• Home
• /
• Opinion

Justice in Islam

Justice is the sole of Islamic state and it should be impartial

In the Islamic worldview, justice denotes placing things in their rightful place. It also means giving others equal treatment. In Islam, justice is also a moral virtue and an attribute of human personality, as it is in the Western tradition. Justice is close to equality in the sense that it creates a state of equilibrium in the distribution of rights and duties, but they are not identical. Sometimes, justice is achieved through inequality, like in unequal distribution of wealth.

Islam explicitly emphasises that its economic, political and social order of life be based on justice and calls upon those who are in authority to augment and promote the cause of justice in their administrative and executive spheres. The Holy Quran has been revealed inter alia for the realisation of the ideal of justice. Islam stands for all that is good, healthy and desirable in life.

The Holy Quran and the Sunnah give us a methodology for the realisation of justice in our practical life. The Holy Quran and the Sunnah aim at the good of human beings and since they are dynamic process for the evolution of human society and they provide a clear and practical plan for achieving the goal of justice.

The Quranic concept of justice guarantees harmonious and balanced opportunities of simultaneous development individually as well as collectively. Socialism pursues equality but deprives man of his personal freedom, whereas capitalism lays stress upon the ideals of freedom but deprives man of his right to equality.

Hence the ideal of justice that the Holy Quran contemplates is one wherein a Muslim would be free and encouraged to live a moral life to perform his obligations strictly in accordance with the priorities fixed by Allah.

It is, therefore, inherent in the very nature of Islam that its followers should find a state based on justice as envisioned in the Holy Quran.

Islam places enormous responsibilities on Muslims and requires them to uphold the cause of justice. The Holy Quran says: “Surely, We have sent down the Book to you with the truth, so that you may do justice between men in the light of that which Allah has enlightened you. And do not be an advocate for the dishonest.”

The occasion for the revelation of this verse was a dispute between a Muslim and a Jew in which the Holy Prophet passed his judgment against the Muslim in view of the importance of justice.

Allah has revealed in the Holy Quran as follows: “... and when you pronounce judgment between the people, give the decision with fairness” — 4:58.

Similarly, in another place in the Holy Quran Allah has ordered: “Let not the hatred of any people induce you act unjustly. Deal justly; that is nearer to piety...” — 5:8.

Addressing the Muslims in verse 35 of Surah Nisa of the Holy Quran, Allah says: “O you, who believe, stand firmly for justice, against yourself or your parents or your near relations — whether he be rich or poor — Allah has better right over them both.”

Thus the concept of justice guides mankind to the path of universal; peace and prosperity. Justice and to be just is the greatest teaching of Islam. There is no distinction between the rich and the poor, high or low, as Allah has ordained in the Holy Quran: “Allah enjoins justice and benevolence” — 16:90.

What a peaceful and happy life we would enjoy if every one of us is ever just and fair in all the affairs of sale and purchase and in all other dealings of our day-to-day life. Justice is the foundation stone of the structure of Islamic state. It is based on the concept of justice and fundamentals embodied in the Holy Quran.

The Holy Prophet administered the affairs of the state in accordance with the injunctions contained in the Holy Quran. According to the principles of Islamic polity, equality does not mean that all persons are equal in all respects. The sole criterion for giving preference is piety. Justice is the sole of Islamic state and it should be impartial. High and low, prince and the peasant, white and black stand equal. The Holy Quran enjoins Muslims to decide a case on the basis of equity, justice and upright testimony.

As such, the entire Muslim community is held responsible for the administration of justice. In the Holy Quran Allah says: “And the word of your Lord has been perfected truth justice” — 61:16.

It is, therefore, incumbent on every Muslim to check all selfish wrong doings and to leave no stone unturned in eradicating the root cause of injustice and oppression in whatever form it is found so that society could be purged of oppression and the humanity may enjoy the fruit of justice irrespective of racial discrimination, regional difference and distinction of colour.