Way of The Seekers — Page 35
35 THE The question maybe asked: If man is so capable of counter- acting evil, why is there so much evil in the world? Or, why is there more evil than good in the world? I answered this question before on another occasion. But during the last few days, about half a dozen different people from different places have put this question to me again. It is quite strange that the same question should be raised by so many people at once and the same time. But let me proceed to answer the question. The question is: Can we say that natural man is good? We must remember that God has endowed man with all sorts of capabilities and has also endowed him with the freedom and the discretion to use them in a good or bad way. The parting of the ways is shown to him and then he is left free to act. Says the Holy Quran: We have shown him the Way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful. (75:4) More Good or Evil The fact is that owing mainly to errors of observation, it is often forgotten that the world is more good than evil. Take a thief. True, he commits theft. But against each theft, he does so many things which are good. Perhaps he meets people in a pleasant manner. He is generous and charitable. He serves his parents, and takes good care of them. If you count up in this way, you will find the good in each person preponderating over evil. So also men taken individually do more good things than evil. The quantum of good or evil in the world would certainly give good an edge over evil. Possibly more than an edge. why do people generally think the number of evil actions to be greater? This wrong impression is the product of two circumstances. One is the too patent a fact that in terms of for- mal, professed belief and unbelief, certainly unbelievers would