The Purpose of Satan’s Creation

Not only does the creation of Satan have a purpose, but all of the other things around us have a purpose. The Heaven, the earth and all between were created for a reason (Qur’an 38:27). There is no creation without purpose. Thus, there must be many reasons behind of the creation of Satan.

Said Nursi talks of these purposes:

“The creation of evil is not ugly and evil; the commitment of evil is ugly and evil. Creation and invention can be evaluated as to their outcome. Since the commitment of an act is a particular instance, the particular outcome needs evaluation. For example, there are a thousand outcomes of rain and they are all good. If some people are harmed because they misuse their will, they cannot say ‘there is no grace in rain’ or ‘the existence of rain is evil.’ Perhaps rain has become evil for the person who utters these words, due to their negligence or mistake. Likewise, the creation of fire is beneficial. However, if some people are harmed because they abuse fire, they cannot say, ‘the creation of fire is evil’; fire was not created for only that person’s use. Maybe that particular person put his hands in the fire that cooked his food and was harmed by that which was created as beneficial.

“Therefore, the creation of evil, of harmful things, and of the devils in the universe is not evil or ugly; these things serve very important purposes. For example, as the devils do not tempt the angels, the angels cannot achieve a higher status. Their ranks cannot change. The same is true for animals. In the world of mankind, promotions and demotions are limitless. All the prophets and saints are examples of promotion and elevation, while all the Nimrods and pharaohs are examples of decline and demotion.”[2]

Thus, the creation of evil and evil ones is not evil or ugly, but committing evil deeds is evil and ugly. The existence of Satan and his abettors is not bad and evil; what is evil is becoming their plaything and becoming satanic.

Having become the archenemy of Adam and his descendants, Satan swore that he would mislead them (Qur’an 7:11-17, 15:40). He was from this point on the eternal enemy of human beings, struggling to deprive them of everything and to cause them all kinds of trouble. A person who has to fight such a fierce enemy must always be on the alert and make use of his/her faculties effectively in order to live according to the purpose of creation. Thus, due to the existence of Satan, people must live a more careful and heedful life.[3]

In short, people have the potential power, talent, and ability to perform either good or bad actions when they are born into this world as a “potential human being” (i.e. one who will become truly human by fulfilling their duty to the Lord). One’s choice of transformation from potential human to fulfilled human depends on the use of one’s innate power, talent, and ability, according to God’s will. Satan tries to lead such a person from the correct path. While a person’s good deeds form a part of their promotion to fulfilled human, their resistance to Satan’s promptings to carry out evil deeds, which thus reinforces the will, forms the other. People grow through this struggle, their talents develop, their senses are purified, their tendencies toward evil diminish, while those for good increase. Thus, a person ascends to the rank of “the highest of creatures,” a rank reserved solely for humans in the hierarchy of existence. Therefore, people should oppose Satan both in belief and in deed, and follow God, not Satan in all acts. In this way, a person can achieve the highest rank of humanity through the struggle with this archenemy.

[2] Nursi, The Letters, The Twelfth Letter.

[3] Gülen, Essentials of the Islamic Faith, 88.