The Dualism Dilemma: Ahriman’s Shadow in Islamic TheologyUnveiling the Zoroastrian Origins of Evil in Islam
Light and Shadow in the Spiritual World Zoroastrianism’s most defining theological feature is its cosmic dualism —a universe structured around the eternal opposition between Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord) and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman) , the spirit of destruction and deceit. This binary framework shaped Persian consciousness for centuries before Islam’s arrival.
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Light and Shadow in the Spiritual World Zoroastrianism’s most defining theological feature is its cosmic dualism —a universe structured around the eternal opposition between Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord) and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman) , the spirit of destruction and deceit. This binary framework shaped Persian consciousness for centuries before Islam’s arrival. Yet despite Islam’s strict monotheism ( tawhid ), echoes of Zoroastrian dualism reemerged in Islamic theology—particularly in the evolving concept of Shaytan (Satan) , the nature of evil, and the struggle for the human soul. This article explores how Islamic understandings of evil, free will, and divine justice subtly carry the imprint of Persian dualism, raising profound questions about the origins of darkness in a monotheistic universe. 1. Zoroastrian Dualism: Ahriman vs.