The concept and the experience of suffering in the Islamic tradition

The human experience of suffering can be considered in its various manifestations: physical, psychological, moral and spiritual. Sometimes these are interconnected, and it is difficult to distinguish among them. This paper is intended as an overview of the concept and experience of suffering in the Islamic tradition as portrayed in the context of the Qur’an and of the life of Muḥammad, its exaltation in the cause of religion within the Šī‘ī community, as well as the development of its understanding in theological, philosophical and mystical circles.Cierpienie ludzkie we wszystkich swych formach od zawsze towarzyszyło człowiekowi. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest przedstawienie ogólnego zarysu problemu i doświadczenia cierpienia w tradycji islamu, tj.: w Koranie, życiu Mahometa, teologii szyickiej oraz w świetle rozwoju jego rozumienia w teologicznych, filozoficznych, jak i mistycznych kręgach.