THE QURANIC CONCEPT OF JUSTICE - by M.Z.M.NAZIM
In the name of Allah the Most Compassionate the Merciful
In the Quranic concept of Justice emphasis is placed on Four Elements - Balance, equity,
duty and trust. Consider the following verse of the Holy Quran : 3:161 states:
"NO PROPHET COULD (EVER) BE FALSE TO HIS TRUST. IF ANY PERSON IS
SO FALSE, HE SHALL, ON THE DAYOF JUDGMENT, RESTORE WHAT HE MISAPPROPRIATED: THEN SHALL EVERY SOUL RECEIVE ITS DUE -
WHATEVER IT EARNED - AND NONE SHALL BE DEALT UNJUSTLY."
And again in Verse 185 of the same chapter :
"Every soul shall have a taste of death and only on the day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense.."
and Again in Verse 40 of Chapter 4 - The Holy Quran says:
"ALLAH IS NEVER UNJUST IN THE LEAST DEGREE. IF THERE IS ANY
GOOD (DONE), HE DOUBLES IT, AND GIVES FROM HIS OWN PRESENCE
A GREAT REWARD."
These 3 verses specify three compelling concepts -
1. No one shall be wronged.
2. Reward for good deeds will be multiplied; and
3. Since the whole universe is moving towards ultimate good - acts of evil will ultimately
end in doom and become nullified.
In so far as equity is concerned, the preponderance of good regulates the administration of
Justice. In Chapters 16 verse 61 and chapter 35 verse 45 - the Holy Quran states :
"IF ALLAH WERE TO PUNISH MEN ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY DESERVE,
HE WOULD NOT LEAVE ON THE BACK OF THE (EARTH) A SINGLE LIVING
CREATURE: BUT HE GIVES THEM RESPITE FOR A STATED TERM. WHEN THEIR
TERM EXPIRES, VERILY ALLAH HAS IN HIS SIGHT ALL HIS CREATURES."
This shows that man is bent on performing acts of transgression and sin and he succumbs to
temptation - as a result, his judgment becomes clouded and he is led astray and it also becomes
a question of struggle between good and evil. Allah in His infinite Mercy guides and supports man
against the forces of Evil at the sametime condemns man's lapses so that he may discern good from
evil. It is this attitude of the Holy Quran that shows Allah's infinite Mercy and spring of hope by
giving him time to reflect and ponder on his sins and correct himself.
If not for this hope, frustration sets in and man's life becomes meaningless and futile.
Hence he is given the opportunity of repentance to recover himself from his evil ways. Repentance
does not mean just repenting of the past sins: but it is a contract of the future - a covenant with
Allah that you will avoid, in future, the misdeeds of the past. This once gain emphasises
sympathy, understanding and hope.
The element of duty is emphasized in Chapter 7 verse 29 of the Holy Quran :
"Say my lord hath commanded justice, and that you set your whole selves (to HIM) at every time
and place of prayer, and call upon him making your devotion sincere as in His sight: Such as He
created you in the beginning so shall you return."
So you see, man is forced to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, the
administration of Justice without fear or favour, the establishment of Justice between Muslims
and Non-Muslims and Justice between friends and foes and this Quranic statement will
place a further emphasis:
"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 YOU
SWERVE, AND IF YOU DISTORT JUSTICE OR DECLINE TO DO JUSTICE, VERILY
ALLAH IS WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THAT YOU DO." 4:135
Can anything be more comprehensive that this verse! It reiterates that Justice must be administered
without fear or favour. Justice must be dispensed openly and fearlessly - All considerations not
related to the issue under determination are eliminated - friendship or kinship has no say in the
administration of Justice in Islam as well as the fact that the Principle of Final Judgment rests with
Allah and Allah alone.
