[quote=IbnAbdulHakim;961192 He knows it all, therefore he knows to what extent we deserve mercy and to what extent we deserve punishment.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for taking the time to tackle this. And it helps... but not wholly. What you said here makes sense... but if Allah is just, then he must punish sin, no? Simply forgiving it is not just. You would not consider a judge in this life just if he simply dismissed a murderer from the court because the murderer said he was sorry. That would not be just. Justice demands payment for the sin. Is not our sin in this life the same? So then it is with that understanding that I asked how Allah can be both just and merciful? Where is the justice if he is merciful and forgives us?

Bottom line: on what basis can he forgive us and still be just?



(Again, thank you all for your time and patience with me on these questions)