The problem of evil according to Abu'l-Muîn an-Nasafi (Theodicy)

The most important representative of the Māturīdī school of theology, Abū al- Muʾīn al-Nesefī is a figure who came to the fore with his unique style and semantic interpretation, had a say in Māturīdī theology, and was influential in the Islamic thought system. One of Abū al-Muʾuʾn al-Nesefī's ideas that shed light on the present day is his views on the problem of evil. Al-Nasafī's views on the problem of evil are explained by utilizing Mu'tazilite, Ash'arite, and Māturīdī schools of theology. The Muʿtazilites, argue that evil can be known by reason in general terms and try to solve the problem of evil on the axis of divine justice and human beings being the creators of their own actions. Thus, they argue that evil cannot be attributed to God. The Ash'arites state that evil can be known through transmission and that earthquakes, animals that cause harm, in short, everything that is characterized as evil in the world does not have to be attributed to a wisdom. The Ash'arites do not accept the necessity of attribution to wisdom because it means placing limits on God's will. The Māturīdīs, on the other hand, follow a more moderate path and argue that evils can be known by both reason and knowledge. According to them, the intellect can know the acts that vary according to time and place. However, since the intellect cannot always know the details and complex aspects of the acts with accuracy, the precise information needed in this regard can only be reached through revelation. According to Ebu'l-Muîn en-Nasafī, God creates actions, but the will of the servant is not excluded. There are evil deeds along with good deeds. Allah creates evil as well as good. But all of this depends on a wisdom. With this approach, al-Nafsī emphasizes that the existing evils are due to a reason within the framework of wisdom and that human beings cannot always know them, and he argues that there is no contradiction between the creator and divine justice. One of the solutions that al-Nafsī proposes to reconcile the existence of evils and divine justice is the defense of free will. According to him, the servant wishes with the free will given to him by God, and God creates what the servant wishes. Therefore, according to al-Nafasī, the creation of evil is not evil, but the human will is characterized as evil. Key Words: Kalâm, Belief, Good-Evil, Theodicy, Mâtürîdîyya, Ebu'l-Muîn en- Nasafī.