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Theodicy in Islam

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lucasan2294 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01 April 2012 at 5:31pm
I am curious what the religion of Islam says about evil. 

1) Why does evil exist? 

2) Where did it come from and why does it persist today?

3) Will there ever be an end to it?

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Hi lucasan2294,

Theodicy in Islam and Christianity is the same.

Surat Al-'Ikhlāş (The Sincerity) - سورة الإخلاص    بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
112:1



Say, "He is Allah , [who is] One,
112:2


Allah , the Eternal Refuge.
112:3



He neither begets nor is born,
112:4



Nor is there to Him any equivalent."




3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:

Exodus 20
King James Version (KJV)
Exodus 20




1) Why does evil exist?

Well the answer would be Satan.He was banished from heaven and he was expelled.





2) Where did it come from and why does it persist today?


The arrogance of Satan and the arrogance of the human is the same.Until we cannot loose that arrogance and hastiness,we loose the battle.




3) Will there ever be an end to it?

Yes.


I would like to put some really well researched articles on this topic.I hope this will help.
http://www.islamicboard.com/clarifications-about-islam/134292836-philosophical-theological-response-problem-evil.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO-kVfe0mO8
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucasan2294 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 April 2012 at 5:16pm
I'm not sure I follow the first part of your response.  I checked in my English translation of the Qur'an to see if there was more to 112 that related, but I did not see anything beyond what was quoted.  And I'm not sure I see the connection between that and Exodus 20, especially in how it relates to the idea that a good God could allow evil to exist.  Perhaps with some additional explanation I can understand better.

I do have some follow-up questions to the second half of my post.  Thank you for your time in explaining to me the views of Islam in this regard.

1) So evil exists, because of Satan.  So why does Satan exist?  In the end I'm still left wondering what Islam teaches about why evil exists in the first place.  Blaming the devil seems to only go so far unless he has existed eternally as well.

2) In what way is the arrogance "loosed" by a person?

3) When?  And why has it not happened already?


Again, thank you for your time.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote iec786 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 April 2012 at 11:36pm
Hi lucasan2294,

In Islam we have the Quraan as the word of Allah,which is the name of God.

Then we have the books of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)called Hadith.We have books by learned   scholars who have studied the Quraan and have given us the commentary of the Quraan called tafsir.


I would like you to look at some of the tafsir it will give you a much better understanding of the Quraan.

This is a link which will help you understand the Quraan.

http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/Index.htm

I'm not sure I follow the first part of your response. I checked in my English translation of the Qur'an to see if there was more to 112 that related, but I did not see anything beyond what was quoted.





