Article 22 — Karma
Karma: Why do our actions eventually come back to us?
The Goal of the Wise — Door Number Twenty-Two
Read aloud in English
Is there a justice that goes beyond courts, human laws and the events of a single life?
We sometimes observe that unjust people seem to escape the consequences of their actions, while others suffer despite their good conduct.
This contradiction feeds an ancient question: does justice truly exist?
In the twenty-second Door of The Goal of the Wise, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (From Him is Peace) examines karma in the light of his doctrine of the soul.
The law of consequences
Karma is generally associated with the idea that actions produce consequences.
In the book, this notion is linked to moral responsibility and divine justice.
Our decisions would not simply be events with no aftermath.
They could play a part in shaping our spiritual destiny.
Justice beyond a single existence
The previous chapters presented reincarnation as one dimension of the soul’s journey.
In this context, karma offers a particular way of reflecting on the consequences of actions.
The author examines the possibility that certain consequences extend beyond the limits of the current life.
This vision belongs to the metaphysical system of the book.
It does not allow one to conclude that a suffering person must necessarily have deserved their misfortune.
The problem of injustice
The chapter also confronts the criticisms directed at religions.
Why believe in divine justice when the world seems so imperfect?
Why do certain acts remain unpunished?
The book proposes not limiting the assessment of justice to events that are immediately observable.
Acting without expecting a reward
Reflection on karma can also be understood as an invitation to responsibility.
Our words influence others.
Our decisions shape our character.
Our behavior can produce lasting consequences.
Even without claiming to know the invisible mechanisms of justice, everyone can recognize the importance of their actions.
Conclusion — Is anything we do without consequence?
The twenty-second Door invites us to consider justice from a broader spiritual perspective.
If our actions contribute to building our future, what consequences are we preparing today?