Purpose Of Infant Mortality in the World

Question

This is something I have been unable to find an answer to - what is the point in incidents like stillbirth, miscarriage - generally infant mortality?

The answers I have generally received are: "Allah's divine purpose, unknown to man and useless/sin to question", "it doesn't hurt the kids, (maybe) the Divine concept of mercy is beyond our understanding", "who are we to pass judgement on who is taken when?"

Would be interested in reflection/thoughts that go beyond.

Response

According to my understanding, all of this is a part of the overall plan under which we are living in this world.

We are here in this world in a trial for a limited time. Our life here is going to end, and there is definitely a life coming up later which God has informed us of through divine scriptures time and again. In addition, God has also told us of our purpose of this worldly life. There are many instances where Quran has mentioned this objective of ours, some of which I quote:

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight. (Quran 76:2)

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ

Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us you must return. (Quran 21:35)

In my opinion, the matter of infant mortality falls in the same category. In fact, it falls in the general category of suffering in this world, and our going through pain often times. In this context, not only losing infants, but losing any children for parents amounts to similar pain.

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ * الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

And we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who, when afflicted with calamity say, "To God We belong, and to Him is our return." (Quran 2:155-6)

As a result, I think it is fair to say that this is all the test of our worldly life which is going to end very soon and there awaits a life later where such suffering and problem shall not exist. We will be raised up by God who shall determine our deeds in this world and shall reward every soul for their performance in this world with absolute justice. For good is a better good in reward, for bad is a similar recompense.

Seen in this perspective, I think it becomes easier to understand not only such incidents but also other forms of pain, misery and affliction in this world.