Theological Resilience of Post-Disaster Communities:

Interpreting Trials and Divine Compassion among Flash Flood Victims in Pidie Jaya, Aceh

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the theological resilience of post-disaster communities through the interpretation of disasters as divine tests, ecological consequences, and manifestations of God's mercy among flash flood victims in Pidie Jaya, Aceh. The research employed a qualitative approach using Moustakas' phenomenological method to understand the subjective experiences of affected communities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation involving disaster survivors and community leaders selected purposively. The findings reveal that the people of Pidie Jaya perceive flash floods not merely as fatalistic destiny, but as a consequence of human ecological negligence and a divine test intended to strengthen faith. Furthermore, disasters are understood as manifestations of God's hidden mercy, triggering an escalation in communal religiosity and social solidarity. From the perspective of Ibn Sina's philosophy, specifically the concept of material limitation (bi al-'aradh), theological resilience emerges from the awareness of human intellectual limitations in fully comprehending divine wisdom. This philosophical acceptance allows communities to navigate disasters without questioning God's justice, turning theological meaning into an active coping mechanism that strengthens both mitigation efforts and psychosocial recovery.

 Keywords: Theology, Resilience, Disaster, Pidie Jaya, Ibn Sina.