Rate this Article
What Does Islam Teach About Justice? Neither love nor hatred can be allowed to compromise justice.
By Khalid Baig
There is one word that captures the essence of all Islamic laws and all Islamic teachings; one word that describes the overriding value that permeates all Islamic values. Justice. The Qur'an says: "We sent aforetime our messengers with clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance, that men may stand forth in Justice." [Al-Hadeed 57:25].
The sole purpose of sending the prophets was to establish Justice in the world and end injustice. Broadly speaking, doing justice means giving everyone his due. But this simple statement camouflages all the complexities of life in their myriad and ever-changing relations; all the temptations; all the apprehensions and concerns; all the conflicts and dilemmas. To guide the people, Allah sent down the prophets with clear signs, the Book, and the Balance. The Book contains the revelations that spell out what's fair and unfair or right and wrong. The Balance refers to our ability to measure and calculate so we can follow the path shown by the Book and explained by the Prophets.
Together these sources taught us what are the rights of Allah, of other people, and of our own persons on us and how to balance them. A life lived in obedience to Allah, then, is a continuous balancing act, both individually and collectively.
Under normal circumstances many people can be just. But Islam commands its followers to be just even in the face of strong conflicting emotions. In dealing with other human beings, two major impediments to justice are love and hatred. See how the Qur'an teaches us to overcome the first impediment when we are dealing with our closest relatives or even ourselves. "O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." [An-Nisa 4:35]
Here is the resolution from the Qur'an of the perennial conflict between self-interest and justice. Be just, even if it is against your narrowly defined self-interest or of those very close to you. Ignorant people think they are protecting their self-interest by being unjust to others. Their decision to be just or unjust may be based on a cold calculation of self-interest. But real faith in Allah elevates one beyond that narrow-mindedness. These verses remind us that the real protector of interests of all people is also Allah and He will protect us when we follow His command to be just. The justice demanded by Islam permits no favoritism.
The other equally potent impediment is hatred. Here again Qur'an commands: "O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." [Al-Maidah 5:8]
In other words you cannot do injustice even when you are dealing with the enemy. The natural, uneducated, and uncivilized tendency is to treat the enemy as less than a human being; one who has no rights and deserves no justice or fairness. It was as true in the pre-Islamic tribal jahilya (based on ignorance) society as it is today. See how Islam directly curbs it. It is a command to the believers, with a reminder that Allah is watching you, that enmity of others cannot be used as an excuse for committing injustices against them.
Justice does require retribution and Islam does call for, "an eye for an eye." But it does not mean an innocent eye for an innocent eye; it means the eye of the perpetrator for the eye of the victim. It is amazing how those who call the latter as barbaric, actually rally for the former when a real crisis develops.
Fourteen hundred years ago these commands created a society where rich and poor, friend and foe, Muslim and non-Muslim, the ruler and the ruled, were all treated equally and all of them could count on receiving justice. The qazis (judges) were independent and no one, including the khalifah was above the law. If a dispute arose between the Khalifah and an ordinary person, both had to appear in court and provide their evidence. Islamic history is full of stories of this justice that filled the earth wherever Muslims ruled in their golden era.
Even during their period of decline, we find sporadic incidents that are just unparalleled. One example from recent history may suffice here. During the British Rule in India, once a dispute arose between Hindus and Muslims over a piece of land. Hindus claimed it belonged to a temple while Muslims claimed it to be mosque. Emotions were high on both sides and the possibility of a riot was real. The English judge could not find any means of ascertaining the truth. It was one group's words against the other's. Finally the Judge asked both groups if they could trust the testimony of any person. They could. It was a particular Muslim imam (religious leader) who was known for his piety. The person was requested to come to the court as a witness in a very charged atmosphere, with the entire community urging him to help them win the case through his testimony. His testimony was brief. "The Hindus are right," he said. "The Muslim case is baseless." He had not betrayed the community. He had once more affirmed its unflinching commitment to truth and justice above all else.
That is the justice the world needs today.
"Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice: verily how excellent is the teaching which He gives you! For Allah is He Who hears and sees all things." [An-Nisa 4:58] Taken from Al-Balagh online newsmagazine with permission.
Your Comments
john allan, holmefirth -
wrote on 11/3/2009 11:14:14 AM
Rating: 
Comment: it was explained in fine detail however it was hard to understand
HUSSAIN ZAGURU, NIGERIA -
wrote on 2/8/2006 11:05:09 PM
Rating: 
Comment: As salamu alaykum. Indeed, Soundvision has really servd tomorrow's muslims today. Keep the good work coz the best informed minds tomorrow are those well informed today. We will kep praching Isalm in allways, songs, drama, media, community etc.
peace always.
nabilah, malaysia -
wrote on 8/4/2005 5:05:16 AM
Rating:
Comment: this is really a great and beneficial article.thank you to the author and may Allah bless you.
nasim abuyusuf, cologne,germany -
wrote on 4/1/2004 11:17:53 AM
Rating:
Comment: adding to this subject i may bring to the viewer's notice that even german passport holders, living in germany for over 35 yrs had to experience the sad plight of having received a removal order from the toronto airport on 24th/25th march, because being muslim hatracy was encountered. there was no admissibility hearing process when a person is considered inadmissable, which has to be dealt by a cic officer or the case is normally referred to the immigration division of the irb for an admissibility hearing to grant temporary status. i would like to file an appeal or apply for a judicial review of this type of decision depriving me of my right to visit my relatives, although i had a return ticket for a months atay. the harassing behaviour and actions has caused me as a victim to experience intidimation as well as psychological and emotional distress. this is known as stalking as an impact of criminal harassment, producing intensive fear or loss of your rights. i request the canadian muslims therefore to make querries about the facts leading to hatracy against muslim foreign visitors carrying beard and showing themselves as muslims. so i regret for the behaviour of the immigrants officials at the toronto airport and needful support is requested by contacting the lawyer or immigration consultants eg. anwar rahman.azim, rana immigration & legal services. i would be thankful for every kind soul eager to help me in claiming against the canadian govt. for all the cost incurring in this process till i gain my rights. thanks wassalam your brother in islam Nasimul Haque
hafsa, pakistan -
wrote on 3/10/2003 10:53:20 PM
Rating:
Comment: this is something i always talk to ppl about now i have reference too thank you!
Megawati Mustafa, Indonesia -
wrote on 10/20/2002 9:58:47 PM
Rating:
Comment: This article reconfirms Islam is Religion of Justice
azra khan, -
wrote on 9/21/2002 6:24:29 PM
Rating:
Comment: jazkallahu khairun for unvailaing the true teachings of Islam. I wish all those who don't have this true knowledge also learn it. Ameen.
sara, usa -
wrote on 9/17/2002 2:53:56 PM
Rating:
Comment: really inspiring. thank you!
Post your comment
|
 |
 |
| Search |
|
| Search The Quran |
|
| Something to Ask... | O Allah!
I beg You for that which incites Your Mercy and the means of Your forgiveness, safety from every sin, the benefit from every good deed, success in attaining Jannah and deliverance from Fire.
|
|
 |
|
|
