Educational Functions of Suffering in Jewish Divinity and Islamic Theology Looking at Job’s Suffering

Sufferings that are the most important concerns of human life, influence in shaping the life and of human life. Devouts issue that should be looked to suffer with positive look and with this attitude, is achieved to suffering functions. Humans are not drowned in their pain and stiff, but they must be turned into opportunity, and to learn from suffering and arrive to dynamic of  moral and educational. Educational functions of the suffering from important, find that makes difficulties and adversities of humans’ life meaningful and guides their lifelines. Human confrontation with suffering affects his/her behavior and temperament, forms his/her conduct, makes his/her personality and fertilize his/her talents. Educational functions of the suffering can be a key to the agony’s lock. With the help of these functions, not only the sufferings won’t be indecent and painful but, they will acquire a positive and practical aspect in individual and social life. Some instances of these functions can be recalled here: increasing theism, training morality, stronger tendency towards spirituality and prayer, hereafter belief and waiting, helping others, avoiding pride, arrogance and egoism, spreading patience and perseverance, introspection, contemplation and reflection, spiritual and mental refinement and cultivation, trusting and relying on God, increasing knowledge, prosperity of talents and abilities, etc. Studying the suffering of prophets, saints and the righteous that is particularly highlighted in Job’s suffering, is significant and helpful. Educational effects can be observed in Job’s suffering. His personality is formed within pain and agony, his connection with God is reinforced, his faith is increased, his patience and gratefulness has become effective, his prayer is expanded, and he surrenders against God’s power and glory and understands his own desperation and helplessness.