Justice includes concepts such as an individual being fairly rewarded or punished based on their actions, as in God's justice towards man; the administration and enforcement of a set of laws wherein all peoples are treated with equity, as in a just government; and the sense of fairness that should exist between two parties, as in an individual's practice of virtue towards others.[1] In the Bahá’í writings justice is described as the necessary prerequisite to true brotherhood and unity among all peoples, the foundation for the organization of the world, the basis for the life of mankind and a guardian and protection for men. The writings state that justice is upheld by the twin pillars of reward and punishment. Additionally Bahá’u’lláh refers to justice as the best beloved of all things in the sight of God.[2]
Justice is not limited, it is a universal quality. Its operation must be carried out in all classes, from the highest to the lowest. Justice must be sacred, and the rights of all the people must be considered. Desire for others only that which you desire for yourselves. Then shall we rejoice in the Sun of Justice, which shines from the Horizon of God.
O ye beloved of the Lord! The Kingdom of God is founded upon equity and justice, and also upon mercy, compassion, and kindness to every living soul. Strive ye then with all your heart to treat compassionately all humankind -- except for those who have some selfish, private motive, or some disease of the soul.
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— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of[4]
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Just as forgiveness is one of the attributes of God’s mercy, so is justice one of the attributes of His lordship. The canopy of existence rests upon the pole of justice and not of forgiveness, and the life of mankind depends on justice and not on forgiveness.
Justice as the requirement for peace, true brotherhood[edit]
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When perfect justice reigns in every country of the Eastern and Western World, then will the earth become a place of beauty. The dignity and equality of every servant of God will be acknowledged; the ideal of the solidarity of the human race, the true brotherhood of man, will be realized; and the glorious light of the Sun of Truth will illumine the souls of all men.
"Justice and equity," is yet another assertion, "are two guardians for the protection of man. They have appeared arrayed in their mighty and sacred names to maintain the world in uprightness and protect the nations."
And among the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are justice and right. Until these are realized on the plane of existence, all things shall be in disorder and remain imperfect. The world of mankind is a world of oppression and cruelty, and a realm of aggression and error.
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— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of[8]
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No power on earth can prevail against the armies of justice, and every citadel must fall before them; for men willingly go down under the triumphant strokes of this decisive blade, and desolate places bloom and flourish under the tramplings of this host. There are two mighty banners which, when they cast their shadow across the crown of any king, will cause the influence of his government quickly and easily to penetrate the whole earth, even as if it were the light of the sun: the first of these two banners is wisdom; the second is justice. Against these two most potent forces, the iron hills cannot prevail, and Alexander's wall will break before them.
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— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization[9]
Justice is upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment[edit]
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"The light of men is Justice," He moreover states, "Quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression and tyranny. The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men." "No radiance," He declares, "can compare with that of justice. The organization of the world and the tranquillity of mankind depend upon it." "O people of God!" He exclaims, "That which traineth the world is Justice, for it is upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment. These two pillars are the sources of life to the world."
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— Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice[10]
Small wonder, therefore, that the Author of the Bahá'í Revelation should have chosen to associate the name and title of that House, which is to be the crowning glory of His administrative institutions, not with forgiveness but with justice, to have made justice the only basis and the permanent foundation of His Most Great Peace, and to have proclaimed it in His Hidden Words as "the best beloved of all things" in His sight.
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— Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice[11]
↑Neilson, William Allan; Knott, Thomas A.; Carhart, Paul W., eds. (1935). Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language (2nd ed.). London: G. Bell & Sons, Ltd. p. 1348. Aristotle held justice to be the practice of virtue toward others; he distinguished distributive justice, or distribution according to merit, from corrective justice, designed to rectify errors of distribution...