Imam Ahmad recorded from Ubayy bin Ka`b that the idolators said to the Prophet, "O Muhammad! Tell us the lineage of your Lord.''
So Allah revealed:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ - اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ - لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ - وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ
Say:
"He is Allah, One.
Allah He begets not, nor was He begotten.
And there is non comparable to Him.''
Similar was recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir and they added in their narration that he said,
"الصَّمَدُ As-Samad is One Who does not give birth, nor was He born, because there is nothing that is born except that it will die, and there is nothing that dies except that it leaves behind inheritance, and indeed Allah does not die and He does not leave behind any inheritance.
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ And there is none comparable to Him.
This means that there is none similar to Him, none equal to Him and there is nothing at all like Him.''
Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded it and At-Tirmidhi mentioned it as a Mursal narration.
Then At-Tirmidhi said, "And this is the most correct.''
A Hadith on its Virtues
Al-Bukhari reported from Amrah bint Abdur-Rahman, who used to stay in the apartment of Aishah, the wife of the Prophet, that Aishah said,
"The Prophet sent a man as the commander of a war expedition and he used to lead his companions in prayer with recitation (of the Quran). And he would complete his recitation with the recitation of `Say: He is Allah, One.' So when they returned they mentioned that to the Prophet and he said,
Ask him why does he do that?
So they asked him and he said,
`Because it is the description of Ar-Rahman and I love to recite it.
So the Prophet said,
أَخْبِرُوهُ أَنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّه
"Inform him that Allah the Most High loves him.''
This is how Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith in his Book of Tawhid.
Muslim and An-Nasa'i also recorded it.
In his Book of Salah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said,
"A man from the Ansar used to lead the people in prayer in the Masjid of Quba'. Whenever he began a Surah in the recitation of the prayer that he was leading them, he would start by reciting `Say: He is Allah, One' until he completed the entire Surah. Then he would recite another Surah along with it (after it). And used to do this in every Rak`ah. So his companions spoke to him about this saying;
`Verily, you begin the prayer with this Surah. Then you think that it is not sufficient for you unless you recite another Surah as well. So you should either recite it or leave it and recite another Surah instead.'
The man replied,
`I will not leave it off. If you want me to continue leading you (in prayer), I will do this; and if you all do not like it, I will leave you (i.e., I will stop leading you).'
They used to consider him to be of the best of them to lead them in prayer and they did not want anyone else to lead them other than him. So, when the Prophet came they informed him of this information and he said,
يَا فُلَانُ،
مَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ مَا يَأْمُرُكَ بِهِ أَصْحَابُكَ،
وَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى لُزُوم هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ؟
O so-and-so!
What prevents you from doing what your companions are commanding you to do, and what makes you adhere to the recitation of this Surah in every Rak`ah.
The man said, `Verily, I love it.'
The Prophet replied,
حُبُّكَ إِيَّاهَا أَدْخَلَكَ الْجَنَّة
Your love of it will cause you to enter Paradise.
This was recorded by Al-Bukhari, with a disconnected chain, but in a manner indicating his approval.
A Hadith that mentions this Surah is equivalent to a Third of the Qur'an
Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Sa`id that;
a man heard another man reciting قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (Say: "He is Allah, One.'') and he was repeating over and over. So when morning came, the man went to the Prophet and mentioned that to him, and it was as though he was belittling it.
The Prophet said,
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّهَا لَتَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآن
By He in Whose Hand is my soul, verily it is equivalent to a third of the Qur'an.
Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i also recorded it.
Another Hadith Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Sa`id, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah said to his Companions,
أَيَعْجِزُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ؟
Is one of you not able to recite a third of the Qur'an in a single night?
This was something that was difficult for them and they said,
"Which of us is able to do that, O Messenger of Allah!''
So he replied,
اللهُ الْوَاحِدُ الصَّمَدُ ثُلُثُ الْقُرْآن
"Allah is the One, As-Samad'' is a third of the Qur'an.
Al-Bukhari was alone in recording this Hadith.
Another Hadith that its Recitation necessitates Admission into Paradise
Imam Malik bin Anas recorded from Ubayd bin Hunayn that he heard Abu Hurayrah saying,
"I went out with the Prophet and he heard a man reciting `Say: He is Allah, the One.' So the Messenger of Allah said, وَجَبَت   (It is obligatory).
I asked, `What is obligatory'
He replied, "الْجَنَّة Paradise.''
At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i also recorded it by way of Malik, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih Gharib. We do not know of it except as a narration of Malik.''
The Hadith in which the Prophet said, حُبُّكَ إِيَّاهَا أَدْخَلَكَ الْجَنَّة Your love of it will cause you to enter Paradise, has already been mentioned.
A Hadith about repeating this Surah
Abdullah bin Imam Ahmad recorded from Mu`adh bin Abdullah bin Khubayb, who reported that his father said,
"We became thirsty and it had become dark while we were waiting for the Messenger of Allah to lead us in prayer. Then, when he came out he took me by my hand and said, قُل Say. Then he was silent.
Then he said again, قُل Say.
So I said, `What should I say?'
He said,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
وَالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ حِينَ تُمْسِي وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُ ثَلَاثًا، تَكْفِكَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مَرَّتَيْن
Say: "He is Allah, One,'' and the two Surahs of Refuge (Al-Falaq and An-Nas) when you enter upon the evening and the morning three times (each). They will be sufficient for you two times every day.''
This Hadith was also recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i.
At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih Gharib.''
An-Nasa'i also recorded through another chain of narrators with the wording,
يَكْفِكَ كُلَّ شَيْء
They will suffice you against everything.
Another Hadith about supplicating with it by Allah's Names
In his Book of Tafsir, An-Nasa'i recorded from Abdullah bin Buraydah, who reported from his father that he entered the Masjid with the Messenger of Allah, and there was a man praying and supplicating saying,
"O Allah! Verily, I ask you by my testifying that there is no God worthy of worship except You. You are the One, the Self-Sufficient Sustainer of all, Who does not give birth, nor were You born, and there is none comparable to Him.''
The Prophet said,
By Allah in Whose Hand is my soul, verily he has supplicated with Ism e Azam. Whenever supplication is made with the greatest name of Allah, it is blessed with acceptance.
A Hadith about seeking a Cure by these Surahs
Al-Bukhari recorded from A'ishah that;
whenever the Prophet would go to bed every night, he would put his palms together and blow into them. Then he would recite into them (his palms),
`Say: He is Allah, One', (Surah 112)
`Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Al-Falaq', (Surah 113) and
`Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.' (Surah 114)
Then he would wipe whatever he was able to of his body with them (his palms). He would begin wiping his head and face with them and the front part of his body. He would do this (wiping his body) three times.
The Sunan compilers also recorded this same Hadith.
Al Ikhlas

