E-grāmata: Islamic Theology and the Problem of Evil

"[ S]ure to be an invaluable resource for Muslim theologians, a rich repository of references for intellectual historians interested in the theme, and an accessible point of entry for those whose background is in philosophy or theology in another tradition, but who would like an orientation to Muslim resources on this topic. Chowdhury is to be commended for the experimental and synthetic nature of his approach."Journal of Islamic Studies

"A valuable resource for those interested in philosophy of religion, comparative theology, and Islam . . . Recommended."CHOICE

"Wading deep into various philosophical expla-nations and theological traditions, Chowdhury uses each framework to coolly examine the nature of evil via four specic categorieshuman dis-ability, animal suffering, evolutionary natural selection and hell. It is to his credit that he dissects both the narrow and far-reaching implications of each interpretation while staying focused on 'providing intellectual resources and not nished answers.' AramcoWorld

This fascinating work of constructive theology is a significant new contribution to reflection on the problem of evil. Writing from a contemporary Muslim perspective that draws on the rich resources of the Islamic tradition and recent analytical philosophy of religion, Chowdhury ventures fresh interventions on Gods purposes in human disability, animal suffering, evolutionary natural selection, and hell that seek to be both thoughtful and caring.Jon Hoover, University of Nottingham

"Safaruk Chowdhury has skillfully summoned a diverse range of sources in the Islamic intellectual tradition, producing a rigorous and systematic contribution, both to the contemporary discussion of the problem of evil carried out among contemporary analytic philosophers of religion and to the currently developing field of Islamic analytic theology.Edward R. Moad, Qatar University

"The question of why humans and non-human creation suffer is a troubling issue even for the most staunch and dedicated religious devotee. In this groundbreaking study, Safaruk Chowdhury has provided an articulate and fascinating exposition of how this question was tackled by the Islamic intellectual tradition through the lens of theodicy and employing contemporary analytical theology as his guiding method. Thus, it is a vital addition to the emergent literature on this underdiscussed and challenging topic."Gavin Picken, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar