R.S Islam Good and Evil

R.S Islam Good and Evil

1. Muslim Teaching

   • Everyone is born with a natural instinct to understand the difference between right and wrong (fitrah)
   • We have free will, and must choose between right (the guidance of Allah) and wrong (following the temptations of Shaytan, the devil).

2. Angles and Jinn

   • Allah created angels (mala’ikah) from divine light (nur).
   • Jinn are made from fire
   • Allah made the first human, Adam, from clay. Allah ordered all the angels and Jinn to bow down to Adam. Iblis, one of the Jinn, refused.
   • Iblis (Shaytan), said that he would try to tempt humans to sin.
     • Although Iblis is allowed to test a Muslim’s faith he is not equal to Allah and cannot hurt people unless Allah allows him to:
       • "Shaytan cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits"

3. Life is a test

   • Allah will forgive anyone who repents,
     • forgave Adam and Hawwa when they were tempted by Shaytan and ate the forbidden fruit
       • fitr
   • turn away from the ignorant. Surah 7:199
   • whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Surah 2:38

4. Suffering and evil

   • natural evil - suffering caused by events that have nothing to do with humans, eg, natural disasters
   • moral (or human) evil - suffering caused by humans acting in a way that is considered morally wrong e.g.,murder
   • 'evil' is a cause of suffering; 'suffering' is a result of evil.