Illuminating the Shadows: A Qur’ānic Theodicy on the Problem of Evil

Zia ul Haq

doi:10.32350/jitc.152.01

Zia ul Haq Department of Foundations of Religions, University of Sharjah, UAE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2518-3451

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.152.01

Keywords: divine attributes, evil, Ghazālī, Ibtilā, Qurʾān, theodicy

Abstract

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The problem of evil has been recognized as one of the most substantial challenges to the rational plausibility of theism, necessitating a range of theodicies across various religions. Many philosophers, in their attempts to address this problem, have compromised specific divine attributes, which has led to concerns regarding theological coherence. The Qurʾān offers a unique theodicy framework that has drawn considerable interest from theologians, especially those from Ashʿarite, Muʿtazilite, and mystical traditions. Applying a mixed-methodology approach that combines textual and thematic analysis of Qur’ānic discourse with a critical review of classical theodicies, this study evaluates the Qur’ānic theodicy on moral and natural evil, examining how it maintains the coherence of divine omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence in the presence of evil. The results show that the Qurʾān promotes a multifaceted theodicy that preserves the integrity of divine attributes while avoiding conceptual compromises, recognizing God's foreknowledge, middle knowledge, omnipotence, and omnibenevolence, and sees no contradiction between God and the presence of evil. The Qurʾān also addresses natural evil, and integrates it into its teleological framework, justifying each event in the light of the broader divine scheme. Therefore, it is argued that the Qurʾānic theodicy is a methodical and logical framework that makes a distinctive contribution to the ongoing discussion of the problem of evil, in addition to setting it apart from other theodicies.

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