Abstract
Religion plays a crucial role in the lives of people and by extension the rest of society. Islam connects the Muslims and God and provides a guide of what God wants and how He wants humans to live as they are prepared for the afterlife. What of Evil? What is its position in the whole process? This paper aims to establish the existence of God in the presence of evil. The ubiquitous nature of evil in the world has led to the question of the existence of God in the presence of evil. This paper aims to proof that God can exist in the presence of evil, and this does not stop Him from being God. The study will utilize secondary data material to gather data relevant to the study. It will also employ questionnaires to gather primary data from the respondent. This data will be analyzed, and comparative analysis carried out to establish any commonalities. This study, therefore, aims to establish that God can exist in the presence of evil and remain to be God with His character of perfection and flawlessness.
Introduction
Islam as a religion offers hope to the Muslims and humanity. It connects people with God. It ensures that societies are at peace not only with God but with each other. The laws of God are meant to ensure that people lead a true life by what God wants, and this is a good and just life. However, the world is far from good, perfect and just. There are several injustices and unfair events and happenings all over the world and society. This is referred to as evil. Accidents, wars, diseases, natural disasters, hatred, crime, and death are just but a few of the evils riddling the world (Griffin, 117). The existence of evil and its ubiquitous nature in the world has led to some questioning, at the very best, the character of God and His existence at worst. It gets challenging to explain evil when it happens to good people. According to human understanding, if one lives in accordance with the laws of God and adheres to the tenets of Islam and is true to God, he or she pleases God. However, evil and misfortune befalls all. This means that all members of society, both good and bad face evil and are affected by the evil in society. Why does God allow His people to face evil? Does He not care for His people? Does He not care for His true servants? What good could come from evil in the world? These are some of the questions that need to be answered if one has to justify the existence of God and the existence of evil in God’s presence (Ghaly, 15).
Researchers in theology and the tenets and fundamentals that make Islam have studied the existence of evil and how it has led to increased confusion bout the existence of a good God and with a perfect character. The perfect character of God is the fundamental pillar on which the Islam faith is built; the existence of evil in the world has led to the challenging of the character of God or even His existence. The issue that most of the Muslims in the world need to understand or ask is how God’s existence can be compatible with the existence of evil. If God loves the people and His creation, then why allow all this evil to spread havoc, war, disease, murder and suffering in the world? To answer this question, there have been several explanations and theories put forward by theologians and researchers in Islam. These have expressed different opinions. The approach to explaining this scenario where evil and God coexist is as varied as the number of theologians. However, there is a common denominator in all their explanations; that the flawless and perfect character of God is not questioned in the face of the existence of evil in the world (Hasker, 97). Explanations such as God is not alive to the happenings in the world or unaware or that He is not able to control or prevent these evils are dismissed outright by these researchers. Such arguments are taken to be heretic in the Islam religion.
The backdrop painted above makes it challenging to explain and defend the perfect and flawless character of God. The challenge is how to explain how God can let all the evil and suffering being meted out to His people. Additionally, it is equally challenging to explain how does that fit in with the character of God of mercy, justice, solicitude and His all-embracing will. The research question in this research or study is the justification for the existence of evil in the presence of God according to the philosophy in Islam. There are three perspectives that can be employed to justify the existence of evil in the presence of God. These include the anti-theodicy, median approach and the pro-theodicy perspectives. Theodicy is the theology that defends the existence of God and His goodness and perfection in the face of the existence of evil (Heemskerk, 120).
Anti-theodicy Approach
In this approach, the omnipotence and self-sufficiency of God are emphasized. The approach, therefore, lays emphasis on the perfection and flawless character of God. In the case of the existence of evil in the world and the presence of God, it would a diminishing and tarnishing act to judge God’s actions employing the same criteria used to judge human actions and behavior. As a result, there should be no attempt to explain God’s actions or to justify or explain the reasoning behind God’s actions including the existence of evil (Hick, 178).
Pro-theodicy Approach
This approach stresses on God’s justice, solicitude and wisdom as well as oneness. This approach is adopted mostly by the Mu’tazili and the Shi’I schools. This approach advances the school of thought that the divine characteristics and attributes of God that illuminate His justice, wisdom and mercy are the best approach to show that the evil in the world does not affect the perfect and flawless character of God (Mackie 12).
Median Approach
This approach does not ascribe to any of the above schools of thought. They take aspects from the above points of view and create a new explanation as to the wisdom, oneness, omnipotence, and mercy of God. According to this approach, God’s omnipotence and self-sufficiency as well as His mercy, justice, and solicitude help create a God that is true. This approach can be used to explain the existence of evil in the presence of God (Howard-Snyder, 96).
