OPINIONS OF THE MUSLIM THEOLOGIANS ABOUT "THE PROBLEM OF NATURAL EVIL" AND EVALUATIONS OF THESE OPINIONS

This study deals first with the opinions of the Muslims theologians about "the problem of natural evil" and then with the evaluations of these opinions. The classical theologians almost unanimously agree that natural pain or suffering is the action of God. However, they have different opinions in solving the problem. According to Mu'tazila, God creates natural calamities and sufferings not to punish people but to admonish them, which is to test them with hardships and thereby teach them a lesson. By doing so, they would be warned of a far greater calamity in the hereafter. Nevertheless, God will compensate for the sufferings of this world in the other world. Hence, pains are not evil in the sight of God; on the contrary, they serve for a good purpose and justice. In this subject, Mâturîdî's opinions come closer to those of Mutazila's. According to Ash'arites, however, God can do whatever He wills in His dominion. Consequently, whether it be for a punishment or for no reason, pain inflicted by God is good for Him. In our view, some of these opinions seem contradictory to human experience and they also cause further difficult problems with regard to the nature of divine justice, problems which are hard to resolve. In this case, one would have to reinterpret the theories of ‘warning and punishment. ’