Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Sabiti Angwi, who holds a doctorate in law from Al-Mustafa International University and serves as an international preacher from Congo, made the remarks Thursday at the second scientific session on the resistance front, Islamic unity, and solidarity against the arrogant system, held on the sidelines of the International Imam Reza Congress in Mashhad, according to a report by the Hawzah News Agency.
Justice a shared teaching of all divine religions
Speaking on the anthropological and theological foundations of justice in Islamic teachings, Angwi said injustice and oppression are issues all divine religions have opposed, and justice is not exclusive to Islam — it is rooted in human nature and has received special attention from all religions.
He noted that many revolutions and social movements throughout history have been formed under the banner of justice, but the question has always remained why some of these movements failed to fully realize the justice they claimed to pursue.
The central question today, he said, is what the anthropological and theological foundations of justice in Islamic teachings are, and how they can be translated into a practical model for confronting oppression and injustice through the theory of resistance and the thought of the martyred Leader.
Material vs. monotheistic views of justice
Angwi drew a distinction between material and monotheistic approaches, saying every school of thought shapes its understanding of justice based on its view of the world and humanity. If humans and the world are defined purely in material terms, justice will largely be interpreted within the framework of material needs and interests.
In the materialist view, he said, humans are seen as beings of purely earthly origin, and politics, governance, and social systems are designed mainly to secure material welfare in this world.
In contrast, he described the monotheistic view as a comprehensive understanding of the human being. In religious teachings, humans are not merely material beings — they also possess a spiritual and moral dimension, which makes the concept of justice broader than the mere provision of material needs.
If justice is to be truly realized in human life, it must encompass both the material and spiritual dimensions of the human being, he stressed — otherwise, it will not be complete justice.
Quran: Justice even against oneself and family
Citing verse 135 of Surah al-Nisa, Angwi said God calls on believers in the Holy Quran to uphold justice and bear witness for God — even if such testimony and justice come at the expense of themselves, their parents, or their relatives.
This verse shows, he said, that justice must begin with the individual before it concerns others. A person must be just with themselves, and even if upholding justice conflicts with their personal interests, they must not abandon it.
If justice is observed only to the extent that it does not conflict with our interests, family, or relatives, it can no longer be considered true justice, he said.
Emphasizing that justice has intrinsic value, Angwi said it is not merely a tool for achieving another goal — justice is a value in itself, and must therefore be upheld even when it runs counter to personal, family, or group interests.
Justice must not be subject to personal interests, family ties, ethnic affiliations, or social loyalties, he said. The principle of justice must be the standard for human behavior.
Imam Ali: The model of words matched by deeds
Referring to the life and conduct of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), Angwi said justice in the Imam's teachings is not merely a theoretical concept — it was manifest in his behavior and actions.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) pursued justice in governance and social life, and his words on the subject show that justice must move beyond speech and be realized in practice, he said.
Citing one of the well-known definitions of justice in Imam Ali's words, Angwi said that in the Imam's view, justice means placing everything in its proper place — a definition that greatly expands the scope of the concept.
Justice extends beyond human relations
If justice is understood as placing everything in its proper place, it is no longer limited to relations among humans — it also encompasses humanity's relationship with animals, plants, water, air, and other elements of the surrounding environment, he said.
When a person uses natural resources improperly or beyond limits, or commits cruelty toward animals, such behavior is also incompatible with the concept of justice, and Islamic teachings are sensitive to such conduct, he added.
With this view, religion elevates the concept of justice beyond a purely human matter and expands its horizon to the entire universe and the way humans interact with the world, he said.
Silence in the face of oppression perpetuates injustice
Turning to the issue of oppression and silence in the face of it, Angwi said when truth is set aside, falsehood rules, and people's rights are violated, the indifference and silence of others can contribute to the continuation of this situation.
When a ruler or dominant power tramples on people's rights and society remains silent, the issue is not only the oppression of an individual or an oppressive government — silence in the face of oppression can itself pave the way for injustice to continue, he said.
One cannot remain indifferent to the humiliation and oppression of human beings, he stressed, because silence in the face of oppression can mean strengthening the oppressor's position and perpetuating unjust conditions.
Justice the standard for distinguishing oppressor from oppressed
Referring to current global developments and conflicts, Angwi said that in many cases the issue of justice is distorted when the positions of oppressor and oppressed are reversed — and instead of holding the aggressor who trampled on human rights to account, the individual or society that fell victim to oppression is placed in the dock.
The standard of justice must be whose rights have been violated and who has violated the rights of others, he stressed. The concept of justice cannot be distorted by swapping the positions of oppressor and oppressed.
Human dignity the basis for confronting domination
Angwi pointed to another foundation of justice in Islamic thought — Islam's view of the human being and their dignity. In the Quranic view, humans possess both material and spiritual dimensions and are endowed with a divine nature.
This divine nature does not permit a person to submit to servitude to anything other than God, he said, because humans were created to worship God and must not accept domination or enslavement by created beings.
From this perspective, human freedom and dignity are tied to the issue of justice, and the struggle against domination and arrogance must be pursued within the framework of preserving human dignity and freedom, he noted.
Neglect of monotheism paves way for domination
Citing the martyred Leader's view on global domination, Angwi said that in eras of global hegemony and arrogance, neglect of pure monotheism can pave the way for the growth and spread of oppression and tyranny.
When people ignore major issues and human catastrophes, or imagine that religion must be completely separated from social and political affairs, the ground is prepared for hegemonic and extremist currents to exploit the situation, he said.
Disregard for social and human issues, and abandoning religious responsibility in the face of oppression, can create conditions in which extremist and terrorist currents impose their views and laws on people, he added.
Justice rooted in human nature
In conclusion, Angwi stressed that justice is not an abstract ideal removed from social life — it is a necessity rooted in human nature.
In the Islamic view, the human being has both a material and earthly dimension and a spiritual and moral one, and as a being endowed with dignity, must not submit to servitude before created beings.
Humans must submit to their Creator, he said, and this monotheistic outlook provides the basis for preserving dignity, freedom, and justice in individual and social life.
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