Thesis Statement
The basic tenets of Islam are premised on the flawless and perfect character of God. He is viewed as the source of good and that He is just. These tenets paint a picture of God being good. It does not give the full picture of the source of evil that is bedeviling the world today. Evil is ubiquitous. There are wars, famine, abject poverty, disease, genocides and injustices all over the world and in the Muslim community. This has led to some of the faithful in Islam to question the position of God and the presence of evil in society (Madden and Peter 68). There is a need to explain to society the position of God and how that relates to the existence of evil. Evil in society causes untold pain and suffering; this might lead people to question the existence of God. The literature available gives different positions and analysis about the thus topic. There are gaps in the literature about how the existence affects God’s character among the Muslims. These gaps have created room for people to establish their conclusions and other to spew their opinions on the matter. It leads to the wavering of people in faith and the concept of God’s existence. There are also arguments that humans are just a tiny section of the massive creation of God. Humans view evil and God through the human eyes and judge God as they would judge their fellow humans. This argument states that humans cannot understand God’s plans and actions in the grand scheme of things (O’Connor, 117).
However, the fact remains that human suffering and evil are present. This suffering and evil are affecting the faith in God, and His very existence can be lost on the people who have suffered massive losses in their lives. This paper aims to address this issue through the justification of God’s existence in the presence of evil. This paper will propose that God can exist amongst the evil in the world. The paper will present the argument that God’s presence or existence should be deduced from the good and not the bad. There are several issues and aspects in the world and within Islam that God has done and that the Muslims are thankful. Should all this be thrown out or ignored when one or two or several evils strike?
Methods
The study relied heavily on the secondary data sources. This involved a comprehensive review of the existing literature of on the subject of the study and related topics as well. This included journals that have been published and are peer-reviewed. These provided an authoritative background on the subject of interest. The paper is also employed books that have been published on the on the subject that interests this study. The study also utilized the internet. This was mainly to view the articles and information that is on the internet on the subject. Some of the search words that were used to search the databases on the Internet include “God and the presence of evil”, “God and evil”, “evil in society” and “evil in the presence of God”. These searches produced some of the articles and pieces that were used in this study (Peterson 107).
The study also employed the use of primary sources. Here, the method chiefly used is the questionnaires. Here, members of the Islam faith were surveyed and questioned on issues that involve the presence of evil in society and how that makes them feel about God or His presence. Additionally, they were questioned whether this affects the character of flawless and perfect God that the faith teaches and has always taught to the Muslims society (Peterson, 201). This approach coupled with the secondary sources formed the basis of this study, and this is how the results were obtained.
Results
Questionnaire Results (Primary)
Part I
Gender
| Gender | Percentage |
| Male | 66 |
| Female | 34 |
Age
| Age | Percentage |
| 12-17 | 3 |
| 18-24 | 15 |
| 25-65 | 49 |
| 66 and above | 33 |
Occupation
| Occupation | Percentage |
| Student | 33 |
| Employed | 41 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
| Retired | 25 |
Level of Education
| Level of Education | Percentage |
| Uneducated | 5 |
| Secondary school | 11 |
| Graduate level | 37 |
| Post-Graduate | 47 |
Part II
- Do you believe in God’s perfection and flawless character? Explain.
91 percent of the respondents answered “Yes” to the questions. Meaning they believed in the character of perfection and flawlessness of God. The explanation they gave was that that is how it is. They cited several aspects of life and issues that they believe God has helped them to carry through. They cited answered prayers in their lives. This was the justification of the perfect and flawless of God. They also cited the teachings of the religious leaders as the source of their information of God and His perfection. 9 percent answered “No” to the question. These said they did not believe in God because of what He has done in their lives. These are mostly people who have had horrible life experiences such as a loss of loved ones or terminal diseases.
- Where does evil come from? Is God responsible for the evil in the world?
35 percent distanced evil from, God. They said that God is not evil, and He means well for His people and creation. 33 percent said that God is the architect of the evil in the world. However, it is not meant to hurt His people but to ensure that they follow the right route and not get lost in other ways. 12 percent did not have an opinion either as a result of not knowing or because they did not feel God should not be questioned. 20 percent felt the question was offensive and, as a result, declined to answer.
- Does the presence of evil affect your view of God?
| Answer | Percentage |
| Yes | 21 |
| No | 79 |
Preliminary Discussion
The presence of Evil in society has an untold impact on the lives of people. However, the Islam faith or religion plays a crucial role in society. It offers hope and solace. From the results, 20 percent of the respondents did not respond to the question “Where does evil come from? Is God responsible for the evil in the world?” This shows faith in God in the face of all the evil in society. The faith in God has remained steadfast (Rowe, Daniel and Michael 29). These people do not want to contemplate questioning God. The other respondents cite the goodness of God in as a counter to the evil in the world. The argument is that He also does good things too; and thus should not be questioned. The question then is for God, who is capable of doing good things to His creation, why then unleash the evil in the world to hurt His creation? Most of society does not understand the source of evil (Plantinga, 77). A literature review on the subject does not reveal a consensus on the source of evil. The most compelling argument given is that God is the creator of the universe, and the universe does not contain just humans. We are just part of the vast universe that God created. T further explains that the thinking of God in the grand scheme of things transcends human understanding. It is therefore tarnishing and disrespectful to God to judge His actions and the status of His Universe in our human minds and to think. Humans are thinking, and reasoning is confined to the large world or earth and its surroundings. As a result, humans lack the understanding of time and space to understand the reasoning of God. Evil in society, therefore, can exist in the presence of God (Reichenbach, 13). God might be the source of the Evil on earth. This means that God is aware of the evil on earth, and He can stop it, but He chooses not to. This is because the evil is part of God’s plan for both Humans and the grand universe as a whole.
