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| Guest Name |
Prof. Shahul Hameed
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Consultant to Reading Islam website
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| Subject |
Can God and Evil Co-exist?
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| Date |
Tuesday, May. 29, 2007
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Makkah
From...
09:00...To...
18:00
GMT
From... 06:00...To...15:00
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Host
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Dear visitors,
The session has just started. Please feel free to join us with your questions.
After the session has ended, you can view the whole dialogue by clicking Recent Sessions, or the Archive.
For feedback and suggestions, please contact us.
Yours,
Reading Islam Team
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Alex
- Malaysia
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| Question |
I have never been able to understand this problem - I believe that God is good; if so, how can He permit evil people to be controlling most affairs of the world?
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Salam, Alex.
Thank you for your question.
According to the Qur'an, Allah created humans and put them on earth as His vicegerents. The Arabic term used in the Qur'an is "khalifah, (usually translated, “vicegerent”) which means that man is God's representative or ambassador on earth.
This is a special position Allah has given to man, and this position makes him superior to His other creatures; because this means Allah blessed man with a number of special qualities, such as intelligence, imagination, inquisitiveness and so on and so forth.
Allah also gave him freedom to use his special talents and powers on earth. It is the freedom to use human talents that has made man a creative being, capable of scientific and technological inventions and innovations, as well as artistic creation. But we must know that the freedom God gave man involves some “risk” also, as man can make wrong choices and create havoc. This aspect of man's role as "khalifah" is mentioned in the Qur’an by way of a parable in surat Al-Baqarah:
*{Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not.}* (Al-Baqarah 2:30)
The question raised by the Angels was about the possibility of what free humans can do: make mischief on earth and shed blood. In other words, God is telling us that He knows that humans are likely to misuse the freedom given to them; but still He decides to go forward with His plan, which is to test humans in this manner and reward those who pass in the test and punish those who fail. And you know, the participants in any test need freedom to make choices, even wrong choices. Otherwise the tests have no meaning.
The Qur'an also teaches us that the earthly life of humans is not for ever; there is a necessary end; when all humans will have to account for their actions before God, including the evil people who, as you say, are now controlling most affairs of the world. And thereafter, evil, personified as Satan and all his minions will be sent to Hell, and the good people will be in Heaven. This is God's plan; and obviously, God in His Infinite Wisdom, (for a time) has allotted to Satan (i.e. Evil) a role in this plan. That is to say, God's purpose is to separate the good from the bad, and evil is only a tool in His plan.
So, from the Islamic point of view, the goodness of God is not at all compromised by the existence of evil on earth for a time, as everything happens in accordance with His will and plan.
It is also worth-remembering in this context, a common argument of the atheists that if God is Omnipotent (=All-Powerful), how can Satan exist in spite of him? The answer is: Satan is created by Allah, and he exists and uses his guiles on humans with the permission of Allah, until Allah puts an end to it all; so Allah is still Omnipotent.
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Muse Ali
- Belgium
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Sometimes I see people who say that they are religious, but at the same time they do injustice. I believe this is a wrong understanding of the religion.
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Salam, Muse Ali.
Thank you for your question.
You are right in saying that some of those people who claim to be religious, or appear to be religious, do injustice to their fellow beings. This is because, they have as you say, a wrong understanding of the religion. They may have misunderstood that religion is simply putting on the external insignia of a Muslim or observing certain publicly visible rites. Certainly this sort of religion is a travesty of Islam. We must remember what Allah commands in the Qur'an:
*{O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.}* (Al-Baqarah 2:208(
Here, as elsewhere, we must be careful to steer clear of the path of Satan, who is the avowed enemy of mankind.
And Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said:
"God does not look at your bodies and faces but He looks into your hearts." (Muslim)
That is to say, external appearances or outward show is nothing, rather we should be sincere and honest in our observance of the teachings of Islam.
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Mark
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Why there is evil on earth?
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Salam, Mark.
Thank you for your question.
One possible short answer to your question is: There is evil, because there is good.
You know evil is like one of the twins, the other being good, as good on earth is ironically linked to evil. Because good in this world cannot exist without bad, as they are two sides of the same coin, and both are relative concepts.
For instance, to rescue a drowning man is good work; but this is possible only when someone is drowning, which is a negative thing. That is to say, you have a chance to do good work only when there is a need, which in itself is "evil", or at any rate "not good”. You replace that evil or the absence of good with good.
The imperfections and shortcomings of this world provide ample opportunities for us to make efforts for improvement; and this makes our lives and work meaningful.
Imagine the situation if Satan (i.e. the personification of Evil) did not exist, and we were all programmed to do only good. In that case there would be no scope for freedom of will or choice; we would be mere automatons.
Of course, it appears that the forces of good and evil work in opposite directions; but in the final analysis their work may be seen as a covert cooperation to fulfill the Divine plan. And you know, evil cannot be without God's willing it to exist; and if so, evil has a role here to play.
