The Problem of Evil in Ibn-i Sina and Said Nursî

Year 2020, Issue: 10, 5 - 18, 31.12.2020

Bünyamin Duran

Abstract

In this study I will try to show the close philosophical and theological relationship between Said Nursî and Ibn Sina in the problem of evil. Nursî has been affected very deeply from the Ibn Sinaen theories and concepts. In his studies Nursî implemented many categories and concepts to explain and demonstrate theological and philosophical subjects which were under attack of modern materialistic and atheistic philosophy. The degree and scale of effecting is very evident, especially in the problem of evil and its reconciliation with God’s wisdom. In this field one can treat Nursî as a pioneer figure in the transforming the Ibn Sinaen theory of evil into Sunni theology in the twentieth century. To see Nursî as a pure transformer, of course, leads us to a misunderstanding, Nursî has, at the same time very new ideas, analogies and argumentations in this topic. Ibn Sina’s theory of evil however continued in Shiite world through theologians, like Tûsî and Mulla Sadra, Sunni scholars didn’t interest mostly with this system. In this study I will show the similarities and differences between Ibn Sinaen and Nursîen notion of evil and its reconciliation with God’s wisdom.

Keywords

Evil, Ibn Sina, Nursi, Wisdom

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