|
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]
Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:36:54 PM
© 2004, Human Development
Foundation. All rights reserved.
1350 Remington Road, Suite W, Schaumburg, Il. 60173
Toll Free: (800) 705-1310 | Email: info@yespakistan.com
| Privacy Policy
|
