Amir Saemi, "Morality and Revelation in Islamic Thought and Beyond: A New Problem of Evil" (Oxford UP, 2024)

Apr 4, 2026

Amir Saemi, philosopher of Islamic thought and ethics and author of Morality and Revelation in Islamic Thought and Beyond, explores the clash between scripture and moral judgment. He outlines the “New Problem of Evil,” contrasts scripture‑first and ethics‑first approaches, and examines medieval debates, the Moses principle, and how scripture can serve moral development.

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ANECDOTE

How A Campus Debate Led To Saemi's Book

Amir Saemi recounts his path from Iran and electrical engineering to philosophy triggered by debates on modernity and religion.
A friend's conservative 'morally hidden facts' argument motivated Saemi's research on scripture versus moral judgment.

INSIGHT

The New Problem Of Evil Defined

The New Problem of Evil names the tension between divine scripture, seemingly divinely prescribed evils, and our reliable moral judgments.
Amir Saemi frames it as three claims: divinity of scripture, problematic scriptural passages, and trust in modern moral intuitions.

INSIGHT

Medieval Thinkers Were Scripture First

Major medieval Islamic schools (Ash'arites, Mu'tazilites, philosophers) all prioritize scripture over particular moral judgments despite differing on general ethical knowledge.
Saemi shows even philosophers and Mu'tazilites defer to prophetic directives when particular actions conflict with scripture.

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Amir Saemi’s exciting book Morality and Revelation in Islamic Thought and Beyond: A New Problem of Evil (Oxford UP, 2024) is a fascinating and deeply thought-provoking study that challenges how we think about scripture, morality, and divine authority. Saemi tackles what he calls the “New Problem of Evil,” a divinely prescribed problem of evil, which is the tension between the commands found in sacred texts, our own moral judgments, and the belief in a morally perfect God. Saemi demonstrates the limits of scripture-first approaches, which is to say that scripture is given precedence over our independent moral judgments in cases where the two conflict. He explores ethics-first solutions that allow the believer to take moral reasoning seriously, while also showing that scripture’s injunctions can be understood as legal or social mandates. By tracing the arguments of Ashʿarites, Mu’tazilites, and other medieval Islamic thinkers, and developing alternative solutions, Saemi offers a methodical and historically grounded framework for reconciling moral judgment with scriptural authority.

In our conversation, Amir and I explore how Islamic philosophers like al-Ghazālī, al-Rāzī, al-Fārābi, and others navigated the relationship between reason and revelation, and how we might approach morally troubling passages in scripture today, including through an ethics-first approach. We also discuss thick and thin moral concepts, the Moses Principle, and what it means to reconcile modern moral sensibilities with ancient texts. Amir shares insights on gendered morality, the ethical significance of the Abraham story, and the broader implications of his work for progressive Muslims and theists alike.

This book is essential reading for readers interested in the ethics of interpretation, the challenges faced by contemporary religious communities when re-interpreting historical texts, theists wrestling with moral dilemmas, and anyone interested in the intersection of philosophy, religion, and ethics.

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