THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL Islamic Perspective A CCORDING to the Quran, God has created the universe with a certain purpose. All its parts, which are strictly under His control, are carrying out His divine scheme without the slightest deviation. Similarly, man, too, has been created with a certain purpose. Yet man, unlike the rest of the creation, is totally free. He can do what he wants by his own decision. However, in spite of this freedom, he is being watched constantly by God, for God does not allow any such deviation in human history over a long period as would nullify His very creation plan. Creation Plan of God The universe made by God is so vast that, despite the enormous progress made by human beings in their attempts to fathom it, many of its secrets still remain unknown. The planet Earth, made by God as part of the cosmos, was and still is unique in the entire universe, in that it has been endowed with all the other factors which are essential to make it habitable for man. After bringing into existence a favourable world in the form of the Earth, God created the first man, Adam, and his female counterpart, Eve. Although the precise date of this event is unknown, Adam and Eve were the first pair of human beings to set foot on Earth. Adam was the first man as well as the first prophet. The way of God is to select a man as His messenger from amongst human beings themselves in order to send His revelations to humankind. Therefore, God revealed to Adam through an angel the purpose of man’s inhabiting the earth. According to this plan, God created a special creature in the form of man, upon whom He bestowed freedom. Amongst the entire universe that functions compulsorily under the will of God, man is the only creature that has been granted free will. The rest of the universe has no choice but to submit to the will of God. It is desirable for man also to opt for this divine plan of his own free will. Amongst the entire universe that functions compulsorily under the will of God, man is the only creature that has been granted free will.