Justice in Islam

All praise is due to Allah Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allah as He should be feared that you may have success. Allah says,

Return to your Lord in repentance and surrender your hearts to Him. Do not be deceived by the life of this world.

Know that hearts have a need that cannot be met except by devoting one’s attention to Allah, loving Him and returning to Him in repentance. It is also only through observation of Allah’s commands by shunning forbidden and ambiguous things that bodies can be protected. May Allah bless the one who examines himself, is conscious of his Lord and prepares for his Hereafter!

Fellow Muslims! The life will be pleasant when someone have their rights in full. And there will be progress and developments in civilizations and countries if there is abundance of justice, equality and attainment of rights.

Allah makes men’s hearts incline towards the love for justice, and human nature and wisdom loves it. It is justice that wins kings, leaders and rulers good repute and praise.

The divine messages also came to establish and promote justice. Allah says,

“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise).” (Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71)

The great religion of Islaam came to bring people out of the injustice of various religions to the justice of Islaam, for it is with justice that the heavens and the earth were established. Also, our Lord is Just and deems himself far above being unjust. He says,

“Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the ure and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice.” (Al-Hadeed 57:25)

The religion of Islaam is based upon justice. Allah says,

“Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a small ant).” (An-Nisaa 4:40)

Islaam is truthful in its news and just in its rulings. It does not approve of injustice or aggression. It always stands with the truth wherever it is. Islaam commands fulfilment of promises and covenants even with non-Muslims. Allah commands His Messenger,

“And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.” (Al-An‘aam 6:115)

He also says,

“If you fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them). Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous.” (Al-Anfaal 8:58)

The above verse indicates that justice is mandatory in all situations even if the one involved is one’s enemy. Allah also commands His Prophet to say,

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety.” (Al-Maaidah 5:8)

And He commands the entire mankind to uphold justice,

“I am commanded to do justice among you.” (Ash-Shooraa 42:15)

When the Messenger of Allah was addressing the Muslims about the seven individuals who would be sheltered under the shade of Allah on the Day of Resurrection, the first individual he mentioned was the just ruler. The Messenger of Allah said

“Verily, Allah enjoins justice and kindness.” (An-Nahl 16:90)

“ , “Certainly, the just ones shall stand before Allah [on the Day of Resurrection] on the pulpit of light on the right Hand of Allah – and both His Hands are blessed. These are the ones who are just in their decisions and in their dealings with their families and those over whom they have an authority.”

The opposite of justice is injustice and it is going to be darkness over the unjust on the Day of Resurrection.

Dear brethren! Allah forbids injustice for Himself and makes it forbidden among His servants. For, the unjust will never prosper. Allah says,

There is no doubt that the greatest injustice is to worship others beside Allah as He says in Surah Luqmaan,

“Allah does not like the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:57)

The Muslim nation deserves support and power from Allah if it establishes justice. Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah said,

“Verily joining others in worship with Allah is a great injustice indeed.” (Luqmaan 31:13)

“Allah supports a just government even it is non-Muslim and does not support an unjust government even if it is Muslim.”

Dear brethren! Justice must be maintained in all situations. The consequences of injustice are horrible in this world and in the Hereafter. The Messenger of Allah said,

“ “Whoever usurps an inch of [someone’s] land wrongfully, it will be hanged on his neck on the Day of Resurrection.”

He also said,

“ “Allah the exalted gives respite to the wrongdoer till when He seizes him, He does not allow him to escape.”

Even the injustices suffered by animals will not go in vain. The Messenger of Allah said

“ , “The claimants would get their claims on the Day of Resurrection so much so that the hornless sheep would get its claim from the horned sheep.” (Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah said,

“ “Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him.” (Al-Bukhari)

However weak the oppressed may be, Allah will certainly help him. The Messenger of Allah sad,

“ “Allah raises the invocation of the oppressed through the clouds and He opens the gates of the heavens to it, and He will say: By My Glory and Majesty, I will certainly help you even if it is after a while.” (At-Tirmidhee)

Allah says,

Allah also says,

“Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the wrong-doers do.” (Ibraaheem 14:42)

Won’t the oppressor fear the Lord of the worlds? Is he not frightened by the invocation of the oppressed? Tell those who falsely accuse others and bother the believers concerning their reputation that the call of the oppressed is always accepted. Remember the day that you will be made to stand before Allah. Allah says,

“Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) the towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, (and) severe.” (Hood 11:102)

Fellow Muslims! Islaam regards justice as greatly important, and the reward of justice is abundant with Allah. The invocation of the just is accepted and Allah loves those who are just. The maintainer of justice shall be sheltered under the shade of Allah on the Day of resurrection.

Justice is a quality that a ruler must possess. Allah says,

“And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:58)

Justice must be upheld in all things like decision making, division of properties, delivering judgment on individuals and groups and classifying people as regards their reliability or otherwise.

Islaam teaches that the father should treat his children equally in all aspects. An example in this regard is the story of an-Nu’maan ibn Basheer whose father gave some gifts to the exclusion of his siblings. When the Messenger of Allah was informed of that he commanded him to take back his gift and to treat all his children equally. He told him, “Fear Allah and treat your children equally.”

It is also incumbent upon man to treat his wives equally, and to give them equal rights regarding the number of nights he spends with each and regarding expenses and other matrimonial rights. Allah says,

“Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you!” (An-Nisaa 4:58)

The Messenger of Allah said,

“And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.” (An-Nisaa 4:3)

“ “When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of Resurrection with a side hanging down.” (Abu Daawood)

Justice is required in everything, in sayings and deeds. Allah says,

Being just in sayings is one of the most difficult things. If someone tries to makes himself accustomed to justice, he will succeed. If someone maintains justice and loves equality Allah will teach him the truth and make him compassionate to others. He will also make it easy for him to follow the Sunnah and shun the path of error and desire. Allah says,

“And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence), say the truth.” (Al-An‘aam 6:152)

Dear brethren! Justice demands that one is sincere with oneself. It demands being conscious of Allah and shunning of desires. Allah says,

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.” (An-Nisaa 4:135)

As justice is required in treatment of wives, it is also required in one’s treatment of his employees and subjects. The Prophet said,

“O Daawood (David)! Verily! We have placed you as a successor on the earth; so judge you between men in truth (and justice) and follow not your desire – for it will mislead you from the Path of Allah.” (Saad 38:26)

“ “The Muslim is a brother of his fellow Muslim. He should not wrong him or surrender him [to the enemy].”

Dear Muslims! Fear Allah and be conscious of Him in all that you do or leave. Know that you will stand before Him tomorrow and be recompensed for your deeds.

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