Introduction: (The Concept of Justice in Islam)
There are many meanings of justice in Islam. Islamic scholars have tried to clarify it from their own perspective. Some of the meanings are as follows:
Justice is derived from the Arabic words “Ain.dal.lam (ع۔ د۔ل)” which means equality, as maintaining equality between two things is called justice. ((Lisan al-Arab)) by Ibn Manzur (11/430).
The meaning of the term justice is quite broad, which scholars have explained in their own words. Thus, Ibn Hazm, while defining it, says:
The meaning of justice is that you pay the rights of others on your behalf and receive your rights from others. (Al-Akhlaq wasseyar Ibn e Hazam,page:81)
Allama Ibn Uthaymeen, while defining the word “justice”, says:
“Justice means giving everything the place it deserves.” (Tafseer Ibn e Uthaimeen:3/80)
A very good Islamic scholar, Allama Ibn Jahiz, has explained the meaning of “justice” as follows:
Using matters in their times and places, in their quantities and reasons, in such a way that there is neither excess nor deficiency in them, nor is there any advance or delay in time. (Tahzeeb ul Akhlaq Ibn e Jahaz, page:28)
From all the above lines, it is clear that the meaning of justice is that a person should subject his life to the Islamic teachings. As much as the Sharia has ordered to be given respect to someone, he should be given that much, and what the Sharia has forbidden, should be stopped immediately.
This can be understood through an example that Allah Almighty has bestowed upon parents the utmost honor and dignity. He has commanded them to be obeyed and obedient in all circumstances. He has forbidden scolding and speaking them harsh words. He has even described their disobedience as a major sin. With all that, Allah has set a limit to their honor. Everything they say will be obeyed as long as they remain submissive to Islam. But as they give an order that is against Islam or in disobedience to Allah Almighty, then they should be excused from obeying their order without any lateness. This is called justice which means giving everything the same importance that Islamic law has ordered.
Another rule of Islam is that if parents order disobedience to Allah, their words will not be obeyed. However, justice also requires that respect and honor be maintained in all ways when speaking to and addressing them.
Justice in the light of the Quran:
All the teachings of Islam are full of justice. Islam commands justice and strictly prohibits injustice. Here are some Quranic verses and hadiths that will make it clear how much importance is given to justice in Islam.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
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. (Surah An’Nahal:90)
وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ
And when you testify, be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. (Surah Al-Anaam:152)
قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّي بِالْقِسْطِ
Say, [O Muhammad], “My Lord has ordered justice. (Surah Al-A’araf:29)
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 have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, acquainted. (Surah An’Nisa:135)
وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ
And I have been commanded to do justice among you.(Surah Ash’Sura:15)
Justice in the light of Hadith:
1. It was narrated that ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit said: “We pledged to the Messenger of Allah to hear and obey during our hardship and our ease, when we felt energetic and when we felt tired, that we would not contend with the orders of whomever was entrusted with it, that we would stand for justice wherever we may be, and that we would not fear the blame of any blamer for the sake of Allah. (Sunan Nasai:4153)
2. It has been narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said: Behold! The Dispensers of justice will be seated on the pulpits of light beside God, on the right side of the Merciful, Exalted and Glorious. Either side of the Being is the right side both being equally meritorious. (The Dispensers of justice are) those who do justice in their rules, in matters relating to their families and in all that they undertake to do. (Sahih Msulim:1827)
3. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet PBUH said, “Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. (the first of These seven persons is) a just ruler. (Sahih Bukhari:660)
4. Narrated AbuSa’id al-Khudri: The Prophet PBUH said: The best fighting (jihad) in the path of Allah is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler.(Sunan Abi Dawud:4344)
Three things about Justice emerge in the light of the above Quranic verses and Ahadith:
1. Importance of justice:
The importance of justice can be gauged from the fact that Allah Almighty has commanded in the Holy Quran to establish justice in every filed of life. That should be kept in mind that when Allah commands something, it means, it is obligatory for every human being to carry it out in every filed of his life and if someone does not carry it out even in one field of his life, he is a sinner in the sight of Allah Almighty and he will be punished for that on the Day of Judgment.
