Ahlul Bayt (AS) News Agency - ABNA: The 9th International Pre-Meeting of the 6th Imam Reza (AS) Global Congress featured a presentation by Shaykh Ali Qomi, Founder and Director of the English-language media network Islamic Pulse, who delivered a paper titled "Beyond Equity: The Multidimensional Framework of Justice in the Teachings of Imam Reza (AS)."
The scholar began by thanking the organizers of the event. He stated that justice is a frequently discussed topic but is often narrowly defined or reduced in scope. He explained that his research, drawing from classical sources such as Uyun Akhbar al-Reza and Al-Kafi, aimed to significantly broaden the conceptual framework of justice as presented in the traditions of Imam Reza (AS).
"The aim of this paper is to explore the multidimensional aspect of justice," Shaykh Qomi stated. He then detailed four distinct yet interconnected and interdependent dimensions: the theological dimension, the intrapersonal dimension, the epistemic dimension, and the socio-political dimension of justice.
He began with the theological dimension, often termed divine justice. The scholar proposed that this dimension forms the very foundation of human reason and moral responsibility. "Justice as a divine attribute is present in Allah's plan, which has a direct impact on human life at both an individual and a social level," he said. He cited a narration from Imam Reza (AS), who said, "Allah the Almighty has decreed nothing for the believer except for that which is full of goodness, and if he is afflicted with a trial or calamity, it is to expiate his sins." Shaykh Qomi elaborated that this illustrates how the cosmic system designed by Allah is fundamentally aligned with human intellect and justice, actively negating notions of fatalism.
Moving to the second dimension, he discussed intrapersonal justice, or Adl al-Nafs, which he described as maintaining an ethical and spiritual equilibrium within the self. "This dimension shifts the focus from outward to inward, defining justice as an internal state of balance," he explained. He noted that this dimension is crucial for controlling the lower desires, or the Nafs al-Ammara. Quoting Imam Reza (AS), he said, "Justice is to put things in their rightful places." The scholar added a further profound teaching from the Imam: "The one who is just with his own soul, by making it obey its creator, is wiser than the one who is just with others while oppressing his own soul." He emphasized the contemporary relevance of this concept, stating, "We see many people making efforts for justice at the societal level, but when it comes to their own selves, they fail. A simple example is sinning, which is ultimately an injustice we commit against ourselves."
The third dimension he presented was epistemic justice, or Adl al-Maarifah. He highlighted the conduct of Imam Reza (AS) during the debates organized by Mamun as the ultimate exemplar of this principle. "Though the Imam engaged his opponents with rigorous logic, he did so with respect, providing them the opportunity to present their arguments fully," Shaykh Qomi noted. He added that the Imam would first provide clear evidence from his opponents' own scriptures before presenting proofs from the Quran and Hadith. "This level of epistemic justice from a divinely appointed Imam, who is a guide for all humanity, is remarkable," he said. The scholar stressed that this teaches a critical lesson for modern discourse. "In our discussions, whether at national, international, or even personal levels, our discourse must be founded on epistemic justice. This counters dogmatism," he asserted. He added, "Alhamdulilah, Shi'a Islam has demonstrated it is not dogmatic. We have fundamentals; we are fundamentalists and not skeptics, but we are also not closed-minded. Epistemic justice promotes clarity, humility, and validates the use of intellect for discerning truth."
The scholar then dedicated significant focus to the fourth and, in his view, most expansive dimension: socio-political justice, or Adl al-Ijtima'i wal-Siyasi. He stated that this dimension translates micro-level ethics into macro-level social structures, governing everything from daily individual interactions to international relations and global economics. "Imam Reza (AS) provided specific guidance covering various levels of society," Shaykh Qomi said. He elaborated on the Imam's detailed teachings regarding the rights of neighbors, which were extended to forty households in every direction, the rights of kin, the rights of the poor, and even the rights of subordinates.
He cited a powerful economic narration from Imam Reza (AS): "God has commanded that the sustenance of the poor be included in the wealth of the rich. No poor person goes hungry except because of what a rich person has withheld." Shaykh Qomi emphasized the gravity of this statement, saying, "These are high moral standards. The Imam is not merely advocating for charity; he is declaring that the destitute have a rightful claim in the wealth of the affluent. This reframes poverty not as a misfortune but as a consequence of socio-political oppression."
The scholar directly connected this classical teaching to the concept of governance and political authority. "Imam Reza (AS) defines the just ruler strictly as the one who implements the law of Aal-e-Mohammad," he stated. "His position is that political authority is a sacred trust, an Amanah from Allah, whose primary function is to implement equity and protect the rights of the weakest members of society."
Shaykh Qomi then made a direct contemporary application of this principle. "If we examine this socio-political dimension, its direct logical output in our time is the divine system of Wilayat al-Faqih, which was revived by Imam Khomeini (RA) and is being carried forward by Imam Khamenei," he asserted. He expanded on the global responsibility implied by this system, stating, "As per the teachings of Imam Reza (AS), the purpose is to maintain social equity and protect the weak. This responsibility is not confined by borders. Just as the Prophet (PBUH) was not sent only for Medina and Imam Ali (AS) was not the Imam only for Kufa, the system stemming from their wilayah extends its duty to support the oppressed worldwide—to Palestine, to Yemen, to Pakistan, and to the best of its ability, even to the oppressed in Western nations."
He concluded this section with a sharp critique of Western powers, tying it back to the theme of injustice. "The oppression and non-stop criminal activities of the US, the criminal Zionist regime, the UK, Germany, France—what are they doing to humanity?" he asked. He provided a recent example, stating, "Today I read a statement from CENTCOM claiming they are in international waters and that Iran should not be conducting military drills. This is the height of hypocrisy and injustice. What are their naval vessels doing in this region to begin with? If these are free waters for them, they are for Iran as well. Iran has even more right to defend itself, as these forces are on its borders with intentions that have been explicitly hostile for over forty-seven years since the Islamic Revolution. Not a single day has passed without the United States and its Western allies conspiring against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its people."
Shaykh Ali Qomi ended his presentation by noting that many more points could be discussed but that his allotted time had concluded, and he concluded by inviting the audience to recite a salawat upon the Prophet and his family. (اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلی مُحَمَّد وَآلِ مُحَمَّد وَعَجِّل فَرَجَهُم)
ٍEnd of the message............................
Your Comment