A Comparative Look at the Problem of Evil in the Specificity of Ibn Arabi and Rumi

Abstract

The question of the origin of good and evil has been a recurring debate throughout the history of thought. In Abrahamic religions, good is always associated with God, while evil is not associated with God. So while good is recognized by consensus, evil becomes a problem. The concepts of good and evil, which are central to the philosophy of religion, have been debated throughout history, regardless of whether one believes in God or not, and they continue to be debated.The aim of our literature review is to examine how evil, which has been debated in various fields and has become a philosophical problem, is viewed from a comparative perspective by two key figures in Sufism: Ibn al-Arabi and Rumi. The study consists of an introduction and three main sections. The introduction gives a general overview of the concepts of good and evil and the problem of evil.The first section presents Ibn al-Arabi's views, while the second section focuses on Rumi’s perspectives. The final section concludes the discussion and locates the problem of evil in the realm of Sufism on the basis of these perspectives. This study can be seen as an attempt to evaluate the views of two important figures who have profoundly shaped Sufism on a topic that is highly debated in the field.  Indeed, the subjects these scholars addressed as the leading intellectuals of their time remain relevant today, providing us with foundational insights through the branches of the tree of truth that extend to our era.