“Why We Suffer: Islamic Perspectives on Hardship” is an online course which examines the philosophy of human suffering. What does the Quran mean when it states that God created man “to endure hardship”?  How do we reconcile God’s mercy with the sheer misery that has characterized the human experience in this earthly life? Is the suffering we experience part of the Divine plan or is it a punishment for our iniquities? In this course, students will explore some the Quranic verses and prophetic traditions which offer a theological framework to answer these challenging questions.

Recommended Readings:

• “The Problem of Pain” by C.S Lewis