Therefore the Messenger of Allah PBUH made it obligatory for a person, after his accepting Islam, to keep justice in mind in every matter. Similarly, Allah Almighty commanded His Prophet PBUH that you too, O Prophet, should uphold justice throughout your life. It is not right for the Messenger of Allah to even think that he will not be just. In fact, this command was for the entire Ummah. The Prophet PBUH said in a Hadith:
“Every one of you is a guardian and every one of you is responsible (to do justice). A ruler is a guardian and is responsible (for his subjects); a man is a guardian of his family and responsible (for them); a wife is a guardian of her husband’s house and she is responsible (for it), a slave is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible (for that). Beware! All of you are guardians and are responsible (to do justice). (Sahih Bukhari:5188)
Meaning that Allah Almighty has given every human being a role in this society, and society will not function properly unless all its members uphold justice and fairness in all their dealings. The importance of justice is so great and high that Allah Almighty has strictly forbidden abandoning justice in the case of friendship or enmity with someone. Allah Almighty says:
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. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do. (Surah Al-Maidah: 08)
So Ibn Al-Qayyim said Allah the Exalted has made clear in his law (sharia) that the objective is the establishment of justice between His servants and fairness among the people, so whichever path leads to justice and fairness is part of the religion and can never oppose it. (At-Turuqul Hikmiyah, Page: 13)
2. Greatness of Justice:
It is Allah’s law that when He mentions an important responsibility of something; He also describes a great reward to do it and severe punishment for not doing it. For example:
Believing in Allah alone and avoiding polytheism is a big order form Allah and its reward is Paradise, Establishing five prayers a day is a great order form Alah and reward is cleanliness from all sins, Jihad is the most difficult task, but whoever performs it is as if he was born today, Etc.
Similarly, doing justice in all aspects of life is a great task in the performance of which sometimes a person has to anger his relatives, friends, neighbors and children. so its reward has also been described as great that on the Day of Judgment, Allah Almighty will seat those who do justice on pulpits of light, so that people will recognize them from afar that these are the people who obeyed Allah’s command and practiced justice in the world. That is why Allah Almighty has declared justice as the best means of attaining piety. Allah Says in the Holy Quran:
Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. (Surah Al-Maidah:08)
3. Punishment for injustice
To run any society well, there are a few basic things that are needed. Without them, even an Islamic society cannot run well. Among them, justice and fairness are of the utmost importance. It is not wrong to say that even if all the laws of Islam are implemented in a society, if justice is not established, that Islamic society will not be able to run. Narrated `Aisha: The Quraish people became very worried about the Makhzumiya lady who had committed theft. They said, “Nobody can speak (in favor of the lady) to Allah’s Messenger PBUH and nobody dares do that except Usama who is the favorite of Allah’s Messenger PBUH.” When Usama spoke to Allah’s Messenger PBUH about that matter, Allah’s Messenger PBUH said, “Do you intercede (with me) to violate one of the legal punishment of Allah?” Then he got up and addressed the people, saying, “O people! The nations before you went astray because if a noble person committed theft, they used to leave him, but if a weak person among them committed theft, they used to inflict the legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad committed theft, Muhammad will cut off her hand. (Sahih Bukhari: 6788)
This sentence “The nations before you went astray because if a noble person committed theft, they used to leave him, but if a weak person among them committed theft, they used to inflict the legal punishment on him” in this hadith is worth noting, which shows that one of the reasons for the destruction of the first nations was that they did not practice justice in their society. Therefore Sayyeduna Amar bin A’as said:
A kingdom is established through the young, and young are acquired through wealth. Wealth is not secure without a building, and no building can stand without justice.(Al-Aqdul Fareed:1/33)
Once one of the ministers of Ameer ul Momineen Umar bin Abdul Aziz wrote to him saying that the system of our city has deteriorated so send us some money so that it can be fixed. The Umar bin Abdul Aziz replied by saying that “establish justice in your city and save the people from oppression”, this will improve all the conditions in your city. (Hilyatul Awliya: 5/305)
The above lines make it clear that if injustice and oppression reign in a society, the system of that society will be destroyed.
