Justice is defined as “that which is established in people’s hearts as
upright and is the opposite of injustice… It is ruling with truth” (Ibn
Manzur—author of Lisan al-Arab). It is also defined as “using things in their
proper places, times, forms, and measures, without excess, deficiency, haste,
or delay.” The ultimate goal of justice is giving everyone their due.
Justice is an Islamic obligation incumbent upon rulers towards their
subjects and those they govern, among the subjects themselves, and between
those in authority and those under them in all dealings and aspects of life.
Justice is the foundation of governance. In any kingdom where justice is
absent and injustice prevails, sanctities are violated, the strong devour the
weak, the rich oppress the poor, crime spreads, people live in fear, security
is lost, and life transforms into a jungle ruled by thugs, henchmen, repeat
offenders, and criminals. Justice is God’s scale on earth. Through it, the
oppressed are given justice from the oppressor, and the weak from the strong.
Through justice, God confirms the truthful and denies the liar. Through
justice, the aggressor is repelled and rebuked. God commanded the establishment
of justice in His right and in the right of His servants in His Almighty
saying: “Verily, Allah enjoins Al-Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but
Allah Alone - Islamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsan [i.e. to be patient in
performing your duties to Allah, totally for Allah's sake and in accordance with
the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet SAW in a perfect manner], and giving
(help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allah has ordered you to give them e.g.,
wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help, etc.): and
forbids Al-Fahsha' (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, etc.), and Al-Munkar (i.e. all that is prohibited by Islamic
law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds, etc.),
and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression), He admonishes you, that you may
take heed.” (Surat An-Nahl: 90) And God commanded His believing servants to be
upholders of justice, even if it harms them, their parents, or their closest
relatives. This is stated in God's words: "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.” (Surat An-Nisa: 135). And God
commanded us to establish testimony seeking the face of God so that it may be
true, just, and free from distortion, alteration, and concealment, as in His
saying: “Then when they are about to fulfill their appointed term, either take
them back in a good manner or part with them in a good manner. And take for
witness two just persons from among you (Muslims). And establish the witness
for Allah. That will be an admonition given to him who believes in Allah and
the Last Day. And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make
a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).” (Surat At-Talaq: 2). God
commanded His Messenger, our master Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him
peace, to be just among the parties, as He, the Exalted, said: “So unto this
(religion of Islam, alone and this Quran) then invite (people) (O Muhammad
SAW), and Istaqim [(i.e. stand firm and straight on Islamic Monotheism by
performing all that is ordained by Allah (good deeds, etc.), and by abstaining
from all that is forbidden by Allah (sins and evil deeds, etc.)], as you are
commanded, and follow not their desires but say: "I believe in whatsoever
Allah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books, this Quran and the Books
of the old from the Taurat (Torah), or the Injeel (Gospel) or the Pages of
Ibrahim (Abraham)] and I am commanded to do justice among you, Allah is our
Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no
dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us (all), and to Him is the
final return.” (Ash-Shura: 15). God praised those who uphold justice in His
saying, “And among those We created is a community which guides by truth and
thereby establishes justice.” (Surat Al-A’raf: 181); and in His saying, “And
among the people of Moses is a community which guides by truth and by it establishes
justice.” (Surat Al-A’raf: 159). And in His saying: “And Allah presents an
example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a
burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal
to one who commands justice while he is on a straight path?” (Surat An-Nahl:
76).
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, desired justice in word
and deed, as narrated by Ubadah ibn al-Samit, may God be pleased with him, who
said, “We pledged allegiance to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be
upon him, to listen and obey in times of hardship and ease, in times of
activity and reluctance, and not to dispute authority with those in charge, and
to speak justly wherever we are, fearing no blame in the cause of God.”
(Narrated by Ubadah ibn al-Samit; Source: Sahih Ibn Hibban). And as narrated by
Abdullah ibn Amr, on the authority of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon
him: “Those who are just will be on pulpits of light before God, on the right
hand of the Most Merciful, the Exalted and Glorified—and both His hands are
right hands—those who are just in their rulings, with their families, and in
all that they are entrusted with.” (Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr; Source: Sahih
Muslim). And it was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah on the authority
of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace: “There are seven whom
God will shade on the Day of Resurrection in His shade, on a day when there is
no shade except His shade: a just ruler, a young man who grew up in the worship
of God, a man who remembered God in solitude and whose eyes overflowed with
tears, a man whose heart is attached to the mosque, two men who loved each
other for the sake of God, and a man who was invited by a woman of high status
and beauty to herself, and he said, ‘I fear God.’” And a man who gives charity
in secret, so that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.”
(Narrated by Abu Hurairah; Source: Sahih Ibn Hibban) Whoever establishes
justice while being a believer will be on pulpits of light on the Day of
Resurrection. And if he is a just ruler, he is among those whom God will shade
on the Day of Resurrection. The status of one who establishes justice is
respect and appreciation from people in this world, and on pulpits of light to
the right of God on the Day of Resurrection, and among those whom God will
shade with His shade on a day when there is no shade but His.
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