but rather hold that what the text entails must be affirmed. They may therefore accept part of the texts’ meaning, or draw a weak distinction.

The root of this is their agreement with those others on a weak analogy, as in questions concerning body, substance, and similar matters. You find the same situation with someone who assists an oppressor in his actions, for actions arise only from a will. The oppressor carries his will through consistently, harming the very person who helped him or committing an injustice that his helper does not approve of. The helper then seeks to interrupt this consistent application and restrict the scope of its underlying rationale. Hence the saying:

“Whoever helps an oppressor will be afflicted by him.”

This applies to all wrongdoers, whether in word or deed, including those given to religious innovation and wickedness. Whoever goes against the Quran and Sunnah in what he asserts, commands, or does is a wrongdoer. Allah sent His messengers so that people might uphold justice, and Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the best of them. Allah, glorified be He, explained justice to him in ways He did not explain to others, and enabled him to accomplish what He did not enable others to accomplish. Thus, he did and commanded things that others neither commanded nor did.

This is because, in many circumstances, human beings may neither know what justice truly is nor be able to achieve it. Rather, the closer something comes to justice and the more it resembles it, the better it is: this is the best course. We have discussed this at length elsewhere. Allah Most High says:

“And establish weight with justice.”

And He says:

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”

And He says:

“So fear Allah