Alternation of Seasons in God's Attitude

If you lived in the first half of the 20th century, you were very unlikely to have an image of God that is compassionate and merciful due to the unrelenting wars and revolutions, whereas the opposite would be the case if you lived in the relatively peaceful environment of the 18th century. If you lived in the harsh conditions of the ice ages, similar to the ancient humans, you were very unlikely to know that God is beautiful and beautifies things, but you would be chanting praises for the beautiful creations of God, had you lived amidst the tropical forests. 

The examples above can be extended, and I am going to do that below, but at least, these initial examples show that our perception of God revolves around how He wants us to know Him. That is, where we are born, when we are born, natural and social events throughout our lives, our characters by which we internalize the outside world, in short our destiny, make up a lens through which we perceive God.

Now let's begin with the case of a people who lived in the times of unending and unfair wars. They lost their parents and were raised in orphanages, where they were repeatedly abused and raped, despite their incessant and most sincere prayers. After they grew, they learned new things, including "doing nothing while you can is evil". So, they started civic organizations to fight injustice. As they remembered the old days of war, they couldn't help feeling a resentment towards God, if not a grudge, because He did nothing while He could. Given their life story, are these people justified in considering God as sometimes evil?

And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing. (7/180)

He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?" (15/56)

"...only the unbelievers despair of receiving comfort from Him." (12/87)

These verses teach that we are not allowed to give in to a pessimist perspective due to the surrounding conditions and depict God in an evil way, because He is not. But not everybody is Muslim and not everybody reads Quran. Plus, their experiences ingrained in their minds and bodies speak louder than a silent book. So, again, isn't the situation of these people understandable when considering God as sometimes evil? Being aware that no misfortune strikes without a prior decree (64/11, 2/155, 57/22-23) and knowing that God is not evil, what is the solution here?

Consider another person, who grew in a middle-class family, later started a business and became rich. Although his family taught him basic ethical lessons, this person committed minor frauds in his businesses, and even when reminded of them, he defended himself as "everybody is doing it; we can't stay in the market otherwise." Furthermore, in order to increase his profit, he reduced the salaries, knowing that he could easily find others if the employees left. When reminded of his human rights violations, he defended himself saying that those not accepting these conditions were welcome to leave; after all, he was not keeping anybody there by force.

Immune to the reminders and untouched by the laws, he thought even if there was a serious error he was committing, God was too busy with governing the universe to correct him. Plus, there were much more evil people on the planet that demanded immediate intervention; if they are going untouched even a bit, why should he not? What if God paid attention to what he did? To check this possibility, he waited for years. No matter how proper or how corrupt he was, God did not do anything visible to signal him the fact that He is watching. Now, is this person justified in thinking that God does not really watch over things and does not intervene with the spreading of evil?

And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped. (39/54)

"But none feels secure from Allah's plan except the people who shall perish." (7/99)

"... but you assumed that Allah does not know much of what you do. And that was your assumption which you assumed about your Lord. It has brought you to ruin, and you have become among the losers." (41/22-23)

There are several other verses (e.g. 6/32, 2/254) that tell that not-being-touched is not an indication of correct or acceptable behavior or that tell humans to take proper action without needing a punishment. Nevertheless, not-being-touched is a factor that reinforces behavior in humans. Since the Creator knows this fact better than we do, then, is He not paying attention to the evil actions here on earth? Or, are the bad people allowed by God to do whatever they want?

Consider a university student who was unjustly imprisoned due to the oppressive and paranoid attitudes of a ruling group. Days of incarceration turned into weeks and months... Although initially hopeful of his release due to his innocence, this young person lost any hopes of a relief, let alone release. He was taken repeatedly to courts where he was tried as if he had committed a crime worthy of capital punishment. Furthermore, to his dismay, he witnessed that these unjust actions were committed and supported by the religious people forming the majority.

As he got crushed under the increasing weight of his doom at this young age, he lost his belief in prayers. Simply put, he thought prayers are only answered in the books; not in real life. Or perhaps, the prayers of the rich and the influential people were answered, not those of the poor and the ordinary. Seeing other innocent people who were unjustly imprisoned like him fortified his conclusions. And one day when he was released on parole, he only believed in hard work and humanity, not in prayers or religion. Now, is this person justified in not believing in the prayers?

Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, and be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me. O you who believe! seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient. (2/152-153)

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. (2/186)

And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer you; (40/60)

These verses indicate that despairing of God's answer to prayers, or worse, thinking that He discriminates between people when answering prayers is wrong. However, unyielding harsh circumstances have the potential to forge the human soul in ways that are devoid of compassion or they push the victims towards conclusions that are far from calm-minded analysis. And the Owner of the ultimate decree in the universe knows this fact better than we do. Then, is God pushing the individuals towards despairing of Him by not answering their prayers?

These examples and many more not mentioned here have various explanations but when you collect all of them, you see that God's relationship with individuals is not independent of His relationship with the big picture they live in. If God has a decree for a place or for a time period, the individuals cannot escape it; and they experience it, be it with blessings or with tribulations. This is one manifestation of the destiny. 

No evil befalls on the earth nor in your own souls, but it is in a book before We bring it into existence; surely that is easy to Allah: that you may not grieve for what escapes you, nor rejoice in what has come to you; God loves not any man proud and boastful, (57/22-23)

And We did not send a prophet in a town but We overtook its people with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves. We then replaced their misfortune with well-being until they were relieved and began saying, "Our fathers had also experienced good and bad days." Suddenly, We struck them (with torment) while they were all unaware (of what was happening). (7/94-95)

Such days (of varying fortunes) We give to men and men by turns: that Allah may know those that believe,... (3/140)

So, we can clearly say that just like the Creator decreed seasons that alternate independent of us, He decreed seasons of blessings for places, people and times. However, the fact that there are cozy conditions in your house during the winter does not mean the same comfort is going to be present when you step outside, and vice versa. So, it is a duty on us to act according to the conditions of each season. And it is, as well, a duty on us to not deem God limited to the manifestations in the current season. Surely, there is spring after winter...

Have We not comforted your heart,and removed from you your burden,which pressed heavily upon your back,and exalted for you your esteem? So verily, with the hardship, there is relief, truly with hardship comes ease. So when you are relieved, still toil and to your Lord direct [your] longing. (94/1-8)