God is not Unjust

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Conclusion:God never oppresses any one

The 11th verse mentions the word “Zallam” (a hyperbole which means he who oppresses the most or who is most unjust) and then says, “And your Lord is never unjust on His servants.” There is something before this in the Qura’n which says, “Every one is mortgaged to his deeds. If he does righteous deeds he will benefit but will be the loser if does evil. If people are afflicted by the results of their evil deeds then this is the ultimate end of those who sin because God is never unjust on anyone.

The refutation about God being the most unjust even when He is never unjust to anyone is a case point. Some say that it means that a little injustice will be deemed as a great one from Him who knows the ill effect of evil deeds, and is needless of them.(1)

Some say that the creations or the human are more and their deeds are many so if there is injustice done them it will be great one. Then there is the view that there is a perfect unified system in place even in the life of human beings and if there is injustice from God then it will go to the others die also and then will be termed as “Zalum”.

Then there is the fourth interpretation which is better than the rest and there are hints about even in the Hadiths from the infallible Imams. It says that the in the above verse the use of compulsion has been decried. It is said, “Shall we treat those who believe and do righteous deeds the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall we treat those who guard against evil the same as those who turn away from truth?” Those who have done good deeds have done so for their own benefit and He who does bad ones creates loss for himself. Every person is free in his choice of deeds. Had God forced His will upon the people then His accounting and punishment would be termed as injustice. Since God is not unjust so He never forces His subject to do wrong deeds and will never question them if He does.

There is a Hadith from Imam Abul Hasan Reza that says:

One companion asked, “Does God force His servants?” The Imam said, “No! He has given them the freedom and the respite to repent.” He asked, “Can give them the problem of “Takleef Mala Yataaq”?” The Imam answered, “How can God do such a thing when he declares that I am not unjust with my servants?”

We should also note that the believe in compulsion is “Takleef mala yataaq”

Because a help[less person does not have the power to give up a certain practice or deed when God has ordered them to give up sin. (2)

The word “Zallam” has been used five times in the Qura’n and four of them to denote the authority and freedom given to the human beings about their deeds. (3)

How can there be equality between the good and the bad? The twelfth and the final verse speak about Justice and equal distribution and refute injustice in very beautiful terms. “Shall we treat those who believe and do good deeds as we treat the mischief makers in this world? Shall we treat the pious the way we treat the wicked?” This is san exclamatory denial because such things are not possible for it is blatant injustice that the good and the bad the righteous and wicked should be considered equals. The just God does not do what they ascribe to Him. If it is like and God is the God of the universe while the humans are his servants then this verse will have no meaning.

The point to note is that the verse projects this for the conscience of man and it is exclaimed, “O you with a conscience! Is it possible that god will do such a deed?” This clearly refers to the end (Judgment Day) because if it was not so then both the good and the bad would be treated the same. It is quite possible that someone may not get justice in this world and this is not compatible with God’s justice. So there is the need for a Judgment Day so that complete justice can be instituted.

 


 

1.  Tafsir Majmaul Bayan vol. 9 page 180
2. Tafsir Nurus Saqlain vol.4 page 555 Hadith 71
3. The term “ Nor is you Lord ever unjust” is found in Al Imran 182, Fussilat 46, and Anfal 151

 

Conclusion:God never oppresses any one
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