“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealings and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is next to piety. Fear Allah, indeed Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.” (5:8)
BISMILLAHARRAHMANARRAHIM
Justice
Justice is a very important principle, for without true justice, only corruption shall prevail, and when corruption prevails then everything begins to fall apart. One can say that having true justice is the true backbone or foundation of anything that shall lead to success, whether this is specifically applied to a person, or a community in general.
So what does the Quran have to say about justice? The Quran is very clear on the principle of justice, emphasizing that true justice must be carried correctly; the Quran makes this point crystal clear when it teaches the following:
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealings and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is next to piety. Fear Allah, indeed Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.” (5:8)
The Quran teaches the Muslims to stand out firmly and remain impartial and fair when conducting themselves, even if they hate that person they must not swerve away from justice! Hence in Islam even if you hate somebody, you must still be completely fair with him and grant him true justice. This teaching indeed leads to a true sense of justice, because how many times do we see people allowing their personal hate of others to cloud their judgments and decision makings when it comes to this area? How many times have we seen people depart from justice due to their hatred of others?
Not only does the Quran command you to be fair with someone whom you hate, the Quran even states that you must practice justice with everybody, regardless of who they are, even if it against yourself:
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, and your relatives, or whether it is against the rich or the poor...” (Quran 4:135)
So you must stand up for justice no matter what, even it if against your parents, and even if it against the rich and powerful. How many times have we seen throughout history that when it often came to the upper class of society they would often be except and a blind eye would be turned to them? The Quran commands the Muslims to disregard this method and judge everyone equally, whether they are rich and powerful, whether they are your family or not, and even if it is against your own self!
This theme of the Quran is repeated again when it says:
And when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill Allah's covenant; this He has enjoined you with that you may be mindful; (6:152)
So the Quran commands the Muslims that when they speak they must speak with justice, even if it against a relative, meaning a family member. This is true justice, for how can it be justice when you are willing to ignore anything bad that is done by your close relatives while you will judge other people?
The message of true justice is repeated throughout the Quran:
Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts to their owners and that when you judge between people you judge with justice; surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent; surely Allah is Seeing, Hearing. (4:58)
Therefore if they come to you, judge between them or turn aside from them, and if you turn aside from them, they shall not harm you in any way; and if you judge, judge between them with equity; surely Allah loves those who judge equitably. (5:42)
Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful. (16:90)
So the message of justice is one taught and encouraged by the Quran, the Quranic concept of justice is indeed a concept we can all appreciate, and if applied properly shall lead to a strong just fair and secure society.
And Allah Knows Best!
Justice is a very important principle, for without true justice, only corruption shall prevail, and when corruption prevails then everything begins to fall apart. One can say that having true justice is the true backbone or foundation of anything that shall lead to success, whether this is specifically applied to a person, or a community in general.
So what does the Quran have to say about justice? The Quran is very clear on the principle of justice, emphasizing that true justice must be carried correctly; the Quran makes this point crystal clear when it teaches the following:
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealings and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is next to piety. Fear Allah, indeed Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.” (5:8)
The Quran teaches the Muslims to stand out firmly and remain impartial and fair when conducting themselves, even if they hate that person they must not swerve away from justice! Hence in Islam even if you hate somebody, you must still be completely fair with him and grant him true justice. This teaching indeed leads to a true sense of justice, because how many times do we see people allowing their personal hate of others to cloud their judgments and decision makings when it comes to this area? How many times have we seen people depart from justice due to their hatred of others?
Not only does the Quran command you to be fair with someone whom you hate, the Quran even states that you must practice justice with everybody, regardless of who they are, even if it against yourself:
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, and your relatives, or whether it is against the rich or the poor...” (Quran 4:135)
So you must stand up for justice no matter what, even it if against your parents, and even if it against the rich and powerful. How many times have we seen throughout history that when it often came to the upper class of society they would often be except and a blind eye would be turned to them? The Quran commands the Muslims to disregard this method and judge everyone equally, whether they are rich and powerful, whether they are your family or not, and even if it is against your own self!
This theme of the Quran is repeated again when it says:
And when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill Allah's covenant; this He has enjoined you with that you may be mindful; (6:152)
So the Quran commands the Muslims that when they speak they must speak with justice, even if it against a relative, meaning a family member. This is true justice, for how can it be justice when you are willing to ignore anything bad that is done by your close relatives while you will judge other people?
The message of true justice is repeated throughout the Quran:
Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts to their owners and that when you judge between people you judge with justice; surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent; surely Allah is Seeing, Hearing. (4:58)
Therefore if they come to you, judge between them or turn aside from them, and if you turn aside from them, they shall not harm you in any way; and if you judge, judge between them with equity; surely Allah loves those who judge equitably. (5:42)
Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful. (16:90)
So the message of justice is one taught and encouraged by the Quran, the Quranic concept of justice is indeed a concept we can all appreciate, and if applied properly shall lead to a strong just fair and secure society.
And Allah Knows Best!