     
بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
112:1 Say:
He is Allah, One.
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
112:2 Allah As-Samad.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
112:3 He begets not, nor was He begotten.
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ
112:4 And there is none comparable to Him.



The reason for the revelation of this Surah has already been mentioned.
Ikrimah said,
"When
- the Jews said, `We worship Uzayr, the son of Allah,' and
- the Christians said, `We worship the Messiah (Isa), the son of Allah,' and
- the Zoroastrians said, `We worship the sun and the moon,' and
- the idolators said, `We worship idols,'
Allah revealed to His Messenger,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾
Say: "He is Allah, One.''
meaning,
- He is the One, the Singular,
- Who has no peer,
- no assistant, no rival,
- no equal and none comparable to Him.
This word (Al-Ahad) cannot be used for anyone in affirmation except Allah the Mighty and Majestic, because He is perfect in all of His attributes and actions.
Concerning His saying,
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾
Allah As-Samad,
Ikrimah reported that Ibn Abbas said,
"This means the One Who all of the creation depends upon for their needs and their requests.''
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas,
- "He is the Master Who is perfect in His sovereignty,
- the Most Noble Who is perfect in His nobility,
- the Most Magnificent Who is perfect in His magnificence,
- the Most Forbearing Who is perfect in His forbearance,
- the All-Knowing Who is perfect in His knowledge, and
- the Most Wise Who is perfect in His wisdom.
- He is the One Who is perfect in all aspects of nobility and authority.
He is Allah, glory be unto Him. These attributes are not befitting anyone other than Him. He has no coequal and nothing is like Him. Glory be to Allah, the One, the Irresistible.''
Al-A`mash reported from Shaqiq, who said that Abu Wa'il said,
" الصَّمَدُ As-Samad, is the Master Whose control is complete.''
Allah is Above having Children and procreating
Then Allah says,
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾
He begets not, nor was He begotten.
meaning, He does not have any child, parent or spouse.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ﴿٤﴾
And there is none comparable to Him.
Mujahid said, وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ (And there is none comparable to Him),
"This means He does not have a spouse.''
This is as Allah says,
بَدِيعُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ لَّهُ صَـحِبَةٌ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ
He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife He created all things. (6:101)
meaning, He owns everything and He created everything. So how can He have a peer among His creatures who can be equal to Him, or a relative who can resemble Him. Glorified, Exalted and far removed is Allah from such a thing.
Allah says,
وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَـنُ وَلَداً
لَقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَيْئاً إِدّاً
تَكَادُ السَّمَـوَتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ الاٌّرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدّاً
أَن دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمَـنِ وَلَداً
وَمَا يَنبَغِى لِلرَّحْمَـنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَداً
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ آتِى الرَّحْمَـنِ عَبْداً
لَّقَدْ أَحْصَـهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدّاً
وَكُلُّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَرْداً
And they say: Ar-Rahman has begotten a son. Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, that they ascribe a son to Ar-Rahman. But it is not suitable for Ar-Rahman that He should beget a son.
There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto Ar-Rahman as a slave. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. And all of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection. (19:88-95)
And Allah says,
وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَـنُ وَلَداً سُبْحَانَهُ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ
لاَ يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُمْ بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ
And they say:
"Ar-Rahman has begotten a son. Glory to Him! They are but honored servants. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His command. (21:26-27)
Allah also says,
وَجَعَلُواْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجِنَّةِ نَسَباً وَلَقَدْ عَلِمَتِ الجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ
سُبْحَـنَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
And they have invented a kinship between Him and the Jinn, but the Jinn know well that they have indeed to appear before Him.
Glorified is Allah! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! (37:158-159)
In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded that that the Prophet said,
لَا أَحَدَ أَصْبَرُ عَلَى أَذًى سَمِعَهُ مِنَ اللهِ، يَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ وَلَدًا، وَهُوَ يَرْزُقُهُمْ وَيُعَافِيهِم
There is no one more patient with something harmful that he hears than Allah. They attribute a son to Him, while it is He Who gives them sustenance and cures them.
Al-Bukhari also recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said,
قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ:
كَذَّبَنِي ابْنُ آدَمَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ،
وَشَتَمَنِي وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ،
فَأَمَّا تَكْذِيبُهُ إِيَّايَ فَقَوْلُهُ:
لَنْ يُعِيدَنِي كَمَا بَدَأَنِي، وَلَيْسَ أَوَّلُ الْخَلْقِ بِأَهْوَنَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ إِعَادَتِهِ،
وَأَمَّا شَتْمُهُ إِيَّايَ فَقَوْلُهُ: اتَّخَذَ اللهُ وَلَدًا،
وَأَنَا الْأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ، لَمْ أَلِدْ وَلَمْ أُولَدْ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِي كُفُوًا أَحَد
Allah the Mighty and Majestic says,
"The Son of Adam denies Me and he has no right to do so,
and he abuses Me and he has no right to do so.
In reference to his denial of Me, it is his saying: `He (Allah) will never re-create me like He created me before.' But the re-creation of him is easier than his original creation.
As for his cursing Me, it is his saying: `Allah has taken a son.'
But I am the One, the Self-Sufficient Master. I do not give birth, nor was I born, and there is none comparable to Me.''
This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Al-Ikhlas, and all praise and blessings are due to Allah.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucasan2294 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 April 2012 at 7:36pm
Thank you for the response and the explanation of the Qur'an, Hadith, and tafsirs.  I looked at the tafsir you linked to and bookmarked it.  It guess it would be a good thing to have handy when I am reading through the translation of the Qur'an that I have.