The imposition of Justice, as a duty, is very emphatically stated in CH.6. V.152 :
"AND COME NOT NIGH TO THE ORPHAN'S PROPERTY, EXCEPT TO IMPROVE IT,
UNTIL HE ATTAIN THE AGE OF FULL STRENGTH. GIVE MEASURE AND WEIGHT
WITH FULL JUSTICE: NO BURDEN DO WE PLACE ON ANY SOUL, BUT THAT
WHICH IT CAN BEAR. WHENEVER YE SPEAK, SPEAK JUSTLY, EVEN IF A NEAR
RELATIVE IS CONCERNED AND FULFIL THE COVENANT OF ALLAH. THUS
DOTH HE COMMAND YOU, THAT YE MAY REMEMBER."
The fourth element is Trust.
Here justice is imposed as a duty according to the capacity of each individual.
Position of Higher responsibility demand a greater obligation of Trust. Ch.4. v.58 states:
'ALLAH DOES COMMAND YOU TO RENDER BACK YOUR TRUSTS TO THOSE TO
WHOM THEY ARE DUE; AND WHEN YOU JUDGE BETWEEN MAN AND MAN,
THAT YOU JUDGE WITH JUSTICE: VERILY HOW EXCELLENT IS THE TEACHING
WHICH HE GIVES YOU! FOR ALLAH IS HE WHO HEARS AND SEES ALL THINGS."
This naturally brings us to a point of order with regard to the selection of persons to positions of
responsibility and in verse Ch.6. V.135 Allah issues a very severe warning to those persons
entrusted with positions of trust - He says
"O My people! DO WHATEVER YE CAN: I WILL DO MY PART: SOON WILL YOU KNOW
WHO IT IS WHOSE END WILL BE (BEST) IN THE HEREAFTER: CERTAIN IT IS THAT
THE WRONG-DOERS WILL NOT PROSPER."
The meaning is very clear -
It does not only mean that one should conduct oneself with justice - but also
UPHOLD JUSTICE AND ESTABLISH A JUST ORDER IN SOCIETY.
Persecution must be replaced by understanding and justice as it is quite evident that in the ultimate
analysis everything and everyone is answerable to Allah and Allah alone. This once again guides
man to be Just in his Moral, social, economical, legal, political and personal obligations.
Equal Justice is applicable to all.
WHAT IS WRONG IS WRONG FOR ALL.
WHAT THAT IS FORBIDDEN IS FORBIDDEN TO ALL.
THAT WHICH IS A CRIME IS A CRIME TO ALL.
It follows, therefore, that positions of Trust, leadership, or governments must not be given to
incompetent, dishonest, immoral and untruthful persons. This will result in the destruction
of the whole nation. Muslims are warned - it is imperative that they appoint leaders who
are capable of truth, justice, honesty and those who judge by the Holy Quran.
Our Holy Prophet Muhummed (S) has said with regard to Government and Affairs of the People -
"The Hour of Doom is near when Trust is Wasted."
The people then asked :
"O Messenger of Allah, how is it that a trust is wasted?"
He, Rasool (S) replied: "When leadership is entrusted to those unworthy of it."
I would like to conclude this topic with verses 7, 8 & 9 of Ch.55. It states:
"AND THE FIRMAMENT HAS HE RAISED HIGH, AND HE HAS SET UP THE
BALANCE OF JUSTICE - IN ORDER THAT YE MAY NOT TRANSGRESS
DUE BALANCE. SO ESTABLISH WEIGHT WITH JUSTICE AND FALL NOT
SHORT IN THE BALANCE."
The Balance is a sign of Justice incorporated into the grand design of the Universe.
Innumerable stars and constellations, planets and galaxies in their orbits all sustained
by a mathematical balance and hence Justice becomes a heavenly virtue. It also extends
to the fact that man should be honest and straight in every daily matter such as weighing
out things which he is selling and he should be straight, just and honest in all the highest dealings,
not only with other people, but with himself and in his obedience to Allah's Law.
Not many, do, either the one, or the other, when they have an opportunity of deceit.
Justice is the central virtue, and the avoidance of both excesses and defect in conduct keeps the
human world balanced just as the heavenly world is kept balanced by the mathematical order.
DESTROY JUSTICE AND YOU DESTROY THE BALANCE OF THIS WORLD
AND YOU DESTROY THE UNIVERSE.
May Allah in His Mercy guide us all along the right path. Aameen.