The German poet Goethe has described the action and reaction of good and evil or a person's surrender to a temptation to do wrong and the consequent regret as part of the conflict between Satan and Man; and ultimately it brings out the good in Man.
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Samuel
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Sir, I can hardly understand the title of your live dialogue. Could you please simplify the idea for some ignorant people like me?
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Salam, Samuel.
Thank you for your question.
The title is a usual question asked by atheists who argue that God and Evil cannot co-exist.
In this dialogue session, we are trying to answer that question from the Islamic point of view.
The direct answer to that question is:
Yes, God and evil can coexist. If not, we have to concur with the atheists to say that there is no God; because, we are so much aware of the existence of evil amongst us.
Islam teaches that God created Satan for a purpose, and Satan is subject to Allah's laws and commandments. You may read my previous answers to get a clear picture.
Thank you very much indeed.
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Kameela
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Does evil have power over man?
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Salam, Kameela.
Thank you for your question.
According to the Qur'an, Satan (who is the personification of evil) has no real authority over man; though he gives the impression that he has such power and he misleads many people.
Allah has clearly stated in the Qur'an that those of His servants who devote themselves to Him, are free from the influence of Satan.
*{No authority has he over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord.}* (An-Nahl 16: 99)
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has warned Muslims in his Last Sermon, of the cunning traps set by Satan:
"Beware of Satan, for the sake of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in serious issues, so beware of following him in minor aspects." (öAl-Bukhari)
Satan is man's most terrible enemy, to be encountered by every person, thousands of times during his or her lifetime. So he will use every means at his disposal, and until the Last Day, to lure people into the fires of Hell. To that end, he is always keeping his watch over mankind, preparing the plots and ruses by which to assault them:
*{O ye Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as He got your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame: for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: We made the evil one's friends (only) to those without faith.}* (Al-A`raf 7:27)
Many are not even aware of the danger posed by the Evil one; and these people may consider themselves to be of pure of heart, over whom Satan has no influence. But falling into overconfidence and ignorance, they may be easy victims to the traps set by Satan.
But as for those who are so much devoted to Allah the Almighty as to follow His commandments closely – they are free from Satan's authority. Because Allah has said:
*{He [Satan] has no authority over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. He only has authority over those who take him as a friend and associate others with Allah." (An-Nahl 16: 99-100)
In another verse, it has been revealed that the believers cannot be led astray by Satan:
*{Allah said to Satan,] "But as for My servants, you will not have any authority over them. Your Lord suffices as a guardian." (Al-Israa' 17: 65)
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Cap
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As a new convert, sometimes, I have evil thoughts, please advice me on how overcome such thoughts.
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Salam, Cap.
Thank you for your question.
First I recommend you to read the book by Harun Yahya: "Satan the Sworn Enemy of Mankind". It is available online:
http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/satan/satan1.php
Here are a few relevant points from that book:
"The Qur'an warns believers against certain bad habits specifically employed by Satan. Wine, gambling and fortune-telling are all vehicles by which Satan seeks to distract people:
*{You who believe! Wine and gambling, stone altars and divining arrows are filth from the handiwork of Satan. Avoid them completely so that hopefully you will be successful.}* (Al-Ma'idah 5: 90)
The important point here, however, is the end sought by Satan through these means. That aim is referred to in the following verse - it is, to prevent people from remembering Allah and observing their five daily prayers:
*{Satan wants to stir up enmity and hatred between you by means of wine and gambling, and to debar you from remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not then give them up?}* (Al-Ma'idah 5: 91)
Because this world is a stage of trial, one may encounter a great number of varying situations and circumstances. No matter what the conditions may be, Satan is always waiting in ambush. The slightest weakness shown on the part of a believer is an opportunity for Satan. And, Satan exploits every opportunity.
If a believer harbors thoughts he considers disturbing, or is bothered by the situation he finds himself in,-such perceptions usually representing the warnings of his conscience - he must desist immediately and reconsider his predicament.
The simplest way to do so is for him or her to try to analyze the situation objectively. In this manner, he may assess it according the following criteria:
* Is what he is thinking at that moment compatible with the teachings of the Qur'an?
* Is he being lax in remembering Allah?
* Is he being too flexible when it comes to keeping within the bounds of the Qur'an and observing its stipulations?
* Do his plans have any other aim than Allah's good pleasure?
* Are his personal interests at that moment more important than those of other believers?
* Does he have any doubts or concerns regarding himself or another believer?
* Is he failing to put his trust in Allah due to some perceived injustice?
* Does he wish his personal sacrifice to be recognized by others?
* Is he merely offering up excuses so as not to give up something dear to him?
* Does he have an inordinate passion for anything of this world?
* Does he fear for the future?
* Is he unable to bear a warning pronounced to him in the light of the Qur'an?
* Has he developed a love for or bond with an enemy of Allah?
* Has he put off reading the Qur'an, praying or performing good deeds for some invalid excuse?
