Political Science Second Edition

Natural penalties are natural consequences—the results of our actions. They are attached to self-regarding faults, which are faults that we bring upon ourselves by doing evil or bad things to other human beings. They are faults that were our punishment for the atrocities we committed against others. Faults are unsatisfactory features; they are those terrible things that happen to us that we dislike, yet we remain ignorant of these faults that we call natural penalties. For example, a friend, relative or neighbor's recent car accident that caused his or her death may be a punishment inflicted on him or her by God for having secretly caused someone else to lose his or her life. When one murders another human being, a penalty (a reaction) must be inflicted on that person for committing such an evil act. The death penalty is a reasonable punishment for such a wicked act. This reaction (the death penalty) can be a self-afflicting fault (suicide) or faults caused by others (accidental death or homicide). Even though, as human beings, we may think that we have gotten away with murder or evil acts, God still renders the final judgment for our crimes by inflicting natural penalties on us. Therefore, it is important for all of us to know this fact and proceed with caution. To avoid this natural penalty, one must be kind to others, loving, caring, helpful, giving, remorseful and good to our friends, relatives, neighbors, and society. Sometimes we wonder why sad or bad things happen to us. Before one attempt to answer such a question, he or she should examine past behaviors, attitudes, and treatments toward others. Are we good to others? Natural penalties happen with both good and evil acts. God rewards us based on our actions toward other people. Good things happen to us when we are good to others. Bad things happen to us when we are wicked to other people. Therefore, rewards are given to those who are good to others; on the other hand, punishments are given to those who are bad to others and society. So, we can proceed by recognizing two types of natural penalties: A Good Penalty and a Bad Penalty. Good Self-Afflicting Faults (Good Penalty) are good things, surprise rewards, good health, long life, unexpected gifts, blessings, and promotions. Because we are good to others, God rewards us with good penalties. Bad Self-Afflicting Faults (Bad Penalty) occur when one is wicked to other human beings. It is a law of karma; it travels in a circle because whatever goes around comes back around. Every action has consequences, either good or bad. I will explain the actions and reactions that govern all lives. So, everyone should believe in God or Allah and be good to others. When one hides from his or her responsibilities as a human being in society by not helping others in their communities, villages, towns, cities and countries, or when one commits atrocities against other members of the society, bad things will happen to that person as a punishment for evil acts. He or she may suffer very severe penalties at the hands of others for faults that directly concern only themselves. They suffer these penalties only insofar as they are the natural—and, as it were, spontaneous—consequences of their evil acts against others, not because the penalties are purposely inflicted on them for the sake of punishment. Again, like I said earlier, it is like the law of karma or the phrase "what goes around comes back around." Karma means "deed" or "act." More broadly, it is the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction that governs all life. When God blesses one, that person should pass the blessing on by helping others, to avoid the sufferings of natural penalties and the self-regarding faults caused by our ignorance, wickedness, revengefulness, greed, and selfishness.