I appreciate your post, but think there might be a bit of confusion and it is probably my fault.  I used the word "theodicy" and probably should have chosen better words.  "Theodicy" has to do with the problem of how evil could exist.  I think perhaps you took it to be related to whether or not Jesus/Isa is God's Son.

I appreciate you pointing me to Islam's teachings about God being one and begetting none.

However, I am still curious about my initial question about evil which you responded to in your first reply on this thread.  If you would be willing to share with me in response to the questions I furthered asked about evil that would great (in the post just before the one about the tafsir).

Even if you could point me to what Surah to read or which tafsir to look at that talks about evil and how God could let it exist and persist.

Thank you!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote honeto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 April 2012 at 3:25pm
Lucasan,
as a Muslim here is my response based on my understanding and belief about evil, Satan, Devil.
I will give a little background on your thoughts about it first so the reader knows where you are coming from. I have seen Billy Graham saying and on your blog somthing similar: "somthing went wrong". According to Billy Graham "evil has somehow  taken over, and one day God will win over Him"
 
I have mentioned this in another post to you that in Islamic belief God is always in control, All powerfull.
 
According to Islamic teachings, evil comes from Satan and from man who follow Satan. The reason it still happens is simple, we are in a state of trial. This state of trial is based on following guidance God sent, or following Satan and Satan's entertained desires in one's heart. This state of trial will end one day, God knows when, followed by Judgment Day. After that those who achieved salvation will reside in Paradise where no evil will take place and life will be in full perfection. Satan and those who follow him and their own desires, those who rejected God or worshipped created things instead of God will be justly dealt and awarded their jsut punishment for their rejection and actions in hell, a painfull place to be indeed, and then it will be too late to ask for forgiveness and seek Mercy, which is open now.
Islam also gives us a clear answer that Satan is also God's creation and is granted time until the Day of Judgment, any who follow him will be his companion in this life and in the hereafter in Hell forever.
This is a very vast subject, but this is my brief description of how we believe about it in Islam.
Hope this is helpful, anyy questions or comments please feel free to write.
Hasan
The friends of God will certainly have nothing to fear, nor will they be grieved. Al Quran 10:62

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucasan2294 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 April 2012 at 5:53pm
Hasan, again, peace to you!

Thank you for the added background. I was unaware of any statement by Billy Graham, but I would imagine he has said similar.

To give additional background� for a long time atheists have made a challenge about the existence of God. They only have one argument against the existence of God and it relates to the presence of evil. The discipline of answering this question is the field of theodicy's work. Atheists have long made the argument, but even St. Augustine brought up the issue. The argument takes different forms, but at its root it goes something like this:

I) If God is good, and
II) if God is all-powerful, then
III) why is there evil?

Another popular formulation is:

I) God exists
II) God created all things
III) Evil exists
Therefore
IV) God created evil and so he cannot be good. (then it is stated that if this is not true, then which point above is false)


Christians have had to answer this question, and I started this thread to see how Muslims answer this question.

