Justice is the balance that Allah has imposed for His creatures and established for fulfilling rights. It is one of the foundations upon which this world is established, and without it life can neither be orderly nor reformed. Justice leads to bringing people together and urges them to be obedient to Allah. It is also a cause of development and increase of wealth, growth of the young generations and prevalence of security for those in power and authority. Due to the importance of justice, it was said, “Life continues with justice and disbelief, but cannot continue with injustice and Islam.”
Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Justice is the foundation upon which everything has been established. When matters pertaining to this life are based on justice, then it will remain on the right course, even if the person who establishes this justice does not have in the Hereafter any share. On the other hand, if this life is not based on justice, it will not be on the right course, even if the person who does not establish justice has faith that he will be rewarded for in the Hereafter.”
He also said, “Justice is the right that every person has over another, under all circumstances; and injustice is prohibited and disallowed, under all circumstances.”
Due to the high and sublime status of justice, we find the Sharee‘ah raising its importance and ordering people and urging them to establish justice. In this respect, Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives.} [Quran 4:135]
· {O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah , witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.} [Quran 5:8]
In these two verses, Allah The Exalted commands the believers to adopt justice as one of their morals and characteristics by using the word “Qawwaam”, which is a mode of hyperbole that declares Justice as one of the manners instilled in them. In another general and comprehensive verse, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.} [Quran 16:90]
Issues of Establishing Justice
We are commanded to be just in everything. Here, we draw the attention to some fields where justice apparently occurs:
1- Governance: In this field, establishing justice is required by giving people their due rights and refraining from giving rights to those who do not deserve them, providing equal opportunities to people according to what is sufficient to each one of them and employing people in their appropriate place according to their abilities. It was narrated in a Hadeeth that the Prophet, , said that a just ruler is one of those who will be protected by the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment.
2- Judiciary: Settling disputes between people must be based on justice, without the least trend of bias. This must occur in settling disputes in courts, applying the prescribed punishments, other disciplinary punishments and retributions. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And when you judge between people, to judge with justice.} [Quran 4:58] It was narrated in a Hadeeth that the Prophet, , said: “When you judge between people be just.” In another Hadeeth, he, said: “Judges are of three types: One of them will enter Paradise and the other two types will enter Hell. The one who knows the truth and judges accordingly will enter Paradise; The one who knows the truth and deviates in his judgment will enter Hell; likewise, the one who ignorantly judges among people will enter Hell.”
3- Giving Testimony: One is required to be just when he gives testimony by informing of what he saw or heard, but if he testifies with what contradicts what he saw, then he is to be deemed as a person who testifies to falsehood. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And when you testify, be just.} [Quran 6:152]
· {And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by.} [Quran 25:72]
4- Treating Wives: Justice in treating one's wives is by giving each one of them her due share of financial maintenance, residence and staying over at her house. The Prophet, , warned Muslims against being unjust in treating wives, where he said: “When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of Judgment with his side sloping.”
5- Treating Children: Acting justly with one’s children is when the parents give equal share of gifts, upbringing and any other thing they can afford to give. It was narrated in a Hadeeth, that the Prophet, , said: “Fear Allah and treat your children fairly.”
A Muslim is required to be just in all his dealings and what has been mentioned above are just examples of showing justice.
Also, a Muslim is required to be just even with his enemies, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And I have been commanded to do justice among you.} [Quran 42:15]
When the Prophet, , sent Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah, may Allah be pleased with him, to estimate the tax that was to be paid for the dates in the fields of the people of Khaybar, they wanted to bribe him, so he said, “By Allah, I have come to you after leaving the most beloved person to my heart and my hatred for you is greater than my hatred for apes and pigs. However, my love for him and hatred for you can in no way prevent me from being just with you.” When they heard this, they said, “Upon this [justice], both heaven and earth are established.”
As Muslims, when we adhere to justice in our manner and behavior and consider it as a method of life, we spread the feeling of security, assurance and enhance the welfare of our societies. Moreover, when we adhere to justice, we reveal the greatness and sublimity of Islam before others. Thereby, they will desire to know about this religion and to embrace it, as it was the example of the early Muslims. We ask Allah The Exalted to grant us justice, in both calmness and anger.