The Ontology of Evil: A Cross-Religious Analysis of the Nature of Iblis and Satan in Islamic and Western Traditions

The concept of ultimate evil, personified as Iblis in Islam and Satan in Judeo-Christian traditions, presents a profound theological and ontological challenge. This paper provides a cross-religious analysis of the nature, origin, and agency of these figures. While Western perspectives often oscillate between literal personification and psychological symbolism-influenced by Miltonic and Romantic literature-the Islamic framework, grounded in the Qur'anic narrative, maintains a distinct ontological position regarding Iblis as a being of free will (Jinn) rather than a fallen angel. By examining the works of classical theologians alongside modern philosophical inquiries into the "Problem of Evil," this study explores how these divergent interpretations shape moral agency and human responsibility. The research concludes that the Islamic narrative offers a unique synthesis of divine sovereignty and creaturely accountability, providing a stable metaphysical anchor for understanding the existence of evil in a divinely ordered universe.