Evil and Human Suffering in Islamic Thought-Towards a Mystical Theodicy
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3308485 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nasrin Rouzati (0000-0001-7322-373X, Manhattan College, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 47 |
| Publication date | 2018-02-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel9020047 |
| OpenAlex | W2789737222 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 12 |
| References cited | 13 |
This paper sheds light on the treatment of the 'problem of evil' and human suffering from an Islamic perspective. I begin by providing an overview of the term 'evil' in the Qur'an to highlight its multidimensional meaning and to demonstrate the overall portrait of this notion as it is presented in the Islamic revelation through the narrative of the prophet Job. Having established a Qur'anic framework, I will then provide a brief historical overview of the formation of philosophical and theological debates surrounding "good" and "bad/evil" and the origination of Muslim theodicean thought. This will lead us to Ghazālian theodicy and the famous dictum of the "best of all possible worlds" by one of the most influential scholars of Islamic thought, Abu Ḥāmid Ghazālī. The final section of this paper will explore the Sufi/ mystical tradition of Islam through the teachings of one of the most distinguished mystics of Islam, Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī. The conclusion of the paper will attempt to bring about a new understanding of how the so-called "problem of evil" is not presented in Islam as a problem but rather as an instrument in the actualization of God's plan, which is intertwined with human experiences in this world-an experience that is necessary for man's spiritual development
Epistemology · Good and evil · Islam · Meaning (existential) · Mysticism · Narrative · Problem of Evil · Revelation · Theodicy · Theology · Islamic Studies and History · Islamic Thought and Society Studies · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Philosophy · Religious studies
The Theology and Ethics of Vaccination Receptivity among Dutch Muslims
Why the Hardship? Islam, Christianity, and Instrumental Affliction
Considering Divine Providence in Mullā Ṣadrā Šīrāzī (d. 1045/1636)
Islam and Evolution
Religious views on the origin and meaning of Covid-2019
Earthquakes, Volcanoes and God
Acceptance as a Response to Suffering
Islamic Classical Literature (A.D. 950–1450) on Institutionalisation of Ethics for Regulating Markets and Society
Suffering and Self-refinement
The "Whence" of Evil and How the Demiurge Can Alleviate Our Suffering
Divine Love as the Reason for Creation in Islam-An Exploration of Nursi's Epistles of Light
Synchronizing Missio Dei with Process Theology and Theodicy
| Unique citing works | 12 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,71 |
| Citation span | 2019 - 2026 (8) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 9 |