Classes on Theology Sheikh Jaffer H Jaffer Masumeen

Classes on Theology Sheikh Jaffer H. Jaffer Masumeen Islamic Centre March 13 th, 2012 Week Six

Justice of God • We have now reached the second fundamental principle in our Theology: – The Justice of Allah SWT – ﻋﺪﻝ ﺍﻻﻫﻲ • Resources for this section: – Divine Justice – Shahid Murtadha Mutahhari – Theological Instructions – Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi – Muhadharat fil Ilahiyat – Ayatullah Ja’far Subhani

Justice of God • When we think of someone who: – Does not transgress the rights of others – Impartial in exercising his authority • We think of this person as being ‘just’ and consider it to be a certain type of perfection! • On the other hand, when we think of someone who: – Violates the rights of others – Is biased in his authority • We think of this person as being ‘unjust’ and consider it a defect!

Justice of God • Therefore, when we speak of justice and injustice – We are speaking of ownership and priority • Can this understanding of justice be applied to the relationship between the Creator and the Creation? – No, because He is the Absolute Owner: – ﺍ ﺍ • To Him belongs all sovereignty and to Him belongs all praise (At-Taghabun 64: 1) ﺍﻟ ﺍﺍ ﺍ ﺍ – To Allah belongs the unseen of the heavens and earth; and to Him all matters are returned (Hood 11: 123) •

Justice of God • The Qur’an explains what is Divine Justice: – Divine Justice in its sociological sense is the purpose and goal of Prophethood • ﺍ ﺍ ﻧﺍ ﺍﺍ ﺍﻳﺍ ﻭ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍ Certainly We sent Our apostles with manifest proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that mankind may maintain justice; (al-Hadeed 57: 25) • – Divine Justice in its philosophical sense is the purpose of the Day of Resurrection ىﺍ ﺍﻳ ﺍﺍ • ﺍﺍﻳ ﺍ ﺍ ﻥ ﺍ ﺍ We shall set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection, and no soul will be wronged in the least. Even if it be the weight of a mustard seed We shall produce it and We suffice as reckoners (al-Anbiya 21: 47) •

Justice of God • The Qur’an explains what is Divine Justice: – In many verses Allah SWT has been exonerated from all kinds of injustice and oppression: • ﺍ ﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻥ ﻛﻭ ﻧ ﻭ So it was not Allah who wronged them, but it was they who used to wrong themselves (at-Taubah 9: 70) • – In some verses it has explicitly affirmed His justice: • ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍﺋ ﻭ ﺍ ﺍﺋﺍ ﺍ Allah bears witness that there is no god except Him and] so do [the angels and those who possess knowledge maintainer of justice (Ale Imran 3: 18) •

Justice of God • Theologians have been divided in their understanding of this Divine Justice: – The Ash’arites reached the conclusion that justice is derived from the Divine act • Justice is what God does and whatever God does is just – The Mu’taziliites and the Shi’a reached the conclusion that ‘justice’ is an actual and concrete reality in the phenomena of existence • Since justice is essentially good and injustice is essentially evil – God can never forgo an act that the intellect knows to be good

Justice of God • What do we mean by Justice? – First: Balance • If we take a system into consideration which is composed of various parts and elements – Certain conditions must be fulfilled for the desired effect to be reached » In other words, things must have a balance • When we look at the world we live in, we find it is balanced and in equilibrium • ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍ ﺍﻳﺍ He raised the sky and set up the balance (Ar-Rahman 55: 7) • • ﺑﺎﻟﻌﺪﻝ ﻗﺎﻣﺖ ﺍﻟﺴﻤﺎﻭﺍﺕ ﻭ ﺍﻻﺭﺽ • The heavens and the earth are maintained with justice.

Justice of God • Second: Equality and Non-discrimination: – We sometimes call a person who is impartial and does not differentiate between people as just • Justice therefore refers to ‘Equality’ – Equality can be understood in two ways: • First: To put aside all merits and everyone should be looked at equally – This is in fact injustice and oppression – “Oppression given out equally to everyone is justice” • Second: Application of equality in cases of equal merit

Justice of God • Third: Rights – Giving to each thing its right – Every holder of rights must be given his/her rights • Injustice then becomes transgressing, withholding or oppressing – “Social Justice” – This does not apply to God as He is the Absolute possessor of Rights • Therefore, if God decides to dispose of something, He has total right to do so.

Justice of God • Fourth: Bestowal of Being on Merits – Every existent has certain merits and rights for itself (ontologically) • God, the absolute bestower of grace, gives to each thing its possible existence and perfection. – Justice: “every existent acquiring the degree of existence and perfection that it merits and which is possible for it” • If you have the capacity for it, He will give it to you – This is how the Divine Justice is understood

Questions?