[cloudmountain]

I wonder what God's plan was/is in allowing Islam to even exist. He IS the Master Planner of the universe, so it WAS His will.

Well, I'm not second-guessing Our Lord, just musing.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thwere's a difference between God's ordaining will and God;s permissive will.

His ordaining will produces nothing but Good.

The paradox is that free will in his rational creatures is a Good, but can be used for evil. The evil is something God permits, because of the greater good: free men, even flawed, are better than flawless robots.

God's permissive will is exercised because he can bring about good way, way beyond the evil that men and demons intend. In the end this will be manifested: "you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good." (Gen. 50:20)