Principle of Justice in Islam
By: Ali Farkhan Tsani, Scholar of Al-Fatah Islamic School Indonesia
One of many beautiful things in Islam is the obligation of its believer to do justice. Justice means to put things in place and gives the right to each one who has the right.
It is mentioned in Al Qur’an:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Means: “Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberty to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.” (An-Nahl [16] : 90).
Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi Wasallam mentioned in the hadith narrated by Bukhari, “The most wide-ranging verses in the Qur’an about good and evil is this verse of surah An-Nahl. Indeed, Allah ordered to be just and do good”.
In this verse, Allah commanded human being to do justice in every aspect of life, and to do good to fellow human beings. Justice means actualize equality and balance between rights and obligations.
Human rights shall not be reduced due to the obligations over them.
Happiness will be perceived by human beings when their rights guaranteed in the society, rights of everyone respected, and the strong group protect the weak. While deviating the justice it is an aberration from the teachings of Allah.
Allah created the universe certainly is not to sow chaotic and turmoil in human society, such as breakup of love of fellow human beings, embedded revenge in human heart, hatred, envy, jealousy, and so forth. All of it will cause hostility that lead to destruction.
Therefore, Islam uphold the principles of justice to maintain viability of human society.
In Al-Qur’an there are so much verses obtained in Makkah and Madinah, ordered humans to do justice and banning of evil.
Among these mentioned in Qur’an:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُہَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّڪُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْۚ ٱعۡدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ
Mean: “….Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do”. (Al-Ma’idah [5]: .
God establishes justice as a common basis for people’s life and future for every nation, every era, to every people in all ages. Justice that is the goal and the messengers of God to the world and the purpose of the law and the law derived with them.
Allah said in Qur’an:
لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥ وَرُسُلَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬
Mean: “We sent aforetime our messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice; and We sent down Iron, in which is (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help unseen, Him and His messengers; for Allah is Full of Strength exalted in Might (And able to enforce His will).” (Al-Hadid [57]: 25).
Moreover, justice in law enforcement, it is much more important. Therefore, all people are basically the same in the presence of God. There is no difference in whites and blacks, between the sons of the king with the children of the people, all equal before the law.
Implement justice of law is viewed by Islam as carry out the mandate.
As His Word:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُكُمۡ أَن تُؤَدُّواْ ٱلۡأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمۡتُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحۡكُمُواْ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦۤۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا
Mean: “Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between people that ye judge with justice: verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! for Allah is He who heareth and seeth all things. .” (An Nisa [4]: 58).
Thus, the importance of justice so that all can feel the goodness and beauty of the teachings of Islam. Not just because of hatred towards a person or group, then bombard them all, innocent civilians, who are not directly involved, to become a victim.
Hopefully we can implement the principle of justice in Islam, and justice will be realized in all of the nation and all of the world. (RS-2/RS05)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
