them to be contradictory, thus becoming bewildered, refusing to affirm both, or contradicting themselves by siding now with one and now with the other.

You find this in questions of speculative theology and belief, and in questions of the will and worship, such as listening to vocal performances, engaging in speculative theology, the divine attributes, Allah’s speech, and other matters.

The essence of the matter is that whenever two things conflict, one must outweigh the other, or they must be equally balanced. Judgment between them must therefore reflect their relative weight or their equality. When two deeds or two people performing them each possess distinctive qualities, whichever outweighs the other is superior; if they are equal, they are accorded equal merit and rank. The same applies to the causes of benefit and harm, and likewise to evidence: each piece of evidence must be given its due. According to the majority, conflicting proofs cannot be equally balanced in reality, although they may appear so to the person examining them. As for one and the same thing being both affirmed and negated in the same respect, no rational person maintains this.

The foundation of all this is justice through treating like things alike. Allah Most High says:

“We have certainly sent Our messengers with clear proofs and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain justice.”

[Sūrah al-Hadīd 25]

We have discussed this at length elsewhere and explained in several places that justice encompasses all religion, truth, and goodness.

True justice may be unattainable, whether in achieving it or in acting in accordance with it.