Is the Concept of Divine Justice Coherent in Islam?
Islamic theology claims that Allah is supremely just—He never wrongs a soul (Qur’an 4:40) and will judge all people fairly. Yet this claim collapses under closer scrutiny, especially when juxtaposed with the doctrines of divine predestination, eternal punishment, and arbitrary guidance/misguidance. These dogmas raise the critical question: Can divine justice in Islam be considered coherent or morally intelligible?
1. Allah “Never Wrongs Anyone”?
Qur’an 4:40 – “Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight.”
This verse, often cited by apologists, appears straightforward. But many other verses describe Allah acting in ways that, by any rational standard of justice, are arbitrary, selective, or even punitive without cause.
Qur’an 14:4 – “Allah misguides whom He wills and guides whom He wills.”
Qur’an 32:13 – “Had We willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the Word from Me will come to pass: ‘I will surely fill Hell with jinn and men all together.’”
If Allah has the ability to guide everyone—but chooses not to—how can it be said that He never wrongs anyone?
2. Arbitrary Misguidance and Predestination
Islamic tradition teaches that every person’s fate is already decreed:
Sahih Muslim 2643a – “Allah created Adam and then touched his back. Out of it He brought forth offspring... some for Paradise and others for Hell.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 6594 – “...a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise, but then the decree overtakes him and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire.”
How can a God be considered just when He preordains disbelief and then punishes people for what He has caused?
3. Eternal Punishment for Temporal Sins
Even assuming free will, the concept of eternal hellfire for finite sins is morally incoherent:
Qur’an 4:56 – “Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment.”
Why should temporary disbelief or sin merit endless punishment? Even in human legal systems, justice implies proportionality. The Qur’an’s model is punitive, not redemptive.
4. The Problem of the Unequal Test
Islamic theology also asserts that life is a test, yet not all people receive the same test:
Some are born in Muslim families, others into hostile environments.
Some never hear the Qur’an at all.
Some are intellectually or emotionally predisposed to believe.
How is this fair? According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir on Q 6:125, Allah opens the hearts of those He wills and constricts others. Where is the justice in holding people accountable for failing a rigged test?
5. Divine Forgiveness Is Selective and Conditional
Qur’an 4:48 – “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
This introduces another problem: Allah forgives whom He wills. There is no guarantee of forgiveness, even for sincere repentance—unless Allah arbitrarily chooses to grant it.
6. Rejecting Moral Intuition in Favor of Absolute Voluntarism
Islamic theology, especially Ash‘ari thought, embraces a form of divine voluntarism:
Whatever Allah does is “just” by definition—not because it aligns with any external moral standard.
Justice is not a standard God adheres to; it is whatever He decrees.
Al-Ghazali: “There is nothing obligatory on God toward His creatures.”
This theology divorces morality from reason. Under such a system, even arbitrary cruelty can be labeled justice, simply because Allah did it.
Conclusion: Divine Justice or Theological Doublethink?
The Qur’an and Islamic tradition present a God who:
Predestines people for Hell.
Misguides at will.
Punishes eternally for finite sins.
Offers no equal test or transparent standard.
Forgives selectively and arbitrarily.
Yet Muslims are told that He is the Most Just.
This contradiction cannot be resolved by semantics or blind faith. The Islamic concept of justice ultimately defies both human conscience and rational coherence. If Allah’s justice consists of doing whatever He wants without accountability, then the term “justice” has been stripped of all meaning.
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