Life is established on justice

Justiceis the balance that Allaah has imposed for His creatures andestablished for fulfilling rights. It is one of the foundations uponwhich this world is established, and without it life can neither beorderly nor reformed. Justice leads to bringing people together andurges them to be obedient to Allaah. It is also a cause ofdevelopment and increase of wealth, growth of the young generationsand prevalence of security for those in power and authority. Due tothe importance of justice, it was said, “Life continues withjustice and disbelief, but cannot continue with injustice and Islam”.

IbnTaymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, “Justice is thefoundation upon which everything has been established. When matterspertaining to this life are based on justice, then it will remain onthe right course, even if the person who establishes this justicedoes not have in the Hereafter any share. On the other hand, if thislife is not based on justice, it will not be on the right course,even if the person who does not establish justice has faith that hewill be rewarded for in the Hereafter”.

Healso said, “Justice is the right that every person has overanother, under all circumstances; and injustice is prohibited anddisallowed, under all circumstances”.

Dueto the high and sublime status of justice, we find the Sharee‘ahraising its importance and ordering people and urging them toestablish justice. In this respect, Allaah The Almighty Says (whatmeans): (O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm injustice, witnesses for Allaah, even if it be against yourselves orparents and relatives) [Quran 4:135]. (O you who have believed, bepersistently standing firm for Allaah , witnesses in justice, and donot let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just;that is nearer to righteousness) [Quran 5:8].

Inthese two verses, Allaah The Exalted commands the believers to adoptjustice as one of their morals and characteristics by using the word“Qawwaam”, which is a mode of hyperbole that declares Justice asone of the manners instilled in them. In another general andcomprehensive verse, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): (Indeed,Allaah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives andforbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes youthat perhaps you will be reminded) [Quran 16:90].

Issuesof Establishing Justice

Weare commanded to be just in everything. Here, we draw the attentionto some fields where justice apparently occurs:

1-Governance: In this field, establishing justice is required by givingpeople their due rights and refraining from giving rights to thosewho do not deserve them, providing equal opportunities to peopleaccording to what is sufficient to each one of them and employingpeople in their appropriate place according to their abilities. Itwas narrated in a Hadeeth that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said that a just ruler is one of those who will be protectedby the shade of Allaah on the Day of Judgment.

2-Judiciary: Settling disputes between people must be based on justice,without the least trend of bias. This must occur in settling disputesin courts, applying the prescribed punishments, other disciplinarypunishments and retributions. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):(And when you judge between people, to judge with justice) [Quran4:58]. It was narrated in a Hadeeth that the Prophet, sallallaahu‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “When you judge between people be just.”In another Hadeeth, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Judges are of three types: One of them will enter Paradise and theother two types will enter Hell. The one who knows the truth andjudges accordingly will enter Paradise; The one who knows the truthand deviates in his judgment will enter Hell; likewise, the one whoignorantly judges among people will enter Hell”.

3-Giving Testimony: One is required to be just when he gives testimonyby informing of what he saw or heard, but if he testifies with whatcontradicts what he saw, then he is to be deemed as a person whotestifies to falsehood. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): (Andwhen you testify, be just) [Quran 6:152]. (And [they are] those whodo not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, theypass by) [Quran 25:72].

4-Treating Wives: Justice in treating one's wives is by giving each oneof them her due share of financial maintenance, residence and stayingover at her house. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,warned Muslims against being unjust in treating wives, where he said:“When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, hewill come on the Day of Judgment with his side sloping”.

5-Treating Children: Acting justly with one’s children is when theparents give equal share of gifts, upbringing and any other thingthey can afford to give. It was narrated in a Hadeeth, that theProphet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Fear Allaah andtreat your children fairly”.

AMuslim is required to be just in all his dealings and what has beenmentioned above are just examples of showing justice.

Also,a Muslim is required to be just even with his enemies, as Allaah TheAlmighty Says (what means): (And I have been commanded to do justiceamong you) [Quran 42:15].

Whenthe Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent Abdullaah ibnRawaahah, may Allaah be pleased with him, to estimate the tax thatwas to be paid for the dates in the fields of the people of Khaybar,they wanted to bribe him, so he said, “By Allaah, I have come toyou after leaving the most beloved person to my heart and my hatredfor you is greater than my hatred for apes and pigs. However, my lovefor him and hatred for you can in no way prevent me from being justwith you.” When they heard this, they said, “Upon this [justice],both heaven and earth are established”.

AsMuslims, when we adhere to justice in our manner and behavior andconsider it as a method of life, we spread the feeling of security,assurance and enhance the welfare of our societies. Moreover, when weadhere to justice, we reveal the greatness and sublimity of Islambefore others. Thereby, they will desire to know about this religionand to embrace it, as it was the example of the early Muslims. We askAllaah The Exalted to grant us justice, in both calmness and anger.

Source:islamweb.net

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