Work Plan
| Time Frame | Activity |
| May 12th – May 19th | Secondary data gathering; these include journals, peer reviewed articles, magazines, newspapers, books, government survey publications, and the Holy Koran. These will serve as a source of credible secondary data. |
| May 20th – June 3rd | Analysis of the secondary data collected. The data will be analyzed using MS Excel. The data will be grouped into tables and figures for presentation purposes. The data will be interpreted using compatible analysis and critical appraisal of the data or information obtained. |
| June 5th – June 29th | A collection of the primary data required for the paper. This will entail the carrying out of the questionnaire survey. This will target the Muslim community as well as the clergy leaders in the Muslim society. |
| July 4th – July 11th | Primary data analysis |
| July 15th August 1st | Writing of the thesis project. This will incorporate the analysis of the secondary and primary data that s collected from the study. This means an interpretation of both the qualitative and quantitative data. Tabulation and MS Excel will be used for data analysis. Graphs and chats will also be employed for the data analysis. Comparative analysis will help in ensuring any commonalities of consistency in data are identified. This will help in the presentation of a credible thesis. |
Implications of the Research
The results of the study have far-reaching implications for society. Religion and faith comprise a sensitive and emotive part of the society. Questioning the intentions God or questioning the perfect and flawless character of God can be offensive to some members of the society. However, the study is expected to foster dialog among the Muslims about the position of God in society and the position of evil (Van Inwagen, 118). It is expected to provide a deeper understanding of the position of Evil in society and how it relates to the plans, existence, and the character of God.
The study is expected to provide reinforcement for the existence of God and what he intends for His people. Evil is the art of cruel world humans living in, but God has a plan for His people.
The paper will generate interest of study in several areas such as (Swinburne):
- The source of evil and the purpose it serves concerning God’s plans
- Can a life without evil and with perfection foster Islam and stronger faith among the Muslim society? Alternatively, is evil necessary to remind humanity of their creator?
Works Cited
Ghaly, Mohammed. Islam and Disability: Perspectives in Theology and Jurisprudence. London: Routledge, 2010, pp. 15–62.
Griffin, David Ray. God, Power, and Evil: A Process Theodicy. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1976.———. Evil Revisited: Responses and Reconsiderations. Albany, N.Y.: SUNY Press, 1991.
Hasker, William. The Triumph of God over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
Heemskerk, Margaretha T. Suffering in the Mu‘tazilite Theology: Abd al-Jabbār’s Teaching on Pain and Divine Justice. Leiden, the Netherlands: Brill, 2000.
Hick, John. Evil and the God of Love. rev. ed. San Francisco, Calif: Harper & Row, 1978.
Howard-Snyder, Daniel, ed. The Evidential Argument from Evil. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1996.
Lewis, C. S. The Problem of Pain. New York: Touchstone Books, 1996.
Mackie, J. L. The Miracle of Theism. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1982, ch. 9.
Madden, Edward, and Peter Hare. Evil and the Concept of God. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 1968.
O’Connor, David. God and Inscrutable Evil: In Defense of Theism and Atheism. Lanham, Md.: Rowman and Littlefield, 1998.
Peterson, Michael. “Christian Theism and the Evidential Argument from Evil,” in Philosophy and the Christian Worldview: Analysis, Assessment, and Development, eds. David Werther and Mark Linville. New York: Continuum Publishing, 2012.
Peterson, Michael. Evil and the Christian God. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1982. ———. God and Evil: An Introduction to the Issues. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1998.
Plantinga, Alvin. The Nature of Necessity. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1973. ———. God, Freedom, and Evil. 1974 Reprint. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 1977.
Reichenbach, Bruce. Evil and a Good God. New York: Fordham University Press, 1982.
Rowe, William, Daniel Howard-Snyder, and Michael Bergmann. “Is Evil Evidence against Belief in God?” in Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Religion, eds. Michael Peterson and Raymond Vanarragon, pp. 3–29. Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2004.
Swinburne, Richard. Providence and the Problem of Evil. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1998.
Van Inwagen, Peter, ed. Christian Faith and the Problem of Evil. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 2004. ———. The Problem of Evil. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Appendix
Questionnaire Questions
Part I
Gender
- Male
- Female
- Unspecified
Age
- 12-17
- 18-24
- 25-65
- 66 and above
Occupation
- Student
- Employed
- Unemployed
- Retired
Level of Education
- Uneducated
- Secondary school
- Graduate level
- Post-Graduate
Part II
- Do you believe in God’s perfection and flawless character? Explain.
- Where does evil come from? Is God responsible for the evil in the world?
- Does the presence of evil affect your view of God?
Innovative Writers 