Answer: All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon His Messenger ﷺ.
One of the important questions discussed in matters of Aqeedah is what is known as Mushkilat ash-Sharr, or the problem of evil.
Why does evil exist if Allah is the Creator of everything?
Allah says in Surah al-Falaq:
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
"From the evil of that which He created." [Surah al-Falaq 113:2]
Yet the Prophet ﷺ said in one of his supplications:
وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ
"And evil is not attributed to You." [Sahih Muslim 771a]
How do we reconcile these two statements? If Allah created everything, including that which is evil, what does it mean when the Prophet ﷺ says that evil is not attributed to Him?
Allah Is the Creator of Everything
There is no doubt that Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the Creator of everything.
Allah says:
اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
"Allah is the Creator of all things." [Surah az-Zumar 39:62]
Every object and every action that exists in this universe has been created by Allah, whether it is good or evil.
This is a fundamental belief of Ahlus-Sunnah. Nothing exists independently of Allah's creation.
To claim that certain evil things were not created by Allah would imply that there is another independent creator responsible for them. This resembles the dualistic beliefs of the Magians, who believed in opposing powers associated with light and darkness.
Such a belief contradicts the fundamental principle that Allah alone is the Creator of everything.
The Shekh explains that knowingly denying this principle carries an implication of disbelief. However, some people may make incorrect statements without understanding their implications, believing that they are defending Allah from something unworthy of Him.
The reality remains that Allah is the Creator of everything.
Why Is Evil Not Attributed to Allah?
If Allah created everything, why did the Prophet ﷺ say:
وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ
"And evil is not attributed to You."
The meaning is not that evil exists outside Allah's creation.
Rather, it is that we do not describe Allah by attributing evil to Him in isolation. For example, we would not call upon Allah by saying, “O Creator of evil.”
Why?
There are two important reasons:
- It is contrary to proper manners when speaking about Allah.
- It does not present the complete picture of His creation and wisdom.
Allah does not create evil simply for the sake of creating evil.
Everything Allah creates has a purpose and a wisdom behind it, even when we do not understand that wisdom.
Therefore, merely describing Allah as the Creator of evil, without explaining the wisdom behind His creation, gives an incomplete and misleading understanding of the matter.
Allah's creation of something containing evil does not mean that He creates it for an evil purpose.
The Wisdom Behind the Creation of Iblis
Consider the creation of Iblis.
Did Allah create Iblis simply because there needed to be something evil in the world to balance the good?
Certainly not.
Allah created Iblis for tremendous wisdom, much of which may be beyond our understanding.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله discussed numerous wisdoms and benefits behind the creation of Iblis and the removal of Adam عليه السلام from Paradise.
Although Iblis is a source of an enormous amount of evil through his calls towards disobedience, his existence also provides opportunities for many forms of good.
Among these wisdoms are:
- Distinguishing between good and evil: Through the existence of evil, people come to recognise good and evil and the distinction between them.
- Supporting and defending what is good: People are given opportunities to stand for the truth and support righteousness.
- Opposing evil: The existence of evil provides opportunities to resist wrongdoing and oppose those who call towards it.
- Commanding good and forbidding evil: People can fulfil the obligation of encouraging righteousness and preventing wrongdoing.
- Sacrifice in defence of the truth: Some people attain martyrdom while defending what is right, while others become deserving of punishment through their defence of evil.
These are among the many wisdoms that Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned.
Thus, although Iblis is responsible for encouraging a tremendous amount of evil, his creation is not without purpose.
The same principle applies to everything Allah creates. There is wisdom behind it, whether that wisdom is apparent to us or remains hidden.
Why Does Allah Tell Us to Seek Refuge From Evil?
In Surah al-Falaq, Allah commands us to say:
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
"Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak.'" [Surah al-Falaq 113:1]
Then:
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
"From the evil of that which He created." [Surah al-Falaq 113:2]
There is an important benefit in the way Allah mentions evil here.
If Allah is the Creator of everything, including that which contains evil, then who is able to protect us from it?
It is Allah Himself.
The Lord of the daybreak is the One who can protect us from every evil because He is the One who created everything in the first place.
The verse therefore directs the servant to seek protection from Allah alone.
Instead of treating the existence of evil as a reason to turn away from Allah, we should recognise our need for Him and turn towards Him for protection.
This World Was Never Meant to Be Paradise
An important part of understanding the existence of evil is recognising the purpose of this worldly life.
Many objections to the existence of evil arise from an assumption that this world should be a place of complete happiness, comfort and freedom from suffering.
But Allah did not create this world to be Paradise.
If this world had been created as a place of perfect enjoyment, only for Iblis and all forms of evil to exist within it, that would raise a very different question.
However, Allah created this world as a place of testing and trial.
When this purpose is understood, the existence of evil does not contradict Allah's perfection.
Rather, it demonstrates His wisdom, power and control over His creation. It also makes us recognise our dependence upon Him and our need to turn towards Him.
Allah says:
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
He is the One Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. [Surah al-Mulk 67:2]
This life is a test.
Allah gives people happiness and hardship, ease and difficulty, blessings and challenges.
