How Can Allah Be All-Forgiving And All-Just At The Same Time?

Question:
Assalamu ‘Alaykum.
How can Allah be All-Forgiving and All-Just at the same time?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Allah can forgive every sin a person has. This is the meaning of His name al Ghafur. Yet, He chooses who to forgive and who not to forgive. He is al ‘Adl – the Just. He will ensure no injustice will go unanswered on the Day of Judgement.

Justice takes precedence over forgiveness when it comes to the dealings of people with each other. When it comes to their dealings with Allah, forgiveness takes precedence out of the mercy and favor of Allah. Hence, the hadith Qudsi, “Indeed My Mercy has outstripped My wrath.“ (Bukhari)

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.