Islamic Theodicy

Theodicy is an odd word.  It seems like a combination of theology and idiocy.  However it means the search to rectify the issue of God's omnipotence with the fact that bad things happen on earth.  An example, albeit skewed, of theodicy would be Jerry Falwell's declaration after 9/11 that God had lifted his "veil of protection" from America owing to our godless, homosexual ways. 
Christianity is full of theodicians and hacks and scribes eager to parse the happenings on earth as the activities of a just and active God.
So, the other day I was at work and things were particularly slow and I realized I had no real sense for the theodicy of the Islamic world.  I mean if Allahu Ahkbar, why do bad things keep happening to good people? 
So I did a google search to pull up some Iraqi email addresses (about 125) and sent them the following email.

Dear new Islamic Friend,
    My name is Bob.  I am an American working at a hotel and I would like to understand more about the ways of Islam.  Specifically, I wonder if you could tell me your explanation of why a just Allah (may all praise his name) allows people to perish in catastrophes. 
Please choose only one of the following events and explain the justification for Allah's (may his wonders never cease) behavior. 

• the 9/11 attacks
• Indonesian Tsunami
• Fires in Malibu
• The Iraq War
• Global Warming
• Hurricane Katrina

Thank you for your time.  If at all possible please include a photo with your response.
                                                                   Wa Salaam Alaikum,
                                                                                        Bob Saget.

P.S.  I'm dead serious.
P.P.S. When I say dead serious, I'm referring to including a picture and to only mentioning one of the events in question.

So, the thing that amazed me more than anything was the NUMBER of responses
I got to this sort of funny and random email.  Within twenty four hours, I had thirty responses.  Within 72 hours I had a hundred responses, many from countries other than Iraq.  It turns out people in  the Middle East were actually using my email as a sounding board for their feelings and emotions.  To be honest, I felt like a creep- because I was just sort of trying to entertain myself and I had all of these people reach out to me.  Incidentally, these translations can get a bit weird because I don't speak Arabic and I had to use the google universal translator so if something didn't make sense to me in a quote I placed a [sic] (latin for "thus") next to it.

911 was the one I got the most response about. Khalid Najoyan of Indonesia wrote what a bunch of people said:
"Allah (may his enemies cower) behaved justly on 9/11 because while many died a great number of muslims were awoken to the greatness of Allah (blessings be upon his followers) and Durango [sic] of the Koran."

In the months following 9/11 there were massive earth quakes both in Iran and Pakistan, two remarkably Muslim countries.  Though not a specified topic Abdul-Alim Maalaki of Fallujah opined about it.                                                                     
"The actions of Allah in the great earthquakes
in Iran and Pakistan were justly ordained events because there were too many 'good time Charlies' jumping on the Islamist bandwagon simply because of recent successes.  While Allah is just and all powerful, He is extremely sensitive about fairweather followers."

I was perhaps most amazed  by the lone email I received from America.  A man who recently moved there who recently changed is name to Rahkman Rock'n'roll Ramallah
had this to say about the fires in Malibu.                               

"The fires in Malibu were simply a response to Malibu's rejection of Allah's messenger Mel Gibson!!
Be my Myspace friend!!"

If I have a little time, I'll post a few more of these responses- but honest to God it was an eye opener about the power of the internet for me.  However, I was not willing to extend the privelege of Myspace friendship to Mr. Ramallah.

Incidentally, I recently asked if you knew the difference between Sunnis and Shias and since none of you responded during the course of the week, I'm going to explain it to you:

 

There it is.  Clear as an unmuddied lake.
Also Sunnis have beards.

Comments

[Brit]

Holy shit, that showed more balls than you gave yourself credit for Ken. Because those were honest questions that alot of us have, but are too afraid to ask out of fear of drawing even further ire from that region. I dub thee Ken Ferrigni, diplomat of the West. Opening a dialouge with the Muslim masses, while our nation's fearful leader is hiding on his ranch and Army mess-halls.

If you are interested in immersing yourself further in the thoughts and feelings of Islam, I suggest a very gifted Iranian Filmmaker. Majid Majidi. "The Color of Paradise" and "Children of Heaven". Also, the poems of Rumi as translated by Coleman Barks.

Ok, Sarah is yelling at me to eat my dinner while it is hot.

[Jim]

On that map, I might define the "contested area" SOMEwhat more broadly.

[Blake]

I want some Islamic friends.

[Deanna]

In a burning desire for title of diplomat of the west, I too wrote an email to one Y*suf I*lam, formerly C*t Stevens. I do not feel the need to prove its validity by posting it here, because I'm not that type of person. You either trust me or you don't, I've got nothing to hide, I am what I am, take it or leave it, I won't hold it against you.

I wrote an email to Y*suf I*lam and got a prompt response because my great uncle, who used to run L*hmen B**thers, funded a few of his concerts. I met I*lam on many occasions, I sat on his lap, and he sang me to sleep once.

He writes:

Something that friednster will not allow me to post.

But basicaly he says that common sense will prevail and patience will allow us to see that good things happen to good people.

Hrmmm...That doesn't seem too difficult a concept to grasp, does it?

But who are the good people?

[Jody]

I once wrote an email to Chris Rix (FSU quarterback at the time). I was trying to psyche him out prior to the Clemson game.

Hey, what's the "green zone?"

[Deanna]

Ha! What did the email say?