Marife Turkish Journal of Religious Studies

Abstract

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. ’