Does evil exist?

[Zainab_M]

Great one!  Make sure you read this from start to finish ..



One day, a professor of a university decided to defy his pupils.

He asked:  "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student answered bravely: "Yes, He did."

"Everything?"  asked the teacher.

"Yes, everything,"  was the answer of the student.

"In this case, God also created evil, correct?  Because evil exists," said the teacher.

To that the student had no answer and remained in silence.

The teacher was delighted at the opportunity to prove one more time that faith was only a myth.

Suddenly another student raised his hand and asked:  "May I ask you a question, professor?

"Of course," was the answer.

"Does cold exist?"

"Of course,"  answered the professor.  "Did you never feel cold?"

"Actually sir, cold does not exist.  According to studies in Physics, cold is the total and complete absense of heat.  An object can only be studied if it has and transmits energy and it is the heat of an object that transmits its energy.  Without heat, the objects are inert, incapable to react.  But cold does not exist. We created the term cold to explain the lack of heat."

"And darkness?"  continued the student.

"It exists,"  replied th professor.

"Again, you're wrong sir, darkness is the total absense of light.  You can study light and brightness, but not darkness.  The prism of Nichols shows the variety of different colors in which light can be decomposed according to the longitude of the waves.  Darkness is the term we created to explain the total absense of light."

And finally, the student asked: "And evil, sir .. does evil exist??  God did not create evil.  Evil is the absense of God in peoples' hearts, it is the absense of love, humanity and faith." 

The student continued:  "Love and faith are like heat and light.  They exist.  Their absense lead to evil."

It was the professor's turn to remain silent.

The silence was broken by a loud applause.

The name of this student was:  ALBERT EINSTEIN

[N. Truth Seeker]

Absolutely excellent!  one of the best posts I've ever read ..

[Ruhi_Rose]

G R A N D  post !!!  must save it ..

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Sure, beautifully explained.  But just wondering, how would you fit the role of Satan into it?  Just curious.  Would be grateful if someone can elucidate that for me. 

[Zainab_M]

Sure, beautifully explained.  But just wondering, how would you fit the role of Satan into it?  Just curious.  Would be grateful if someone can elucidate that for me. 

Salaam sister.  Thanks for bringing up this question.  Actually Satan's role in the picture of evil is exactly in accordance with the description of evil given by Einstein.  Just reflect on the information provided by the Noble Quraan about Satan.  Satan, who is of the Jinn, used to be among the angels.  This was the Almighty Allah's creation and will.  Being a Jinn, Satan had the ability to choose his path of conduct, just like humans.  Thus, against the wishes of Allah, Satan chose to replace the love & obedience of Allah with arrogance & disobedience.  That's when he rebelled, turned evil and hence, Allah made him an outcast.  In other words, evil wasn't inherently created within Satan.  But it was Satan who filled himself with evil by dispelling the thought of Allah and driving out the qualities of humility, love and obedience that Allah had shown to him. 

The thought of Allah and subsequently the guidance derived from it is the only real and everlasting substance.  The absence of the awareness of this Truth brings evil within man and jinn, and this evil comes from their own spirit.  It is not a creation of Allah. 

We can also say that nurturing evil within oneself is connected with man and jin's ability to make their own independent decisions and select the path of conduct of their choice.  Misuse of this ability stunts one's conscience.  And stunting one's conscience automatically dispels the thought of Allah, thus giving way to evil. 

The following verses of the Noble Quraan reflect clearly that our actions are entirely our responsibility.

"Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts;"  (13:11)  Ar-Raad

"Lo! ye, forsooth, are of various opinion (concerning the truth).
He is made to turn away from it who is (himself) averse."
(51:8 and 9) Adh-Dhariyat

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Thanks sister, for this very logical elucidation.  I was thinking much on these lines but just needed some further confirmation.  Thanks again for providing it.

Salams and peace 

[N. Truth Seeker]

I sent this wonderful original post around to some relatives and friends in my email list.  One brother didn't quite agree with it by citing the reference of Surah Al-Falaq.  But I corrected what he overlooked which I would like to share with all of you, in case the same question arises in your minds.

First let me quote Surah Al-Falaq (It's the 113th Surah of the Noble Quran that has 5 verses):

 

1. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak

2. From the evil of that which He created;

3. From the evil of the darkness when it is intense,

4. And from the evil of malignant witchcraft,

5. And from the evil of the envier when he envieth.


That brother pointed out the first 2 verses which says "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak From the evil of that which He created;"   The brother took the meaning of the Divine Statement of these verses as evil being created by Allah.  But he read it wrong.  It does not say that.

A more careful reading will clarify this misunderstanding immediately.  Regarding evil, the verse clearly says "the evil of that which He created;"  The words "of that" refers to people.  Hence, the reference is to the evil that comes from people.  Or, the evil brought forth from the minds and actons of people.  Thus, Allah created people.  But it's the people who are responsible for harboring the evil within themselves of their own free choice. 

The rest of the Surah is perfectly in conformity with this.

Verse 113:3
"From the evil of the darkness when it is intense,"
This verse can have 2 connotations to evil.  First, the physical darkness when from which evil minds try to benefit by carrying out crimes such as robbery, murder and ambush.  It's not darkness itself which brings such evil, but it's the people who use it to their advantage by doing evil things.  Secondly, "darkness" can also refer to the evil of human ignorance or ignorant minds. 

Verse 113:4
"And from the evil of malignant witchcraft,"
Again the reference is very clear.  It is the practice of witchcraft that's an evil.  Misguided minds (or evil minds) practice witchcraft with the intent to hurt others.  They think that witchcraft has the power to do that.  But because of their misguidance, they totally forget that Allah is the All-Powerful.  If He wants to protect someone, nothing can hurt that person.

Verse 113:5
"And from the evil of the envier when he envieth."
This verse is the clearest.  Envy is definitely the worst characteristic that can inhabit a person's heart which takes them away from righteousness straight onto the path of evil.  If envious people want, they can change themselves by making efforts to acquire guidance and love instead of envy.  Thus, being envious is a jealous person's own choice and they are responsible for this evil trait of their character. 

[N. Truth Seeker]

btw - sister zeynab, your response to sistr heba's question was very well stated.  

salam and peace

[Zainab_M]

Thanks br. ts.  Also your indepth explanation of the original post with reference to Surah Al-Falaq is superb.  I enjoyed reading every bit of that enlightened piece.  Thanks again brother.  Salaam Alaikum and peace.