Hasan, your answer is very insightful into Islamic belief about evil and how it will be resolved. Indeed, I imagine that it is "a very vast subject." The idea that this is a time of trial is interesting to me. It is curious to me what the relationship between "achieving salvation" and God's mercy is, but I suppose that is a different topic.

Thank you for sharing about the elimination of evil. What is the Islamic teaching on the origins of evil?

As you mentioned you take issue with me saying that "something went wrong" in the world. I do believe that evil is not from God and that things in the world are not right. Things need fixed. Am I to understand that Muslims do not agree? It seems that you would agree that things need fixing, but you say that nothing went wrong?

And I wonder about these two statements:

1. "God is always in control"
2. "evil comes from Satan and from man who follow Satan"

So God is in control of all things, including Satan and man, and therefore when Satan is doing evil and man is doing evil God is controlling them to do it? So Islam teaches that God is responsible for evil and suffering? I know you said, and iec786 shared the same, that Satan is responsible for evil. But you tell me that God is controlling Satan. If God is controlling them into evil then how is he good?
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honeto View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote honeto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 April 2012 at 10:06am

Lucasan,

the answer is very simple, and as I have said we are in a state of trial put by God. Meaning God has given us and satan a limited time to act according to our will and bears its consequece. Remember God gave us a free will, Jinns like humans also have free will. Only angels do not a have a free will; they cannot act on their own. God, beside giving us a free will has also given us His guidance and He will hold us responsible what we choose to do after that.

In other words, if we were not free to act or chose good or bad, how would we be Judged? we would be already in Heaven.

The reason we see and experience goodness at its best and evil at its worst is because we are in this state and time of trial. Only on the basis of what we choose and do will determine where we belong, if we do good we get good at the end.

So by letting the devil free, God is not being limited in power (as your posts suggest or things going out of His control). Rather God is giving us a chance by giving us the tools (faculties of making good decisions), with the help of His guidance, to make sound decisions or to follow Satan and his desires and our own evil desires that he puts in our heart. At the end, the gain or loss is of the individual responsible for making their decisions, intentions and actions.

So, until that day, the Judgment Day, we are free and Satan is free, not that God lost control of him or somehow Satan has got upper hand, no. God is in command, in control, and God can never loose control. It is only that there is a term determined by God in which we are put on this earth, each and every individual to prove ourselves, whether we are obedient to God or disobedient, you and me, people who lived thousands of years ago or the ones yet to come, all of the people from Adam to the last. Each and everyone is to go through the same tests and trials and same standards, just different circumstances, upon which we will be justly served by the One who knows what is in our hearts. What we think and every little act that we do will be brought out that day and will contribute to the determination of one's eternal destination.

If there was only good in this world how would we know what is bad? How would we try to stay away for it, and why would our score card would mean anything? Without this trial period, why there would be heaven or hell? Which God really has mentioned and asked us to bear in mind, always.

Some people will always have excuses believing even when made clear to them. Things as simple as a beautiful flower show that it has a maker. They would not do the same if they see a picture or a painting of a flower. If you tell them this painting just appeared by itself, they will stare at you as if you are either insane or kidding them, yet themselves they cannot see their own insanity that a beautiful flower could have a maker. It is nothing new, it has happened in the past, even in the times of the prophets, even when miracles were presented right in front of their eyes, they said, it is magic. So I don't think everyone will believe. Even prophets could not do that to all people of their times whether it was Moses, Jesus, or Mohammed (pbut). Guidance comes from God Almighty. To the one God guides, none can misguide, thus we always seek His guidance and help against the whispers of Satan, who is always giving us ideas that only mean some joy but through disobedience to God, means our loss forever. God says in the Quran, that He will fill Hell with Satan and those who follow him. But he (Satan) has his time granted by God, when it finishes, on an appointed Day there will be no more evil as God will bring him and his followers to the judgement and eventually to their earned eternal abode, Hell.

Those who did not fall in to Satan's trap, acknowledged and remembered God Almighty, tried with their best intentions and actions to be God fearing and willfully did not disobey Him, will be granted Forgiveness and Mercy for their mistakes, rewarded for their best of actions, the Paradise, a place of eternal fulfillment where no evil will take place.

Hasan

 
 


Edited by honeto - 12 April 2012 at 10:17am
The friends of God will certainly have nothing to fear, nor will they be grieved. Al Quran 10:62

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