The issue of justice is so important that from ancient times the philosophers and the common men have favored and opposed it. The supporters of justice based their argument on the fact that this was a glorious attribute of God and God is the center of all glories so He will not be bereft of this too.
But some people when they saw the inequities of life, the problems and hardships and found them to against the principles of justice became opposed to it. This issue has been under discussion in the Muslim society in another style:
The Asharis is the sect that opposed it but not because they were opposed to justice. Their idea was that since God is the Lord of the universe there can be no scope of injustice with Him. Whatever He does will be justice itself even if he punishes the righteous and rewards the sinners.
He is the King so whatever He does is right.
This ideology has three causes:
They are stuck with the problem of compulsion and freedom of authority since the Asharis were great supporters of compulsion they believed that humans had to freedom about their deeds.
It is one of the declarations of Islam and the Qura’n that God will rewards the righteous and punishes the wrong doers. The Asharis face the question,
“If a person is helpless about his deeds whether intentional or unintentional then why should he be subjected to reward and punishment?” This does not suit God’s justice. Finding no explanation they decided to oppose justice itself.
The thought this denial of justice was a great sign of God’s oneness and decided that they will reach very close to God if they believed god to be above issues like justice and oppression.
Opposed to them are the Moatazallis they consider justice to be a basic tenet of religion. They believe both justice and injustice can be attributed to God but He certainly is never unjust for He adopts justice in the best form.
Shias who are the followers of the Ahlulbait are supporters of justice too and this is why Shias and Moatazallis are banded together as the “Adlia”
The Shia sect gave a great importance to justice and Imamat and included them as tenets of faith together with Unity of God, Prophethood and the Qiyamat.
In the following discussions we will let you know that denial of God’s justice is the denial of God and His authority. It will effect God’s other attributes also because justice which is connected to other attributes has been declared as an attribute also.
This is why we read that a person spoke to Imam Jafar Sadiq, “The base of religion is justice and Oneness. I would like an explanation from you that would be easy to remember.”
The Imam said, “Tawhid means that which is permissible for you is for you only and do not attribute it to God and Adl or justice is that you should not attribute a deed for which you have been admonished by God.”
This is beautiful and composite answer summarizing both Tawhid and Adl because the attributes of the contingent cannot be given to God the Necessary Being. Human attributes are limited and prone to deficiencies while Hew the Necessary Being is perfect in all respect and unlimited. How is possible for us to attribute a deed to God which He commanded us not to do? The reply of the Imam confirms the meaning of the narrator’s desire about the basic tenets of religion.
Amirul Mumineen has spoken about both in a very precise sermon and described the Oneness and justice. He said, “Tawhid means that we should not try to fix Him in our minds (for that which can be fixed in the mind must be limited but God is far elevated) and Justice means that you should not misname anything on Him (Do not attribute your wrongful deeds to Him). (2)
1. Behar-ol-Anwar vol. 5 page 17 Hadith 23
2. Nahjul Balagha Sermon 470