We experience a mixture of circumstances because this world is not our final destination.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ
"This world is a prison for the believer and a Paradise for the disbeliever." [Sahih Muslim 2956]
A believer should therefore not expect this world to provide uninterrupted pleasure and enjoyment.
If a person lives as though this worldly life is their ultimate goal, they will inevitably be disappointed.
This world was not created to be the final place of reward. It was created as a place of tests and trials, while the final recompense comes in the Hereafter.
What About Suffering and Injustice in This World?
People frequently raise emotional objections to the existence of evil.
For example, someone might ask:
How could Allah decree that a child should die?
The Shaykh explains that such questions are often presented through emotional responses rather than a complete understanding of Allah's wisdom and the purpose of creation.
He draws attention to the fact that people may raise such objections while overlooking matters that are even more serious in the sight of Allah, such as Shirk, associating partners with Him.
Why do people not raise the same objection about Allah decreeing the occurrence of Shirk, when Shirk is among the gravest wrongs?
This illustrates that people's emotional responses do not necessarily determine the true seriousness of something in the sight of Allah.
The issue must be considered in light of the purpose for which Allah created this world and the reality of the Hereafter.
Allah created this life as a test, and every individual will receive their recompense with perfect justice in the Hereafter.
The suffering and wrongdoing that occur in this world do not mean that Allah's justice is absent.
Nor does the fact that something happens by His decree mean that it happens without wisdom or purpose.
Evil is not random, and it does not exist without a reason.
Even when we cannot see the wisdom behind a particular event, that does not mean the wisdom is absent.
Much of the Evil in the World Comes From Human Actions
Another important part of understanding evil is recognising how much of it comes from human beings themselves.
Consider the killing, oppression, attacks, abuse and other forms of wrongdoing that occur throughout the world.
How much of this evil is the result of what people do to one another?
Although all of these events occur within the decree of Allah, human beings remain responsible for their choices and actions.
Allah says:
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people's hands have earned, so that He may let them taste some of what they have done, that perhaps they will return. [Surah ar-Rum 30:41]
This verse explains that corruption appears because of what people themselves have earned.
The consequences of their actions may also serve as a reminder, causing them to recognise their wrongdoing and return to Allah.
How many people turn back to Allah after witnessing the consequences of evil?
And how many people become deserving of punishment because of the corruption they commit with their own hands?
The existence of evil should therefore also make us reflect upon our own actions and the responsibility we bear for our choices.
The fact that something occurs within Allah's decree does not remove human accountability.
Why Has This Happened to Me?
Another common question people ask when facing hardship is:
Why me? Why has this happened to me?
To understand this question correctly, a person must recognise their relationship with Allah.
You are an ʿAbd (servant) of Allah.
You belong to Him.
Allah is your Lord, and you are His servant.
As the line of poetry mentioned by the Sheikh states:
رَبٌّ وَعَبْدٌ كَيْفَ يَشْتَبِهَانِ
“The Lord and His servant - how can they resemble one another?”
The relationship between the Creator and His creation is not one of equality.
Everything belongs to Allah, and He has complete authority over His creation.
A servant must recognise that Allah has the right to decree whatever He wills.
The Shaykh emphasises the absolute nature of Allah's authority, even when discussing the possibility of punishment. However, he immediately clarifies that Allah will never treat anyone unjustly.
Allah possesses perfect justice, perfect wisdom and perfect knowledge.
He does not punish His servants unjustly. Rather, punishment is in accordance with what they have earned through their own actions.
Understanding our servitude to Allah requires recognising both His complete authority over us and His perfect justice.
When a believer understands this reality, they approach the hardships of life with submission to Allah rather than questioning His right to decree what He wills.
Practical Guidance and Conclusion
The so-called problem of evil becomes clearer when we understand the teachings of the Qur'an together, rather than considering individual events in isolation.
The important principles to remember are:
- Allah is the Creator of everything. Nothing exists outside His creation or decree, whether good or evil.
- Evil is not attributed to Allah in isolation. His creation is never without wisdom, even when that wisdom is hidden from us.
- Allah does not create evil merely for the sake of evil. There are purposes and wisdoms behind what He creates.
- This worldly life is a test, not Paradise. Hardship, suffering and difficulty are part of the nature of this life.
- Allah is perfectly just. Every individual will receive their recompense in the Hereafter, and Allah does not wrong His servants.
- Human beings are accountable for their actions. Much of the corruption in the world is the consequence of what people themselves have done.
- Our duty is to turn towards Allah. We seek His protection from evil, recognise our dependence upon Him and submit to His wisdom.
The difficulty often arises when a person looks at the existence of evil through their immediate emotions, without considering the complete teachings of the Qur'an, the purpose of this life and the reality of the Hereafter.
A believer recognises that Allah is the Creator of everything, that His wisdom is perfect and that this world was never intended to be free from tests and trials.
Rather than allowing the existence of evil to distance us from Allah, it should make us recognise our need for Him, seek His protection and return to Him.
May Allah grant us a sound understanding of His wisdom and decree, strengthen our certainty in Him and make us among those who turn towards Him in every circumstance.
And Allah is the One Whose help is sought.
— Answered by Sheikh Muhammad Tim Humble
