Why God allows suffering eg: earthquake, tsunami, poverty…?

Al-An'am, 6:131 ALLAH BERKUASA UNTUK MEMBINASA SESUATU NEGERI. 

Diantara pemberitaan yang kita saksikan adalah laporan bencana alam - gempa bumi, kebakaran atau banjir. Seseorang yang menyaksikan pelbagai liputan tentang bencana alam berfikir bahawa Allah mempunyai kuasa atas segala sesuatu, bahawa Dia dapat saja menghancurluluhkan sebuah kota hingga rata dengan tanah jika Dia mengkehendaki. 

Setelah memikirkan ini semua, ia faham bahawa tidak ada sesuatupun selain Allah yang dapat dijadikan tempat berlindung dan memohon pertolongan. Bahkan bangunan-bangunan yang paling kukuh; kota-kota yang dilengkapi dengan teknologi yang paling canggih pun tidak akan mampu bertahan terhadap azab Allah; mereka dapat musnah seketika. Semua pemandangan ini ditunjukkan kepada manusia agar berfikir dan mengambil pelajaran. 

Orang yang mendengar atau membaca laporan bencana alam tersebut juga berfikir bahawa Allah telah menurunkan bencana atas kota ini untuk suatu tujuan. Dalam Al-Qur'an, Allah berfirman bahawa kepada bangsa-bangsa yg menentang, Allah mengirimkan azab agar mereka sadar atau mendapatkan balasan dari perbuatan mereka. Dengan demikian jika suatu masyarakat melakukan bentuk perbuatan yang tidak diredhai Allah, mereka pun akan dikenai hukuman Allah dengan sebab tersebut. Atau Allah mungkin sedang menguji mereka dengan kesusahan dunia. 

Dengan memikirkan segala kemungkinan tersebut, seseorang akan takut kalau-kalau hal serupa akan juga menimpanya, dengan memohon ampunan Allah atas segala perbuatannya. 

Tak seorang atau suatu bangsa pun dapat menghindar dari bencana apapun kecuali jika Allah berkehendak lain. Tak peduli apakah bangsa tersebut termasuk yang paling kaya dan terkuat di dunia atau mendiami sebuah tempat yang letak geografinya tidak menunjukkan adanya kemungkinan terkena bencana tersebut. Allah berfirman bahawa tidak ada satupun bangsa yang mampu mencegah bencana yang akan menimpa mereka... 

(Harun Yahya, Bagaimana Seorang Muslim Berfikir, 2000)
Taken from al-Qur'anulkarim Miracle The Reference Pg286 

Similar Question to this post: (You may refer to other post about "Does God Exist")

We finite-being can not grasp fully God’s infinite Will and Wisdom but we are given intellect to recognize the signs which lies in His creation.

God did not create this earth a permanent world. 

Quran mentioned it in (6:32)(47:36)(75:20)

Scientifically, it is proven that the earth is dying as time flies. (Study about Solar evolution)

Somehow, God designed the earth in a perfect manner without flaw. (67:3-4)

"Who has created the seven heavens one above another, you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again: "Can you see any rifts?" (3) Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you in a state of humiliation and worn out (4)"

He placed physical law and moral law in balance:

Physical Law (cause and effect):

- Pain (sickness, cancer) occurs when we do not take good care of our body such as alcoholism, free sex, gambling. 

- God provided us guidance and warning against this act to avoid those pain. (2:219)(17:32)

Moral Law:

- Suffering can also be a test and trial for some people.

- Example: There are poor people who are suffering while the rich ones are in comfort. God equipped us human with kindness, love, passion and caring for another living being. With these ‘equipment’, both the poor and the rich have a responsibility towards each other. (70:24)(30:38)

"In their wealth there is due share acknowledged by them for such as who ask (for help) and such as are deprived (of what is good in the life)." (Quran 70:24)

"So give his due share (haqq) to kinsman, and to the needy and to the homeless. That is best for those who seek the pleasure of Allah." (Quran 30:38)

Everything was created in perfect balance for the benefit of humanity. These come along with a ‘manual’ to ‘operate’ it. YET, human often violates it.

“(Allah) Most Gracious! It is He Who has taught the Qur’an. He has created man: He has taught him speech (and Intelligence). The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed; and the herbs and the trees both (alike) bow in adoration. And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), in order that you may not transgress (due) balance. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures." (Quran 55:1-10)

Analogy:

Suppose you broke your leg and not realizing it because there is no pain, what would happen if you run or jump?

Therefore, the purpose of pain: 

- Like a ‘sensor’ to alert us a danger, sickness, or pain.
- Warning for us to take early precaution.
- Pain can be in the form of fear, physical pain, sad etc…

The Wisdom within it:

- Only through pain, one will strive harder.
- Example: 
- A poor man has to work hard to be better. (94:7)
- Every pain has better gain. (94:5-6)

- God does not do injustice to everyone. (4:40)

Allah has informed us in Al-Balad, "Indeed We have created man (to live) in hard struggle. 3 (4)"

Allah swt used the word ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ insaan (man) to say that EVERY MAN are created to be in difficulty. Allah did not use the word 'aamanu' (orang yang beriman or believer). Indeed life of all mankind will be faced with problems and difficulties, regardless whether you are a believer or not.

Everybody has to think on how to survive, think of the future, think of how to fulfil one's needs, etc. The difference is at the end of the journey, whether what we have faced was worth the sacrifice or not.

Problems are created in this world so that we may fulfill our vision, and help each other in this world, facing the poverty, illness, etc - which triggers human to move. e.g: to help the poor, to strive in life to avoid poverty, to find cure for the diseases, etc. and that could give rise to the definition of 'humanity'?