The Problem of Evil: Islamic Theodicy

Abstract

Human nature possesses an innate duality, animality and spirituality. Where there is body being made up of clay enhances the materialistic qualities that urge animality, there is soul too being from divine breath possesses Godly essence that innately urges spirituality. Negligence of any one of the two sides gives rise to inner conflict. What became to be known as Lucifer, Satan or Iblis, is the chief of evil. Iblis literally means 'one bewildered by despair' and it is despair the source of all illness, direct or indirect. He rivals God against his intrinsic nature. Evil rampant in the world is, therefore, the aftermath of injustice. Lack of justice entails disturbance of balance, which then results in all ailments of body and maladies of soul. Islamic concept of man thus swings like pendulum between the polarities of exoteric and esoteric aspects that cannot be halved.