About this course
Consider the philosophy of human suffering through questions of divine justice, human understanding and the difference between justice and equality. The course begins by defining suffering, then examines its relationship with sin and the meanings discussed in Quranic and hadith sources.
Later lessons turn to patience, the Prophet’s suffering and accounts of spiritual growth through hardship. The course concludes with coping strategies, keeping the discussion of lived difficulty alongside the theological questions introduced at the beginning.
What you’ll explore
- Suffering, divine justice and the limits of human understanding
- Justice, equality and worldly prosperity
- Suffering and sin in Quranic and hadith sources
- Patience and spiritual growth through hardship
- The Prophet’s suffering and coping strategies
Curriculum
- 01Print-Ready Course Notes
- 02The Topic of Human Suffering
- 03Defining Suffering
- 04Two Key Principles
- 05Divine Justice
- 06The Limits of Human Understanding
- 07Worldly Prosperity is Not a Sign of Divine Favor
- 08Justice or Equality
Show the full curriculum (19)
- 09Human Suffering and Sin in the Quran
- 10Human Suffering and Sin in Hadith
- 11Softening the Heart Through Suffering
- 12Selected Hadith on Wisdom of Human Suffering
- 13Spiritual Growth Through Suffering
- 14The Promise of Suffering
- 15A Definition of Patience Attributed to Rumi
- 16The Patience of the Believer
- 17A Sign of Divine Love
- 18The Prophet's Suffering
- 19Coping Strategies





