God of justice.. A study in the ethical doctrine of the Qur'an

This pioneering monograph examines the Quranic conception of divine justice through systematic analysis of ethical terminology and theological frameworks within Islam's foundational text. Rahbar undertakes a comprehensive textual study to demonstrate how the Quran presents Allah primarily as a God of justice whose moral attributes form the basis for human ethical obligations.

The work methodically analyzes key Arabic terms related to justice, righteousness, and moral conduct, tracing their usage throughout the Quranic corpus. Rahbar argues that divine justice represents not merely one attribute among many, but rather the central organizing principle through which other divine qualities must be understood. This interpretation challenges certain traditional Islamic theological positions that prioritize divine sovereignty or mercy over justice, suggesting instead that even Allah's mercy operates within a framework of ultimate justice.

Rahbar's textual analysis reveals how Quranic ethics emerge directly from the nature of divine justice. The prophetic mission, he contends, primarily involves communicating this justice-centered understanding of God and its implications for human behavior. Prophecy thus becomes the mechanism through which divine ethical standards are made accessible to humanity. The study examines how Quranic narratives of previous prophets consistently emphasize their role in establishing justice and opposing oppression, reinforcing this central theological-ethical connection.

The monograph engages critically with both classical Islamic exegesis and modern Western scholarship on Quranic ethics. Rahbar challenges orientalist readings that portrayed Islamic ethics as arbitrary divine commands while also questioning certain traditional Muslim interpretations that minimize the rational comprehensibility of divine justice. His approach demonstrates how textual analysis can illuminate the internal logic of Quranic ethical teaching without imposing external philosophical frameworks.

This work's significance lies in its systematic demonstration that Quranic theology cannot be separated from ethics, as both derive from the fundamental conception of divine justice. For the broader God debate, Rahbar's study illustrates how scriptural analysis can reveal sophisticated theological-ethical systems that ground moral obligations in divine nature rather than arbitrary command. His methodology influenced subsequent scholarship on Islamic ethics and comparative religious ethics, establishing textual analysis as a crucial tool for understanding how sacred texts construct relationships between divine attributes and human moral responsibility.