Why does bad things happen to good people?

Sometimes events in life are very disheartening and makes men believe that even to people who are good, the return is not always good. So why should we be good in this world.

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah Al Mulk verse 2:

He (Allah) created death and life that He may test you, to see which of you is the best in deeds.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiyaa verse 35:

35 Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good (only) by way of trial: to Us must ye return.

The life of this short and transitory world is but a period of tests and trials from the Lord, Most Gracious Most Merciful…..the real place to receive rewards and punishments is only the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 155-157:

155 Be sure We shall test you with something of fear, and hunger, some loss in goods, or lives, or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.

156 Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

157 They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy; and they are the ones that receive guidance.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.1

Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (saws) said: "When Allah wants to be good to someone, He tries him with some hardship."

Abu Hurairah reports that Allah's Messenger (saws) said: "For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that afflicts a Muslim -even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn - Allah removes some of his sins."

Ibn Mas'ud said: "I visited the Messenger of Allah (saws) while he (saws) had a fever. I exclaimed: 'O Messenger of Allah (saws) ! You have a high fever!' He (saws) said: 'My fever is as much as two among you [might have].' I asked: 'Is it because you have a double reward?' He (saws) replied: 'Yes, that is right. No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even if it is no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins because of it and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a tree'."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.545 Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri and Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "No fatigue, no disease, no sorrow, no sadness, no hurt, no distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 57 Surah Hadid verses 20-23:

20 Know ye (all) that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp, and mutual boasting, and multiplying (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches, and children. Here is a similitude: How rain and the growth which it brings forth delight (in the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away! But in the Hereafter is a penalty severe (for those who do evil) and Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for those who do good). And what is the life of this world but goods, and chattels of deception?

21 Be ye foremost (as if in a race, seeking) forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden (of Bliss), the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth…. prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers: that is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He Pleases: and Allah is the Lord of Grace Abounding.

22 No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a Decree before We bring it into existence: that is truly easy for Allah:

23 In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by nor exult over favors bestowed upon you. For Allah loves not any vainglorious boaster.

The life of this short and transitory world is but a period of tests and trials Decreed by the Lord Most Gracious, and a place for the believers to do good deeds in the ardent and sincere hope that their Lord Most Merciful will accept their deeds and give them their due rewards only in the Hereafter.

The time period Decreed by the Lord All-Knowing All-Wise for the life of this short and transitory world is just not long enough for the evil-doers to bear the full consequences of the evil they might have done, nor for the believers to reap the benefits and rewards of the good they might have done! This world is the place but to sow seeds, the real and only place to truly reap the rewards of one’s deeds in only in the eternal and everlasting life of the Hereafter!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura verse 22:

22 Thou wilt see the wrongdoers in fear on account of what they have earned and (the burden of) that must (necessarily) fall on them. But those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in the luxuriant meads of the Gardens: they shall have before their Lord all that they wish for: that will indeed be the magnificent Bounty (of Allah).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 31 Surah Luqmaan verses 8-9:

8 For those who believe and work righteous deeds there will be Gardens of Bliss.

9 To dwell therein. The promise of Allah is true: and He is Exalted in Power, Wise.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 47 Surah Muhammad verse 12:

12 Verily Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow; while those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 23:

23 Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Mumin verse 40:

40 He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof: and he that works a righteous deed whether man or woman and is a believer such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): therein will they have abundance without measure.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.