Justice is integral to Islam. It’s woven into the deen of Islam seamlessly. It is a matter that is almost universally recognised.
The political philosopher Edmund Burke, speaking at the trial of Warren Hastings, said:
We have referred you to the Mahomedan law, which is binding upon all, from the crowned head to the meanest subject; a law interwoven with a system of the wisest, the most learned, and most enlightened jurisprudence that perhaps ever existed in the world.
Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) is Al ‘Adl - the Utterly Just. He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) never oppresses any soul.
He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) tells us to do our utmost to be just.
In Surah An-Nisa 4:135, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) tells us to be just even if its against ourselves, our family or our tribe, saying:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
Believers! Stand firm in justice as 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. Follow not your desires, lest you not be just. If you distort your testimony or refuse to give it, then Allah is aware of what you do.
In Surah An-Nahl 16:90, He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) orders justice - and links it to fundamentals like good conduct and closeness to relatives:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Verily, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and He forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
In Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:8, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says that any hatred for another people should not be an obstacle to being just.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah as witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, for that is nearer to righteousness. Fear Allah, for verily, Allah is aware of what you do.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) gave many lessons about justice.
Imam Muslim relates from Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
الْمُقْسِطِينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكِلْتَا يَدَيْهِ يَمِينٌ الَّذِينَ يَعْدِلُونَ فِي حُكْمِهِمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَا وَلُوا
Verily, those who were fair will be in the presence of Allah upon pulpits of light, near the right hand of the Merciful, the Exalted, and both of His sides are right (being equal in honor); those who practiced justice in their rulings and with their families and in all that they did.
While Bukhari relates an incident when someone suggested excusing a noble person from the punishment for theft. On hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُقِيمُونَ الْحَدَّ عَلَى الْوَضِيعِ، وَيَتْرُكُونَ الشَّرِيفَ
People before you were destroyed because they used to inflict the legal punishments on the poor and forgive the rich.
The Khalifah Umar ibn al Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, appointed Umair Ibn Saad, may Allah be pleased with him, as the Wali of Homs in Syria.
Umair once said:
“Islam will remain strong as long as the authority is strong. And the strength of the authority does not come about with the killing by the sword or the lashing by the whip, but by judging with the truth and the upholding of justice.”
When ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard this he said “I wish I had a man like Umayr Ibn Saad to help me with the Muslims’ affairs.”
Abdul Wahid has been active in Muslim affairs in the UK for over 25 years. He has been published on the websites of Foreign Policy, Open Democracy, the Times Higher Educational Supplement, and Prospect Magazine. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AbdulWahid_X.
