Reconciling Faith and Sufferings: Insights from Sa‘id Ramadhan Al-Buti’s Theodicy

The concept of divine justice is a pivotal issue within the philosophy of religion, frequently raising questions about how a Just and Benevolent God can permit the existence of evil in human life. This paper explores Sheikh Sa‘id Ramadan al-Buti’s perspective on theodicy as articulated in his work Man and Allah’s Justice on Earth. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study applies content analysis through a deductive approach to thoroughly examine al-Buti’s conceptualization of divine justice. The analysis identifies two principal methods in al-Buti’s understanding of theodicy: first, the acknowledgment of human existence and the role of humans as servants of God, and second, the recognition that human life constitutes a minor segment of a more comprehensive divine narrative. The findings underscore that a proper understanding of these aspects of theodicy is essential for maintaining the integrity of one’s faith in the concepts of divine decree and predestination.