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Justice In Islam - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Justice In Islam
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear
Muslims:
Justice captures the essence of all
Islamic laws and all Islamic teachings. It describes the overriding value that
permeates all Islamic values. The Holy 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 (SWT) 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 (SWT), of other people, and of
our own persons on us and how to balance them. A life lived in obedience to
Allah (SWT), then, is a continuous balancing act, both individually and
collectively.
Dear Muslims:
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
Holy Qur'an teaches us to overcome the first impediment when we are dealing
with our closest relatives or even ourselves. Allah (SWT) says: "O you 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 you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily
Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." [An-Nisa 4:135]
Here is the resolution from the Holy
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. Some people may think they are protecting their self-interest by
being unjust to others. Their decision to be just or unjust may be based on a
calculation of self-interest. But real faith in Allah (SWT) elevates one beyond
that narrow-mindedness. These verses remind us that the real protector of
interests of all people is only Allah (SWT) 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 the Holy Qur'an commands: "O you
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 nearer to Piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is
well-acquainted with all that you do." [Al-Maidah 5:8].
The foregoing
verse means that one cannot do injustice even when he is 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.
See how Islam directly curbs it. It is a command to the believers, with a
reminder that Allah (SWT) is watching you, that enmity of others cannot be used
as an excuse for committing injustices against them.
Dear Brothers And Sisters In Islam:
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. The injunction of the Hply Qur’an about the purpose of fighting a war
is: “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not commit
aggression. Indeed, Allah does not like aggressors.” (Al-Baqarah: 2:190).
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.
Allah (SWT) says:
"Allah does command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they
are due; and when you judge between men, that you judge with justice: verily
how excellent is the teaching which He gives you! For Allah is Ever All-Hearer.
All-Seer". [An-Nisa 4:58].
Dear Muslims:
Islam rejects certain individuals or
nations being favored because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human beings as equals who are to
be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and
piety. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “O people! Your God is one and
your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a
non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red)
person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than
a red person, except in piety”. (Ahmed).
And those who have
not gotten their rights (i.e. what they have a just claim to) in this life will
receive them on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: “On the Day of
Judgment, rights will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will
be redressed)...” (Muslim & Ahmed).
The Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) also said: “People, beware of injustice, for injustice shall be
darkness on the Day of Judgment”. (Bukhari & Ahmed).
Dear Muslims:
If violence is
allowed to prevail instead of dialogue and mutual understanding, the voice of
the weak will not be heard and justice will have no chance; and even worse than
these is that aggression and violence will be legalised.
Among the issues that need urgent review
are the wars that have characterised this generation, in which many innocent
lives have been lost and in which destructive weapons that not only kill but
also cause impairment and chronic diseases to the living are used. Statistics
speak of millions of casualties of these wars all over the world. Therefore, a
careful and sincere review of these consequences will go a long way in solving
the problems at hand.
Dear Muslims:
It is incumbent upon us to have a serious
and honest review of our own actions so that justice and truth will reign and
falsehood be annihilated. The world is in need of a merciful policies that will
promote justice. It is in need of a structure that will have real respect for
human rights and will guarantee for all people the right of self-determination,
freedom and tranquillity.
The world is in
need of a strategy that will restore the rights of the oppressed and punish the
oppressor appropriately, for fairness cannot be achieved through injustice nor
can security be achieved through fear. The sense of revenge must give way to
dialogue and mutual understanding. The countries of the world are in dire need
of cooperation and unity in order to reside in peace and this is what the wise
and sincere, who want the best for humanity, should call unto.
May Allah (SWT) forgive
our sins, increase our Iman, bestow our world more peace and security and bless
us all (Ameen).