Spiritual benefits of Devine Justice (Adal):
Without spiritual peace, life is very painful. Despite having all the facilities of the world, many wealthy people are going to different hospitals and doctors to find mental peace. In most cases, the reason for people’s mental distress and depression is that they don’t have “Justice” in their lives. Or they themselves are not doing justice with others. In the following some spiritual benefits of justice are being explained in the light of Quran and Hadith:
1. Justice is a Foundation of Faith:
Justice is integral to faith, as the Quran commands believers to uphold it. By ensuring fairness and justice in all matters, individuals strengthen their connection with Allah, fulfilling His command. It is an expression of a deep commitment to righteousness and ethical conduct. Quran says:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to uphold justice”. (Surah An-Nahal:90)
2. Justice Leads to Peace:
Allah says in the Holy Quran: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice” (Suran An-Nisa:135)
Justice fosters peace within the community and in the heart of the individual. By practicing fairness and impartiality, individuals contribute to harmony, eliminating conflict and promoting unity in both society and personal life.
3. Allah’s Mercy to the Just:
The Prophet PBUH said: “The just will be seated upon pulpits of light”. (Sahih Muslim:1827)
Allah shows great mercy to those who are just, rewarding them in the Hereafter. The hadith assures that just individuals will be honored in the afterlife, highlighting the spiritual benefit of striving for fairness in this world.
4. Justice Purifies the Soul:
Allah says: “Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (Surah Al-Mumtahina:8)
By practicing justice, a person purifies their heart and soul. It removes bias, envy, and hatred, nurturing a spirit of integrity and compassion. The act of being just aligns a person’s actions with divine will, leading to spiritual purification.
5. Justice is a Form of Worship:
The prophet says: “Justice is a part of the worship of Allah.” (summary of hadith) (Sunan Ibn Majah:172)
Every act of justice becomes an act of worship when done with the intention to please Allah. It serves as a means to earn Allah’s pleasure and closeness, as upholding justice is viewed as fulfilling a religious duty.
6. Justice Brings Divine Guidance:
Quran says: “And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly” (Surah Al-Maidah:42)
Justice not only benefits society but also invites Allah’s guidance. When individuals judge with fairness, Allah’s blessings and wisdom guide them, helping to achieve both worldly and spiritual success. It leads to clarity and righteousness in decision-making.
7. Justice Removes Oppression:
The messenger of Allah says: “Beware! Oppression will be darkness on the Day of Judgment.” (Sahih Bukhari:2447)
Justice serves as a powerful tool to eliminate oppression. Upholding justice prevents harm to others, alleviating their suffering and ensuring equality. By being just, one prevents the spiritual consequence of oppressing others, which leads to darkness in the afterlife.
8. Justice Strengthens the Community:
Quran says: “And when you speak, be just…” (Surah Al-Anam: 152)
A community that practices justice strengthens its bonds and fosters mutual respect. Fairness in speech and action builds trust, which is essential for a thriving society. This unity supports both the collective well-being and spiritual development of individuals.
9. Justice is a sign of Allah’s nearness:
The prophet says: “Seven (people) will be shaded by Allah by His Shade on the Day of Resurrection when there will be no shade except His Shade. (the first will be) a just ruler. (Sahih Bukhari:6806)
The just are the most beloved to Allah because their actions reflect the highest level of taqwa. Being just requires fear of Allah and a commitment to His commands, demonstrating true piety in thought and action. This brings individuals closer to their Creator.
10. Justice Ensures Accountability in the Hereafter:
Allah says in the holy Quran: “Indeed, your Lord is ever watchful.” (Surah Al-Fajar: 14)
The practice of justice serves as a reminder of the ultimate accountability in the Hereafter. Allah will hold everyone accountable for their actions, including how justly they dealt with others. The just will be rewarded, and the unjust will face consequences. Practicing justice prepares individuals for this divine reckoning.