If the problem he faces derives from any such or similar conditions, then he is being assailed by Satan. All of such thoughts, which he otherwise believes to issue from his own self, are actually words whispered into his heart by Satan.
Satan employs different tactics when dealing with different people. And we must examine our own thoughts and actions to find out what are the tactics used by Satan to trap us.
And specially note: as we are all humans, we are weak creatures; and often we fall into temptations. The very purpose of religion is to make us strong against such temptations or guiles of Satan, and overcome them. We should try our best to be on our guard. And if sometimes we fail, we must immediately seek Allah's pardon, by repenting. He is Most Merciful, Most Forgiving. Never give up hope of His mercy, as He says in the Qur'an:
*{Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.}* (Az-Zumar 39: 53)
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Hadi
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In Nahj Al-Balaghah it is stated Ali ibn Abi Talib said, “Woman is an absolute evil, and the worst aspect in her is that she is indispensable!. Is this true?
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Salam, Hadi.
Thank you for your question.
The answer to your question can be found here:
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Rose- Mary
- Belgium
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student
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Is everything good from God, and everything "not good" from Evil?
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Salam, Rose-Mary.
Thank you for your question.
It was Shakespeare who said: "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".
If one is a Satanist, one may think that everything from God is not good; and that everything from Satan is good.
From the Islamic point of view, Allah is Almighty God and He is Good; so everything from Him is good. He has created Satan and Satan serves a purpose in Allah's plan.
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Mary
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Can evil things happen to some people and do not happen to others?
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Salam, Mary.
Thank you for your question.
Indeed we find that some people in this world suffer greatly, while others live fairly comfortably. So it is clear that evil things do not happen to all people equally at the same time. But let not those who are comfortable now, be under the foolish impression that they will always be safe. Because misfortunes can come as a test or as a punishment to any one in this world.
We should keep praying to Allah to save us from the calamities and misfortunes of life as well as from the punishments in the Hereafter.
Indeed we must hold the right beliefs and lead a life of complete obedience to Allah's commandments to deserve a good and happy life in the Hereafter.
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James
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How can you connect evil to man's free will?
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Salam, James,
Thank you for your question.
It is because man has freewill that he can choose between good and its opposite, evil.
The question of freewill arises, only when there is scope for choice. If there is no freedom, humans will be like machines that have no will to do as they please, or like the birds or animals that have to follow their instincts, which are in a way a kind of programming.
From the Islamic point of view, man is honored by Allah, by giving him freedom. Other creatures of God on earth are not given freedom. But man often misuses his freedom to make wrong choices, following the promptings of the Evil One. If there had been no freedom for man, there would not have been any question of his following the Evil one, or doing wrong.
Hope I have answered your question.
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New to Islam
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Why does Satan mislead humans?
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Salam,
Kindly read my answers to the questions above, particularly to the question from Alex.
Thank you very much.
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Egfoo Yong
- Hong Kong
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Esteemed Doctor, does one find evil or does evil find us?
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Salam, Egfo.
Usually, it is us finding evil and following it. Or even if evil finds us and sets its trap, why should we jump into this trap?
Thank you!
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Farz
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As far as I know, there is one single Satan. How can this single Satan whisper to millions of people?
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Salam, Farz.
This question has been answered by Dr. Rif`at Fawzi, former professor of Shari`ah at Cairo University.
I simply quote him, as I cannot improve upon his learned answer:
"Indeed, there is only one Satan that is known in the Qur'an. Also, in the Qur'an the word Iblis refers to Satan. This satan has many aides from among the devils and assistants who help tempt and derail the believers from the right track to disobey Allah and sin. Those aides act according to Satan's orders in the same way the entourage of a king, for example, behave as per his orders.
The fact that Satan has different aides and hosts is stressed in the Qur’an in more than one verse. For example, Allah Almighty says:
*{O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that be might manifest their shame to them. Lo! He seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.]* (Al-A`raf 7: 27)
Allah also says:
*{Then they will be hurled therein, they and the seducers. And the hosts of Iblis, together. And they will say, when they are quarrelling therein: By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest.}* (Ash-Shu`araa' : 94-97)
In conclusion, I would like to stress that we as mortals do not know how Satan and his hosts seduce people to sin, as this is beyond human perception. Even the number of Satan's hosts and aides, how they seduce people, and the mechanism they apply is part of the Unseen that is known to Allah alone. It is really wrong to compare our might and very limited power as mortals to that of Satan and his helpers.."
Thank you very much.
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Arfarf Shidfar
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Student
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This is amazing. My professor only yesterday inquired about this very issue and we are requested to prepare a paper for him. May I use your thoughts as my own or would that be evil?
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Salam, Arfarf.
Thank you for your question.
You may use the ideas I have expressed here for your purpose, I have no objection.
And based on your knowledge of good and evil, you may decide what is evil or good in this matter.
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Editor
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Finally, we would like to thank our guest for speaking to Reading Islam viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We apologize for not being able to accommodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. We request our readers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
Yours,
Reading Islam Team
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