Justice in Islam

In the name of Allah, praise be to Allah, and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and all his Companions.

Justice is one of the greatest values in Islam with which Allah commanded to be established and applied. There are many Ayahs in the Glorious Qur'an exhort Muslims to justice. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, Allâh enjoins Al-'Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allâh Alone - Islâmic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsân [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allâh, totally for Allâh's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet peace be upon him in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allâh has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help), and forbids Al-Fahshâ' (i.e. all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and Al-Munkar (i.e. all that is prohibited by Islâmic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression). He admonishes you, that you may take heed." [Surat An-Nahl: 90].

The prophetic biography of the Messenger (peace be upon him) is full of high values, good manners, a fountain of good for Muslims, a provision for every believer, and a model of clear truth.

Justice and equality are of the greatest noble values with which Allah commanded the Messenger (peace be upon him) and he sought to apply it in the Muslim society; for there is no excellence between an Arab and non-Arab except through piety. Of the greatest proofs on the great justice in Islam is that an honorable Makhzumi woman stole in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to intercede for her. Thereupon, the Prophet (peace be upon him) got angry and said: "Do you try to intercede for somebody in a case connected with Allah's Prescribed Punishments? What destroyed the nations preceding you, was that if a noble amongst them stole, they would forgive him, and if a poor person amongst them stole, they would inflict Allah's Legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad (peace be upon him) stole, I would cut off her hand." [Sahih Al Bukhari].

The Messenger (peace be upon him) established the principle of justice and applied equality in order that Muslims follow this great methodology to establish the truth and refute falsehood without consideration to lineage, race, or color; it is the Shari`ah of Allah (may He be Exalted) in which all people enjoy happiness. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, Allâh 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 (Allâh) gives you! Truly, Allâh is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer." [Surat An-Nisa': 58].

When the values of justice and equality are applied in the Muslim society, it develops, looks forward to prosperity and growth, recovers old glories, and returns to lead mankind in spreading the foundations of Islamic religion, developing sciences, and constructing the earth in abidance to Allah's Command. All people in the state of justice feels security and safety and do not fear oppression and aggression.

Indeed, the more entitled people with the application of justice are judges because of their great role in returning rights to their owners and rendering grievances to their people. To apply justice, knowledge and science must be available as well as urging efforts to apply the commands of Allah (may He be Exalted), following the Sunan of the Messenger (peace be upon him) to activate the values of justice and establishing the truth.

The Prophet's biography contains an explanation to the importance of the judicial office, good news for those who judge according to the truth and threat is for those who destroy peoples' rights. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Judges are three kinds: two of whom will go to hell and one to paradise. A man who judges against (what is) right knowingly is the one to go to hell, and a judge who knows not and so violates the rights of people is the one who (too) will go to hell. And a judge who gives judgment according to (what is) right will go to paradise." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy].

Justice is achieved in our Muslim community by applying it to all, so there is no favoritism to ministers and emirs and the rights of the poor and the needy are rendered back. So, whoever commits a crime even if he is powerful or rich shall have punishment and whoever does something good even if he is one of the poor shall be rewarded. Of the most beautiful types of justice is that a Muslim applies justice on himself by admitting mistakes, apologizing for those who wrong him, and hastening to benevolence. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allâh, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allâh 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, Allâh is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do." [Surat An-Nisa': 135].

Of the great examples of jutice is that a Muslim adopts the values of justice with the enemies, so he does not oppress them nor underestimate their rights; this matter is one of the principles of piety in Islam. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 8].