[S I M T A N]

The origin of evil is a riddle to us, but there's a simpler and the most common question people have regarding God: Why does a loving God allow evil and suffering? Here's a poser for you - what do you propose God should do about it?

I'm not sure what you mean by evil. To you, a child stealing a lollipop is the same as a mass murderer.

Haven't you heard of "yawm al akhirah", aka judgment day? That's when we all get to see those who choose to do evil face justice. 

We are told to expect tests here on earth, of various kinds, as explained in the Quran 2:155. These may cause us to suffer. For those who are patient, a great reward is promised. So there, a simple answer to your great 'evil and suffering' question. If we want to see the picture, it is now showing in Palestine. One side doing great evil and another side is going through great suffering. Evil and suffering.

To stop evil and suffering, God would have to stop every act that causes any suffering. That would mean stopping those causing the suffering, like murderers, scammers, adulterers, liars, criminals, etc.. Wouldn't that also mean He would have to put a stop to you and me? Haven't we, by our own actions, caused some of the suffering that exists in the world? Haven't we offended people or hurt their feelings?

God hasn't destroyed evil because He would have to destroy us. By permitting evil and suffering to continue, God is actually showing the world mercy. God loves all people He has created. Throughout the Bible. we repeatedly see God's compassion for those who need His forgiveness: "Say to them. 'As I live!' declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!" (Ezek 33:11) God truly desires everyone to be saved and no one to perish eternally. Yet it is also true that no one can be saved who does not "come to the knowledge of the truth" about Jesus Christ.                                                                                     

The Bible says that a day is coming when God will stop evil (2 Peter 3:7-13). He will judge sinners, put them away forever, and create a new heaven and a new earth, where there'll no longer be any death, mourning, crying or pain (Rev 21:4). In the meantime, God is using the existing suffering for good (Rom 8:28; Phil 1:12) Often, when people are suffering, they turn to God and receive the kind of help they truly need.