bear enmity toward Him. If some doubt concerning the existence of the Divine Being comes to his heart, he will be inclined to embrace it like a conclusive proof. A wide gate to destruction will be opened in front of him. The wretch does not know that although he is delivered by denial from the slight trouble of duty of worship, he has made himself, by that same denial, the target for milions of troubles that are far more awesome. Fleeing from the bite of a gnat, he welcomes the bite of the snake.

There are many other examples, which may be understood with reference to these three, so that the sense of,

Nay but their hearts are stained(83:14)

will become apparent.

Second Point

SECOND POINT

As was explained concerning the meaning of divine determining, known as destiny, in the Twenty-Sixth Word, men have no right to complain in the case of disasters and illness for the following three reasons:

First Reason

First Reason: God Most High has made the garment of the body with which He has clothed man a manifestation of His art. He has made man to be a model on which He cuts, trims, alters and changes the garment of the body, thus displaying the manifestation of various of His names. Just as the name of Healer makes it necessary that illness should exist, so too the name of Provider requires that hunger should exist. And so on.

The Lord of All Dominion has disposal over His dominion as He wishes.

Second Reason

Second Reason: It is by means of disasters and sicknesses that life is refined, [^5] perfected, strengthened and advanced; that it yields results, attains perfection and fulfils its own purpose. [^6] Life led monotonously on the couch of ease and comfort resembles not so much the pure good that is being, as the pure evil that is non-being; it tends in fact in that direction.

[^5]: See, Muslim, Birr, 52; Abū Dā’ūd, Janā’iz, 1; al-Ḥākim, al-Mustadrak, i, 1500.

[^6]: See, Bukhārī, Mardā, 1; Muslim, Birr, 52; Tirmidhī, Zuhd, 57; Muwaṭṭā, Janā’iz, 40.

Third Reason

Third Reason: This worldly realm is the field of testing, the abode of service. It is not the place of pleasure, reward, and requital. Considering, then, that it is the abode of service and place of worship, sicknesses and misfortunes – as long as they do not affect belief and are patiently endured [^7] – conform fully to service and worship, and even strengthen it. Since they make each hour’s worship equivalent to that of a day, [^8] one should offer thanks instead of complaining.

[^7]: See, Tirmidhī, Da‘wāt, 79; Nasā’ī, al-Sunan al-Kubrā, vi, 106.

[^8]: See, Dārimī, Riqāq, 56; Musnad, ii, 159, 194, 198; iii, 148, 238, 258.