Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam alaekum,

Please I need a clear Interpretation of Quran chapter 4, verses 78 and 79. Verse 78 says: ...... If some good reaches them, the say it is from Allah, but if some evils befall them, they say it is from you (O Muhammed), say All things are from allah. .............

 
Verse 79: Whatever good reaches you is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from you…

 
Please, these two verses look contradictory to me, but I believe, there is no contradictory statement in the word of Allah. Please help me out.

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Answer:

Good and evil with Allah’s permission

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 Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verses 78-79:

78 "Wherever ye are death will find you out even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!" If some good befalls them they say "This is from Allah"; but if evil they say "this is from thee" (O Mohamed (saws)). Say (to them, O Prophet (saws)): "All things are from Allah. But what hath come to these people that they fail to understand a single fact?

79 Whatever good (O man!) happens to thee is from Allah; but whatever evil happens to thee is from thy (own) soul. And We have sent thee (O Mohamed (saws)) as a Messenger to (instruct) mankind: and enough is Allah for a Witness.

First and foremost brother, it is the ardent belief of every believer that whatever happens in this Universe, good or evil, happens with the Precise Will and Permission of the Lord Most Majestic Most Supreme, for without an iota of a doubt, the Lord Most High is ‘ala kulle shayyin Qadeer’ (He has Power over all things).

Basically there are two types of evil which can befall man, but both these types can only happen and transpire with the Prior Will and Permission of the Lord:

1. An evil which is sent as a trial by the Lord All-Mighty (ie. Diseases, natural calamities like storms, tsunami, earthquakes, etc.)
2. An evil which one brings upon oneself through one’s own deeds and acts.

For example: if one jumps from a 50-storey building with the intention to commit suicide….if Allah Wills the person to die, the person will die….but if Allah Subhanah does not Will and does not give Permission for the person to die, the person will survive the fall…..thus regardless of whether the person who jumps from a building with the intention to commit suicide dies or survives, the evil of injury or death that befell him, he alone is responsible for the consequences of his evil act.

Similarly, if one intentionally hits one’s head on the wall and gets injured, although the injury and its extent only happened with the Precise Will and Permission of the Lord, the person brought this evil and pain upon himself with his own hands!

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.

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.

The other evil is one which man does not bring upon himself, but they befall him only as a trial from their Lord….so that the Lord May Determine who amongst His creation is grateful or ungrateful.

Thus in conclusion brother, although both the types of evil happen and transpire only if and when the Lord Most Majestic Wills and Permits it, man alone will be held responsible and accountable for the evil which he brings upon himself with his own deeds and acts.

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.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan