Originally posted by siam
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Interesting questions----appreciate it.
In the name of God, most compassionate, most merciful----This phrase is repeated in the Quran many times, and also used by Muslims in everyday life. This aspect/attribute of God permeates all aspects of life and is self-evident/observable. Our life and its sustenance come from God regardless of how good or bad we are. This is "grace"(unmerited mercy)--God's mercy and compassion are explained by the Prophet (pbuh) in this way---
(ahadith)
Salman al-Farisi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth, He created one hundred parts of mercy. Each part can fill what is between the heavens and the earth. He made one part of mercy for the earth, from which a mother has compassion for her child, animals and birds have compassion for each other. On the Day of Resurrection, He will perfect this mercy.”
...Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says: “When Allah created the creatures, He wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: ‘Verily, My Mercy prevailed over My Wrath.’”
...
Prophet Muhammad says: “Allah created mercy in one hundred parts and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts, and He has sent down upon the earth one part, and it is because of this one part that there is mutual love among the creation so much so that the animal lifts up its hoof from its young one, fearing that it might harm it.” So we must be merciful, remember this Name of God and contemplate more to realize the consequences of It.
https://explore-islam.com/the-99-nam...rely-merciful/
Therefore, compassion and mercy are a natural part of Justice. Islamic concepts often come in groups of 3 (which is ironic---God is one, but Islamic ethico-moral principles can be expressed in "trinities") This is because Balance (Qadr) is an underlying idea on which these principles rest. (Balance leads to Peace---and the purpose of Islam is to lead to peace). Therefore, the starting point or anchor of all principles begins with Tawheed (Unity) which is needed to balance 2 concepts (Justice and Compassion/Mercy). It is through the concept of Tawheed (Unity) that the idea of Equality--(all humanity is of equivalent value)--is understood. (note:--Equality does not mean "same"). Humanity is entitled to Justice and Humanity is entitled to compassion/mercy. However, as you have noted---compassion and mercy without Justice becomes unfair/imbalanced and Justice without compassion and mercy becomes harsh/imbalanced. Both justice and mercy must balance each other if they are to lead to Peace.
Unconditional Mercy without Justice --is problematic...in the context of human Justice (Justice = recompense for the harm done so as to repair the relationship in order to advance peace) The reason for this is because all humanity is Equal. This equality is balanced by rights vs obligations. The obligation to repent rests with the perpetrator (one who caused injury) ---the right to give mercy or require recompense rests with victim/or family (one who received injury). Repentance is a path to " righting the wrong". Why? --because Sincere repentance is the consequence of humility---an attitude/self-reflection required to self-criticize and admit mistakes. Forgiveness is/can be a consequence of sincere repentance. (However, the right to forgive belongs to the injured party). The goal of punishment is not about creating more harm/injury---it is about rights and obligations. When an injured party demands recompense-----the one who caused the injury is obliged to endure those demands/burdens because the goal/purpose of Justice is not punishment--but Peace. In the case of the perpetrator not being repentant---the party that received harm/injury retains the right to forgive or demand recompense. In this case, the demand for recompense may encourage the perpetrator towards repentance---or perhaps forgiveness might be the catalyst towards repentance...In either case, the victims/or family have no obligation to reform the perpetrator. The victims/or family have a right to Justice....both in this life and in Divine Judgement.
Divine Justice is different from Justice between humans.----Divine Justice is NOT between equals. God is all powerful. Humans are powerless. All rights belong to God---God can judge humans but humans have no right to judge other humans (or God). It is in this context that God has taken upon himself the attributes of Compassion and Mercy so that the scales of Divine Justice weigh more towards Mercy rather than punishment. Therefore all humanity is given the time (our life-span) to repent and ask forgiveness. (Grace/unmerited mercy) The sincerity of our repentance is something only God can Judge. At the end of our life-time, We exhaust our opportunity for repentance.
A murderer/killer repents and asks for forgiveness from the victims family--the family refuses and demands recompense---as is their right---the perpetrator has an obligation to endure those demands. However, as I explained previously---the injury is not just to the human victims/family---In Islam, moral injury also inflicts harm on the human soul and is also a breach of contract (with God) of the duty/obligation of the Trust/Trusteeship placed on humanity. Divine Justice might take all these factors into consideration (it is not for humans to decide---this right belongs to God alone.) Divine Justice is much more encompassing and expansive than Human Justice. The limitations of human justice make it an unfit model for understanding Divine Justice. However, Divine Justice will be fair---this is a mercy and grace promised by God to humanity.
