalam, the issue has been addressed in discussions of Divine Wisdom, Divine Knowledge, Divine Justice, Singleness in Creation, and Unity of the Divine Essence, and adequately resolved by Muslim scholars. However, since the everyday life of people, including the youth, is faced with Divine trials, they often ask if God has created the universe in the most perfect form, with total firmness and stability, and to the best interest of human beings, then how the existence of trials, often bringing about hardship and inconveniences, is not contrary to the Divine intentions. Moreover, if God has complete present knowledge of all the phenomena in the universe as well as all the human beings’ deeds, thoughts and feelings, then where do the free will and the trials fit? Considering the positive nurturing effect of trials when adequately explained, this study employs an analytical and interpretational methodology and makes use of the quranic verses and the Islamic narrations to analyse the relationship between Divine Knowledge and Wisdom and Divine trials by taking a new viewpoint. It explains the positive nurturing effects of trials, including pereparing grounds for improving capacities, encouraging the human beings’ fine internal quality, taking lessons, atonement for wrongdoings, etc., in order to show that there is no incongruity among a priori Divine Knowledge and His absolute benevolence and Divine trials.
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