An analysis of concept of suffering from a philosophical perspective

As an indisputable fact, suffering is something everybody intuitively understands. What is however of interest to human beings – who are instinctively in search of pleasure and happiness – is the issue of whatness of suffering and the way one encounters it. To answer such questions correctly, one needs to have a correct analysis of the nature of suffering. Presenting Muslim philosopher's various views on the nature of suffering, this article tries to analyze them with the aim of reaching a specific conclusion. In the end, the author puts forth a definition of suffering plus with some reflections about it. According to him, suffering is a mental quality that comes into being when are met certain conditions including the source of suffering, the possibility of knowing something abhorring, the possibility of reaching that abhorring thing and believing that that thing is really abhorring and disgusting.