THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL
Not an Inherent Feature
THE physical world, it has been established, functions according to certain fixed, predetermined laws. It is curious that those who extend the application of these laws to the study of human history cannot but meet with failure. While the physical world may be explainable within the framework of predeterminism, the events of the human world are simply not amenable to interpretation in terms of such laws.
Others want to interpret the events of the human world in the context of freedom, but they are not satisfied 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.
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.
The truth is that the right principle by which to interpret human history is neither that of predeterminism 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 humankind.
Favourable circumstances were a sine qua non for this test in the world. Predeterminism 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 everything had been totally predetermined in this world, 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, and 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.
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.