it is never a slogan by which Islam itself is described. Rather, Islam is characterized as the religion of justice—the very justice Allah has commanded: “Indeed, Allah commands justice and excellence.” He did not say “equality.” Two people can never be identical: one is blind while the other sees, one is learned and the other ignorant, one benefits creation whereas the other is harmful. Such people can never be on the same footing.

True justice is captured in His words: “Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives.” I have drawn attention to this point because many contemporary writers and others repeat the word “equality” without considering what it entails. They fail to realize that Islam can never mandate absolute equality where obvious differences exist. If the religion were to impose equality despite disparity, it would cease to be a sound religion. A Muslim, therefore, must never treat two conflicting parties as equal; but when they are alike in every respect, justice demands that each receive exactly what the other receives.

In any case, the student of sacred knowledge should be alert to this expression—and to other phrases people utter without knowing their meaning or implications.

One such phrase is what some people say: Allahumma innī lā as’aluka radda al-qaḍā’, walākinī as’aluka al-luṭfa fīhi (O Allah, I do not ask You to reverse Your decree, but I ask You for gentleness within it). This is a grave and impermissible formulation. “I do not ask You to reverse the decree”? Yet the Prophet said, “Nothing averts the Divine decree except supplication.” Supplication does not obliterate destiny, but among its effects is that when you call upon Allah to remove a harm, it had already been inscribed from pre-eternity in the Preserved Tablet that Allah would lift that harm from you because of your supplication—everything is written. So when you say, “I do not ask You to reverse the decree; I only ask You for gentleness within it,” it is as though you are saying, “It does not matter to me whether You lift…"