By M.S. Alaoui
And What Lies Between
“Evil came first. The world was already corrupt when God spoke of placing a khalīfah. Good was the divine response, not the starting point.”
Contrary to common religious doctrine, this chapter begins with a shocking truth hidden in plain sight: that evil preceded good in the Quranic worldview. The angels’ question in 2:30 reveals a world already tainted by corruption and bloodshed — before the creation of Al-Insān. This insight reframes the role of Iblis, not as a villainous figure, but as part of a metaphysical design — a necessary antagonist in the human journey toward spiritual maturity.
The soul of man is a battlefield. Within each Insān lives a dual Nafs — one that commands evil (*nafs ammārah*) and one that reproaches and reflects (*nafs lawwāmah*). This internal conflict is not a flaw but a design — the very structure that allows for growth, repentance, and ascension. Drawing from Quranic psychology and metaphysical logic, this chapter shows that evil is not the opposite of good — it is the condition through which good is chosen and realized.
وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي ۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ
“And I do not acquit my own soul, for the soul is indeed a persistent enjoiner of evil.” (Quran 12:53)
The full chapter explores the roots of evil, the cosmic role of Iblis, and the structure of the human psyche — revealing that the path to light passes through darkness. This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding divine justice and the cycle of spiritual refinement explored in later chapters.
Buy on Amazon