Classes on Theology

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

2. 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 – ShahidMurtadhaMutahhari • Theological Instructions – Ayatullah Muhammad TaqiMisbahYazdi • MuhadharatfilIlahiyat– AyatullahJa’farSubhani

3. 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!

4. 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: • لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ • To Him belongs all sovereignty and to Him belongs all praise (At-Taghabun 64:1) • وَ لِلَّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ الْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ • To Allah belongs the unseen of the heavens and earth; and to Him all matters are returned (Hood 11:123)

5. Justice of God • The Qur’an explains what is Divine Justice: • Divine Justice in its sociological sense is the purpose and goal of Prophethood • لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَ أَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَ الْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ • 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 • وَ نَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَمَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيًْا وَ إِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَ كَفَى‏ بِنَا حَاسِبِينَ • 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)

6. 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: • فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَ لَكِن كاَنُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ • 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: • شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَاهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَ الْمَلَئكَةُ وَ أُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ قَائمَا بِالْقِسْطِ • 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)

7. 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

8. 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 • وَ السَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَ وَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ • 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. Questions?