In Islam, justice is a moral virtue and an attribute of the human personality world is full of injustices. In the Islamic worldview, justice denotes placing things in their rightful place. It also means giving others equal treatment. In Islam, justice is also a moral virtue and an attribute of human personality, as it is in the Western tradition. Justice is close to equality in the sense that it creates a state of equilibrium in the distribution of rights and duties, but they are not identical. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, and your relatives, or whether it is against the rich or the poor…” (Surah An-Nisa 4:135)
The concept of justice is one of the essential pillars in the maintenance of both the natural and social orders. 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. Justice does require retribution and Islam does call for, “an eye for an eye.” Allah says:
وَيَا قَوْمِ أَوْفُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
“And O my people! Give full measure, and weight in justice and (do) not deprive the people (of) their things, and (do) not act wickedly in the earth spreading corruption.” (Surah Hud 11:85)
Islam has emphasized several principles so that relationships among members of society may be justly and fairly organized. Social justice aimed to found a society that enjoys peace, fraternity, love, and welfare. Indeed, justice in Islam is not restricted to or practised on Muslims only. Rather, it is the genuine right of all members of society regardless of anything else. Allah says:
فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
“So reconcile between them in justice and fairness. Verily, Allah loves those who are just.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:9)
The concept of justice is one of the essential pillars in the maintenance of both the natural and social orders. You who believe be upholders of justice, bearing witness for Allah alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or poor, Allah is well able to look after them.
Here are some Importance points in Justice:
- Justice among people instilling a concept of peace
- Justice tie the pillars to prevail Islamic dogmas
- Justice and peace coexist proximal links
- Justice means shunting one’s utter joys
- Justice in judgments between people
- Justice is righteousness sheds light
- Justice between wives and children
- Justice is a basic objective of Islam
- Justice with our Lord the Almighty
- Justice to be a supreme virtue
- Justice coexists with peace
- Justice in what is believed
- Justice in speech
- Fulfil your trusts
- Do not mock others
- Do not oppress others
- Judge fairly amongst others
- Do not harm innocent people
- Be just towards your dependents
- In Islam, justice is also a moral virtu
- Do not favour anyone above the truth
- The creation of the earth is upon justice
- Islam teaches us to treat each other justly
- Islam is an attribute of human personality
- God love for the person who establishes justice
The Quran views itself as a scripture devoted mainly to laying down the principles of faith and justice. The Quran demands that justice is met for all and that it is an inherent right of all human beings under Islamic Law. The tireless commitment of the Quran to the basic standards of justice is found in its declaration: Allah says:
فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ
“Their Lord responded to them: Never will I cause to be lost the deeds of any among you, whether male or female; you are of one another.” (Surat Ali Imran 3:195)
In Islam, justice stands for placing things in their rightful place. It stands also for forgiving others equal treatment with no discrimination whatsoever. To render justice is a trust that God has conferred on the human being and, like all other trusts, its fulfilment must be guided by a sense of responsibility beyond mere conformity to set rules.
عَنْ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا عِبَادِي إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا
“Allah the Exalted said: O my servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.” (Source: Sahih Muslim 2577)
Islam encourages and emphasizes the prevalence of justice in society. By definition, justice is morally right and fair behaviour; it is not about equality, but equity rather. In a world where justice prevails, crimes go down and prosperity flourishes by a great measure.
Importance of Justice in The Holly Quran:
- “God loves those who judge in equity.” (Quran 5:42)
- “My Lord has commanded justice…” (Surat al-A raf, 29)
- “They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. ” (Surat al-Baqara, 62)
- “making them deaf and blinding their eyes.” (Surah Muhammad, 22-23)
- “Anywho take them as friends are wrongdoers. ” (Surat al-Mumtahana, 8-9)
- “O, my Lord! bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous.”(Surah Ash-Shuar 83)
- “Take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law.” (Quran 6:151)
- “We sent Our Messengers with the Clear Signs and sent down the Book and the Balance with them so that mankind might establish justice.” (Surat al-Hadid, 25)
- “Do not follow your desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist or turn away, Allah is aware of what you do.” (Surat an-Nisa, 135)
- “And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and injustice. None can change His Words.” (Quran 6:115)
- “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them most kindly. ” (Surat an-Nahl, 125)
- “And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and injustice. None can change His Words.” (Quran 6:115)
- “O Yahya! take hold of the Book with might”: and We gave him Wisdom even as a youth.” (Surah Maryam, 12)
Islam teaches us to treat each other justly no matter what the circumstances are; without overstepping boundaries when exacting revenge or being biased towards those with whom we sympathize. The Quranic standards of justice transcend considerations of race, religion, colour, and creed, as Muslims are commanded to be just to their friends and foes alike, and to be just at all levels, as the Quran puts it: Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Verily, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and He forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” (Surat An-Nahl 16:90)
Fair dealings in measurements and weights, as mentioned in the above verse, is also mentioned in other passages where justice in the buying, selling, and by extension, to business transactions in general, is emphasized. 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. Allah says:
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
“And Allah sets forth an example (of) two men, one of them (is) dumb, not he has power on anything, while he (is) a burden on his master. Wherever he directs him not he comes with any good. Is equal he and (the one) who commands [of] justice, and he (is) on a path straight?.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:76)
It is commonly said that Justice is or should be “blind”, in other words rigidly objective, but a Judge is required to possess the quality of insight in the most profound sense. Justice is an obligation of Islam and injustice is forbidden. The centrality of justice to the Quranic value system is displayed by the following verse: Allah says:
وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَاسِبِينَ
“And We set the scales (of) the justice for (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, so not will be wronged any soul (in) anything. And if (there) be weight (of) a seed of mustard We will bring [with] it. And sufficient (are) We (as) Reckoners.” (Surah Al-Anbiya` 21:47)
Justice is an essential part of Islamic dogmas and should be part of every faith bearer. Allah, who is just, is not unaware of what oppressors do; oppressors and traitors will be accounted for what they do in detail in the presence of divine justice.
