THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
THOSE who want to interpret human history in the light of predetermined law as is done in the physical world, cannot but meet with failure. While the physical world may be explainable within the framework of pre-determinism, and the laws of nature, the events of the human world are simply not amenable to interpretation in terms of any such law.
Others want to interpret the events of the human world in the context of freedom. But they are not satisfied either, with their interpretation. This is because in the case of human freedom, the suffering experienced in this world has no valid understandable explanation. The failure of both these interpretations is due to the fact that they attempt to explain the whole in the light of a part—which is not at all possible.
The truth is that the right principle by which to interpret human history is neither that of pre-determinism nor of freedom. According to Islam, there is only one correct principle to interpret human history and that is the principle of 'test'. Man has been placed in the present world for the purpose of being tested. On the outcome of this test will depend the eternal future of all mankind.
That person is most precious who leads his life in this world in such a manner that, despite facing all sorts of temptations, he succeeds in overcoming them.
Favourable circumstances were a sine qua non for this test in the world. Pre-determinism, to a certain extent, had to be a feature of these circumstances—as a guarantee against any obstacle coming in the way of carrying out man’s trial. On the other hand, the element of freedom was also essential in order that the intentions and actions of each individual could be properly judged. For, man can be granted the credit for a good deed only on the condition that, despite having the opportunity to indulge in bad deeds, he chooses of his own free will to act virtuously.
If in this world everything had been totally predetermined, the element of trial would have been absent. However the granting of freedom did involve the risk of some people misusing their freedom; and misuse it, they did. This gave rise to the problem of human suffering which results from evil; yet this suffering, or evil, is a very small price to pay for a very precious thing.
The only principle to interpret human history is the principle of ‘test’.
According to Islam, that person is most precious who leads his life in this world in such a manner that, despite facing all sorts of temptations, he succeeds in overcoming them. Despite having the power to misuse his freedom, he refrains from doing so. Despite the possibility of leading an unprincipled life, he chooses of his own free will to be a man of principle. To identify such individuals, it is essential that an atmosphere of freedom prevail in the world. This is not possible under any other system.
Words, because of their easy accessibility,
can be a great source of misconception in this world.
Equipped with fine words and carried away by slogans,
one can be deluded into thinking that one
is on the right path.
But words alone cannot prove
whether or not one’s stand is a right one.
Success in the next world will be for those
who, having made a critical appraisal of words,
hold on to the truth and reality behind them,
rather than placing their trust uncritically
in hollow, meaningless words.