Library God The Justice of God E. GOD'S PROMISE (WA`D) & THREAT (WA’ID)
E. GOD'S PROMISE (WA`D) & THREAT (WA’ID)
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E. GOD'S PROMISE (WA`D) & THREAT (WA’ID)
God has appointed a Day of Judgement. He has promised many rewards for good deeds and has threatened to punish for evil actions. There is a difference of opinion among Muslims whether or not God is obliged to fulfill His promises and threats.
1. The Mu'tazilah and the Kharijites say that it is compulsory for God to fulfill His promises and threats; that is, God cannot forgive evil actions of ‑man who dies without repentance (tawbah). [8]
2. The Asha'irah say that God is obliged to fulfill neither His promises nor His threats; that He may put pious believers (even the prophets) in Hell and put the Shaytan in Paradise. This belief of theirs is based upon their belief that nothing is good or evil by itself; and only what God has commanded us to do is good and what He has forbidden is evil. According to them nothing has any inherent evil or good except what God orders or forbids. [9]
3. The Shi'ahs say that it is necessary for Allah to fulfill His promises of reward because not fulfilling a promise is against virtue and rationally evil; but it is not necessary for Him to fulfill His threats of punishment because forgiving the sinners has virtue in itself. So if He punishes, it will be His justice; and if He forgives, it will be His grace and mercy. [10]
Notes:
[1] Hilli, Kashfu 'l‑Haq; also al‑Hilli's al‑Babu 'l‑Hadi 'Ashar (English translation by WM. Miller) p. 44
