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Now, a doubt comes to mind: Scorpions and snakes are poisonous- is this good or evil, for they have a positive existence? Yes, it is true that scorpions and snakes are evil, but only in relation to us and not to themselves, for their venom is their weapon and their sting their means of defence. But as the constituent elements of their venom are incompatible with those of our bodies- that is, as these constituent elements are mutually opposed- the venom is evil, or rather, those elements are evil in relation to each other, while in their own reality they are both good (74:5) To summarize, one thing may be evil in relation to another but not evil within the limits of its own being. It follows therefore that there is no evil in existence: Whatsoever God has created, He has created good. Evil consists merely in non-existence. For example, death is the absence of life: When man is no longer sustained by the power of life, he dies. Darkness is the absence of light: When light is no more, darkness reigns. Light is a positively existing thing, but darkness has no positive existence; it is merely its absence. Likewise, wealth is a positively existing thing but poverty is merely its absence (74:6) It is thus evident that all evil is mere non-existence. Good has a positive existence; evil is merely its absence
(74:7)
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