Some Social impacts of Justice:
Justice has a large number of impacts on social life some of them are explained in the following:
1. Promotes Social Harmony and Unity:
Justice serves as the foundation for peaceful coexistence within a society. When people believe that they will be treated fairly and equally, it fosters mutual respect and understanding. The perception of fairness reduces resentment, division, and hostility between different groups, leading to a more cohesive community. This unity strengthens social bonds, creating an environment where individuals can collaborate and live together harmoniously. In the absence of justice, inequality and oppression can breed conflict, making it harder for society to function effectively. By ensuring justice, societies can prevent division and create a sense of belonging for all members, regardless of their backgrounds.
2. Reduces Inequality and Injustice:
One of the key social impacts of justice is its ability to reduce inequality and address systemic injustice. Justice ensures that all members of society have equal access to opportunities, resources, and protections. It addresses issues like discrimination, poverty, and marginalization, helping to lift up those who are disadvantaged or oppressed. In the presence of justice, laws are applied fairly, without bias or favoritism, ensuring that everyone has the same chance to succeed. It works to level the playing field and empower people to overcome social and economic challenges. The removal of these inequalities is crucial for a balanced and just society, where everyone can flourish.
3. Fosters Trust in Institutions and Governance:
When justice is upheld consistently, it fosters trust between the government and its citizens. People are more likely to respect laws and abide by rules when they believe that justice will be served fairly. Public trust in institutions such as the judicial system, law enforcement, and government is critical for social stability. If people perceive the system as corrupt or biased, it leads to disillusionment, resistance, and even unrest. On the other hand, a society that sees justice in action encourages cooperation, civic participation, and a commitment to maintaining peace. This trust allows for more effective governance, as people are more willing to contribute to and support societal initiatives.
4. Strengthens Social Cohesion and Solidarity:
Justice plays a pivotal role in fostering social cohesion and solidarity within diverse communities. When individuals feel that they are being treated justly, they are more likely to collaborate and support one another. This solidarity is essential in addressing collective challenges, such as poverty, crime, and environmental issues. The idea that “justice for one is justice for all” helps unite people from various backgrounds, creating a sense of shared responsibility. It promotes a culture of mutual respect, where the well-being of others is prioritized alongside one’s own. This cohesive environment enhances a society’s ability to respond to challenges collectively and ensures that people from different walks of life can coexist peacefully.
5. Encourages Accountability and Ethical Behavior:
The implementation of justice encourages accountability in both individuals and institutions. People are more likely to act ethically when they know that there are consequences for unjust actions, such as crime, corruption, or abuse of power. When justice is prioritized, it sends a clear message that unethical behavior will not be tolerated, which in turn discourages harmful actions. In a just society, individuals are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and contribute positively to the welfare of others. Social institutions, such as businesses and governments, are held accountable to their citizens, ensuring that they act in the public interest. This creates a culture of integrity, where honesty and fairness are valued, benefiting society as a whole.
Conclusion:
From all the above discussion, it is clear that “justice” is the basic pillar for establishing any society. Its greatness and importance have been described with details in the Quran and Hadith. Without it, not only does society get destroyed, but its effects remain in the world for a long time.
Every human being has been created by Allah Almighty with a responsibility and has been ordered to be completely just in his assignment. This address is for every individual in the world, no matter what kind of work he is performing. Therefore, if we want to bring peace and comfort to the society as well as to the individual life, it is necessary to implement justice in every sector.
Important Note:
The companions of the Messenger of Allah PBUH implemented justice in all aspects of their lives. A study of their lives provides us with many examples of justice. Darussalam has written an unparalleled book on the life of Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghaffari, which highlights the just aspects of his life. Every Muslim should read it. You can order it online using the link below.
Name of Book: “Abu Dhar Al-Ghaffari (RA) The Struggle for Equality- English
https://darussalam.uk/abu-dhar-al-ghaffari-ra-the-struggle-for-equality-english.html
Note: For an introduction to the most scholarly books on numerous other topics of Darussalam, just visit:
