{"id":52261,"date":"2022-08-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iumsonline.cloud\/2022\/08\/31\/the-difference-between-equity-%d9%90alqist-in-arabic-and-justice-aladl-in-arabic\/"},"modified":"2022-08-31T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T00:00:00","slug":"the-difference-between-equity-%d9%90alqist-in-arabic-and-justice-aladl-in-arabic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iumsonline.cloud\/en\/2022\/08\/31\/the-difference-between-equity-%d9%90alqist-in-arabic-and-justice-aladl-in-arabic\/","title":{"rendered":"The difference between Equity (\u0650alqist in Arabic) and Justice (ala\u2019dl in Arabic)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The difference between Equity (<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u0650<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>al<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>qist <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong>in Arabic<\/span><\/span><\/strong>) and Justice (ala’dl <\/em>in Arabic)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Almighty said that He gave mankind the Book<\/em> and the balance<\/em> <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>That people may uphold justice<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 57: 25). Is there any difference between equity and justice?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Equity – qist –  <\/em>means manifesting justice by upholding fairness between parties, such that people are given their due rights, and they fulfill their obligations to others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Arabic verb qasata<\/em> means was equitable. Qasata<\/em> is the past tense verb, yaqsitu<\/em> means to be just in the present, and qist<\/em> is the base form. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, the same word – qasata<\/em> – also means was<\/em> inequitable<\/em>. This is because qasata<\/em> is a word with two opposite meanings.[1]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/sup><\/a> For example, it means equitable<\/em> in the verse <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>That people may uphold justice (quist)<\/em><\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 57: 25). On the other hand, it means inequitable<\/em> in the verse <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>But as for the unjust (qasitun)<\/em>, they will be, for Hell, kindling<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 72: 15). Qasitun<\/em> here means those who are inequitable or unjust<\/em>, as they are compared to Muslims in the preceding verse <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>Among us are those who are submitting (Muslims), and among us are the unjust. As for those who have submitted—it is they who pursue rectitude. But as for the unjust, they will be, for Hell, kindling<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 72: 14-15).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Aqsata<\/span><\/span><\/em> and its derivatives mean equity.<\/em> The first letter in aqsata<\/em> is called hamzat alizala<\/em>, and it is a letter which is added to a verb to reduce the effect of the meaning conveyed by the verb. <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>Once it has complied, reconcile between them with justice, and be equitable. Surely Allah loves the equitable<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 49: 9). Be equitable<\/em> – aqsitu<\/em> – in this verse means to achieve justice and put an end to any inequity.[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Justice and equity complement each other. The former is the desired outcome of having authority, and the latter means uprooting all factors that lead to inequity. Imam Al-Razi, commenting on the above-mentioned verse, says, iqsat<\/em> means putting an end to injustice, and qasit<\/em> means someone who is unjust or inequitable.[3]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

More evidence for this difference in meaning can be found in the following verse, which explains how to uproot injustice in the Muslim community, as Allah says: <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>The believers are brothers, so reconcile between your brothers, and remain conscious of God, so that you may receive mercy<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 49: 10<\/span><\/span>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This verse presents five ways to uproot inequity:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2460 <\/span><\/span><\/strong>True brotherhood which is based on complete faith in the Almighty. It also entails giving all brothers in Islam their due rights equitably. This brotherhood should be ideal, to the extent that Muslims feel that they all form one coherent whole.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2461 <\/span><\/span><\/strong>Reconciliation <\/strong>between parties involved in disputes, which can be done by encouraging believers to give each other their due rights and convincing them to forgive each other.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2462 <\/span><\/span><\/strong>There must be individuals responsible for reconciliation. <\/strong>They encourage filial relationships between Muslims, so that the devil cannot sow conflict between them, and therefore Muslims can be in peace and harmony.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2463 Ridding one’s self of enmity can be achieved through belief in Allah and fearing Him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2464<\/span><\/strong> Mercy is a criterion for interactions. <\/strong>Those who are merciful to others will have Allah’s mercy bestowed upon them, as the Prophet \ufdfa said, “The One in Heaven will not have mercy upon you unless you have mercy on those who are on earth”.44<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It should be noted that:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n