Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 198
Justice (‘ Adl ), Benevolence ( Ihsan ) & Kinship ( Ita’i Dhil-Qurba ) in Worship 193 such occasions, God does not stop short at justice, but cares for His servants with benevolence even if they have not earned it through good deeds. The distressed person may not have been a believer in God at all, yet it has to be admitted that after all, he is God’s creation. As such, God treats him far beyond the dictates of justice and responds to his call in distress with benevolence. These cries of anguish are heard and responded to regardless of his previous deeds or misdeeds. The world over, incidents occur where infidels call on God at times of extreme grief and God responds with His succour. This is the teaching of benevolence in prayer. Among the distressed are the powerless, the dispossessed and the downtrodden. The Holy Prophet sa says of these people: Beware! Fear the malediction of the wronged one. Even though he may be an infidel, there is no distance between his prayer and God. 17 The relationship between God and man can also enter into the realm of I t a ‘i Dhil Qurb a. This stage is reached when one becomes totally devoted to God and there is no duplicity left in the relationship between man and Him. It is as though one is under the protection of God’s dominion. Because such people