problem of evil as a case study on the distinction between muslim theology & neoplatonism

Within islamic thought, the interface between theology and philosophy has been both rigorously as well as passionately debated. the nature of this interface is contested with varied conceptions of both theology and philosophy. this proposed paper aims to delve into the problem of evil to showcase as to how certain fundamental differences emerge between muslim theology (in general though in particular restricted here to sunni ash’ari tradition) and the muslim philosophers (particularly the neoplatonist figures). central to this debate, this paper hopes to argue, is the priority ascribed to either the nature of god or the freedom of god by either of the camps. muslim neoplatonist philosophers place the priority on the nature of god such that the “creation” is not understood as a teleological act of freedom in which case the central hermeneutic for the problem of evil becomes a soul-making process for a certain teleological end, as held by theologians; rather, the present existence is seen as a “logical” emanation of god’s nature and thus the recognition of this truth i.e. liberation or enlightenment attains central importance vis à vis the problem of evil. god’s nature as infinite (all possibilities) is prioritized by neoplatonists such that the disequilibrium of creation marred by evil & suffering, becomes a logical necessity; the recognition of this truth, consequently, attains central importance. moreover, the fact that humans are able to know this truth shows the continuity between divine intellect and human intellect – another feature of neoplatonism. theology, in contrast, posits a radical rupture or discontinuity between the divine & the creation, a result of complete divine freedom & thus ultimately a belief in god s (hidden) doings becomes a possible response to the problem of evil. therefore, the problem of evil as an axis throws in relief two ways of approaching it: one approach tries to solve it via theodicies and the other tries to dis-solve it through metaphysical truth such that on the one side we have divine freedom, creation ex nihilo & theological truth and on the other side we have divine nature, emanation, logic & metaphysical truth.