Question 26: Why does Allah create disabled and mutated beings?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Answer: Allah imposed some laws like growing, development, differentiation and reproduction regarding creation and He attributed these laws to certain causes. These laws are valid for not only human beings but also all of the other living beings.

Allah gave every living being an ultimate point, which is the most developed and most suitable for that living being. It is called the perfection point, that is, the perfect state of that living being. There is a perfection point for a tulip, rose, nightingale, cow, fly, horse, etc. There are certain causes and laws for that species of living being to reach that perfection point. If these laws are not obeyed, that living being dies before reaching the perfection point. It does not matter whether it is a human being, plant or animal. For instance, some faults occur in the structure of a living being that cannot get enough water or food. The degree of this fault and illness is directly proportional to obtaining the substance that this living being needs.

Similarly, some changes called mutation can take place in a living being that becomes exposed to radiation in the embryonic phase. Disabilities and abnormalities can occur in that living being depending on the length and magnitude of the radiation. A living being can be exposed to radiation or similar chemical reactions in natural environment or in a laboratory. For example, some chemical experiments applied on rats or rabbits in laboratories can cause them to be disabled in some way or other. All of the changes and differentiation that can occur this way are issues of research and investigation.

After this preliminary knowledge, we can go back to the question, “Why does Allah create disabled and mutated living beings?” The answer is as follows: When you intervene in the causes and laws, you will get results based on what you do.

That is, God Almighty answers your question. Is it not more appropriate for His wisdom and justice? For instance, we wander what will happen if we apply a certain amount of x-rays on the mouse embryo in the uterus. We will find out when we do it. The result may be a disabled or ill mouse.

Some people state the following: What about the disabled births that occur though we do not intervene at all from outside? 

Not everything is subject to our knowledge. There are so many incidents happening in our own body that we do not know; what we know is a drop in the ocean compared to them.  For example, if the baby is unable to breathe due to remaining too long in the birth canal during birth, damage to the brain cells may occur. It causes mental retardation.

A drug taken by the mother during her pregnancy, something haram she eats or exposure to the radiation of the environment without knowing may cause a number of disorders.

The aspect of this disabled creation related to the hereafter and the role of that family or individual deeds in the past or the future should not be overlooked.

Another aspect of mutated, that is, imperfect creation, related to people is that the world is a place of testing. The mother and father may attain salvation in eternal life by taking care of their disabled child. Similarly, the disabled or retarded state of that child will enable him to attain salvation in eternal life. If he had been created healthy, instead of being disabled, he might have stayed eternally in Hell due to some of his bad deeds.

What leads us to mistakes regarding the issue is the thought that life consists of the world life only. In other words, man regards all good and nice things he will see to be limited to this worldly life. However, the real life is life in the hereafter. This worldly life is as short as a traveler’s resting in the shade of tree during a journey compared to the hereafter. Therefore, we should evaluate worldly life taking eternal life into consideration. If a person goes to the other world without attaining salvation, it does not matter how he lives in this world.

Above all, God Almighty has absolute justice, mercy and grace. The universe is the property of Allah. He has the right to do whatever He wishes in his property. It is up to His decision what living beingswill be created and how they will be created.

In conclusion, God Almighty has attributed everything to a law and cause. Some deformities or illnesses occur in the individuals in the realm of living beings based on whether these causes and laws are obeyed or not. You can also call it an answer according to a question. In the realm of the living beings, the answers to the questions are obtained through experiments and practices. Allah’s wisdom, justice and sovereignty in creation necessitate this. For, whatever Allah has done is definitely for the good and benefit of human beings. This kindness and beauty are also related to life in the hereafter. Since we want the world life always to be beautiful, we react very much even if a thorn pricks our foot. However, it is possible to attain eternal life only through patience in the face of pains, problems, evil deeds and misfortunes.

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