Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 133
— Part I 132 find a highly developed, comprehensive and balanced teaching which firmly maintains a poise between ‘Adl, I h s a n and I t a ’i Dhil-Qurb a. Returning to the discussion of Noah as , many questions need to be answered regarding the teachings of justice. It is not difficult to deduce from the study of the Quran that Noah’s as nation had become totally devoid of justice and that tyranny and oppression had spread to all walks of life. Can an unjust people be forgiven in accordance with the teachings of benevolence? Or, do the dictates of justice require that every transgressor be punished for his sins? These are two very important questions that need to be addressed. Noah’s as people mocked him relentlessly, they stubbornly rejected his teachings and left no stone unturned to frustrate his work. Yet in spite of all this, God knew that Noah as would be inclined towards clemency. So before the appointed time of their ruin, God dissuaded him from seeking forgiveness on their behalf by informing him that their case was beyond all hope of repair or reformation. After receiving this verdict from God, Noah as ultimately prayed against them rather than for them. In that prayer no exception was made. All who had not believed in him were included. Little did Noah as know that his own son would also be included in that prayer! The dramatic realisation only dawned upon Noah as at the time when he saw his own son about to drown. 'My son! My son!