In the name of God, most compassionate, most merciful----This phrase is repeated in the Quran many times, and also used by Muslims in everyday life. This aspect/attribute of God permeates all aspects of life and is self-evident/observable. Our life and its sustenance come from God regardless of how good or bad we are. This is "grace"(unmerited mercy)--God's mercy and compassion are explained by the Prophet (pbuh) in this way---
(ahadith)
Salman al-Farisi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth, He created one hundred parts of mercy. Each part can fill what is between the heavens and the earth. He made one part of mercy for the earth, from which a mother has compassion for her child, animals and birds have compassion for each other. On the Day of Resurrection, He will perfect this mercy.”
...Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says: “When Allah created the creatures, He wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: ‘Verily, My Mercy prevailed over My Wrath.’”
...
Prophet Muhammad says: “Allah created mercy in one hundred parts and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts, and He has sent down upon the earth one part, and it is because of this one part that there is mutual love among the creation so much so that the animal lifts up its hoof from its young one, fearing that it might harm it.” So we must be merciful, remember this Name of God and contemplate more to realize the consequences of It.
https://explore-islam.com/the-99-nam...rely-merciful/
Therefore, compassion and mercy are a natural part of Justice. Islamic concepts often come in groups of 3 (which is ironic---God is one, but Islamic ethico-moral principles can be expressed in "trinities") This is because Balance (Qadr) is an underlying idea on which these principles rest. (Balance leads to Peace---and the purpose of Islam is to lead to peace). Therefore, the starting point or anchor of all principles begins with Tawheed (Unity) which is needed to balance 2 concepts (Justice and Compassion/Mercy). It is through the concept of Tawheed (Unity) that the idea of Equality--(all humanity is of equivalent value)--is understood. (note:--Equality does not mean "same"). Humanity is entitled to Justice and Humanity is entitled to compassion/mercy. However, as you have noted---compassion and mercy without Justice becomes unfair/imbalanced and Justice without compassion and mercy becomes harsh/imbalanced. Both justice and mercy must balance each other if they are to lead to Peace.
Unconditional Mercy without Justice --is problematic...in the context of human Justice (Justice = recompense for the harm done so as to repair the relationship in order to advance peace) The reason for this is because all humanity is Equal. This equality is balanced by rights vs obligations. The obligation to repent rests with the perpetrator (one who caused injury) ---the right to give mercy or require recompense rests with victim/or family (one who received injury). Repentance is a path to " righting the wrong". Why? --because Sincere repentance is the consequence of humility---an attitude/self-reflection required to self-criticize and admit mistakes. Forgiveness is/can be a consequence of sincere repentance. (However, the right to forgive belongs to the injured party). The goal of punishment is not about creating more harm/injury---it is about rights and obligations. When an injured party demands recompense-----the one who caused the injury is obliged to endure those demands/burdens because the goal/purpose of Justice is not punishment--but Peace. In the case of the perpetrator not being repentant---the party that received harm/injury retains the right to forgive or demand recompense. In this case, the demand for recompense may encourage the perpetrator towards repentance---or perhaps forgiveness might be the catalyst towards repentance...In either case, the victims/or family have no obligation to reform the perpetrator. The victims/or family have a right to Justice....both in this life and in Divine Judgement.
Divine Justice is different from Justice between humans.----Divine Justice is NOT between equals. God is all powerful. Humans are powerless. All rights belong to God---God can judge humans but humans have no right to judge other humans (or God). It is in this context that God has taken upon himself the attributes of Compassion and Mercy so that the scales of Divine Justice weigh more towards Mercy rather than punishment. Therefore all humanity is given the time (our life-span) to repent and ask forgiveness. (Grace/unmerited mercy) The sincerity of our repentance is something only God can Judge. At the end of our life-time, We exhaust our opportunity for repentance.
A murderer/killer repents and asks for forgiveness from the victims family--the family refuses and demands recompense---as is their right---the perpetrator has an obligation to endure those demands. However, as I explained previously---the injury is not just to the human victims/family---In Islam, moral injury also inflicts harm on the human soul and is also a breach of contract (with God) of the duty/obligation of the Trust/Trusteeship placed on humanity. Divine Justice might take all these factors into consideration (it is not for humans to decide---this right belongs to God alone.) Divine Justice is much more encompassing and expansive than Human Justice. The limitations of human justice make it an unfit model for understanding Divine Justice. However, Divine Justice will be fair---this is a mercy and grace promised by God to humanity.
Where does the weighing of deeds come into the picture if Allah forgives any who ask?
Let's imaging you are standing before Allah at the Judgement. You have done more evil than good in your life. But you asked God to forgive you. Are your deeds still weighed in the Judgment?
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