—and that he be given his right. When someone judges between the two parties with justice and apportions matters with equity, people say, “This is right.” If he rules otherwise, they say, “This is wrongdoing and tyranny.” Even when a man has no rightful claim at all but is merely asserting falsehood, they still call truth “right” and lying “false,” exactly as appears in the speech of Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“The one who has a right has a word to say.”

In another wording:

“The one who has a right possesses tongue and hand.”

He, blessings and peace be upon him, also said to Kaʿb ibn Mālik when Kaʿb’s creditor pressed him:

“Forgo half of it.”

Kaʿb replied, “I have done so, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Then rise and settle it.”

The reason for this is that good actions always contain some positive existent—whether past or future—so they involve being and the perfection of being. Ugly actions, by contrast, entail some non-existence—past or future—and therefore contain a negation of being or of its perfection. When something actually exists, knowing of its existence is truth conforming to reality, and reporting that existence is likewise truth. Lying, which denies that existence, and ignorance, which is the absence of knowledge of it, amount to a lack of knowledge and of truthful speech: indeed, a lie is a form of compounded ignorance. Knowledge is a perfection of being, and truth is a perfection of being, whereas ignorance and lying are deficiencies.

So too with justice: treating equals alike and differentiating between unequals is to realize things as they truly are and to perfect them. For this reason the entire fabric of existence is founded upon justice, even in food, clothing, buildings, and the like. Should a house be constructed with walls grossly unequal in height, or bowed and off-plumb, the roof will fail. Garments that are not proportionate to the wearer offer no benefit. In the same way, food and medicine whose components are not balanced in quality and quantity—both in amount and in properties—spoil and become harmful rather than beneficial. Thus, in all palpable matters it is evident that justice is good, for it brings benefit and advantage, whereas injustice is ugly, for it brings harm and corruption.