What are the principles, concepts and theories of justice in Islam? What is the meaning of the ideas of law, justice and justice in the Holy Quran? What did Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) say about law, justice and justice?
Please read this article to the end to learn more about the idea of fairness and justice in Islam.
Table of contents
- Justice in Islam: Quotations from the Holy Quran
- Allah is the incarnation of justice
- God does not want injustice for mankind
- judge people fairly
- Take no life except by justice and law
- Justice and Equity in Business
- Allah will judge with justice and truth
- God commands justice
- stand firm in righteousness
- Do not make mistakes and injustices
- Don't walk away from justice because you hate someone
- Judge with fairness and justice
- A fair and just legal system
- don't judge with anger
- Political Justice: Release the Prisoners
- create justice among people
- Those who die for justice are martyrs
- Injustice hastens punishment
- Justice for the poor and marginalized
- Holy Quran: a criterion of justice
Today, the notions of justice and fairness are mentioned in many legal systems around the world and in many cases are also their founding principles. Political-legal institutions seek legitimacy by pretending to be fair.
The great liberal philosopher John Rawls also suggested that an institution is legitimate when it is just. In his words: "Justice is the first virtue of institutions as truth is that of the system of thought.„
In a world historically plagued by injustices and inequalities, the idea of fairness, fairness, and fairness is certainly worth striving for and striving for.
In the area of religions, too, Islam places great value on justice and justice. So much so that the Holy Quran repeatedly warns mankind about itSobHe will not forgive those who do wrong and wrongdoers.
Verily, those who disbelieve and make mistakes or injustices, Allah will never forgive them or guide them on any path..
Al-Quran 4:168
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said that the best jihad on the path ofSobit is to speak a word of justice to an unjust ruler.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri narrated: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The best fight (jihad) in the path of Allah is (saying) a word of justice towards an oppressing ruler.
Name of Abi Dawud
On this page we have collected some verses from the Qur'an and prophetic traditions that emphasize the idea of fairness and justice in Islam. I hope these verses will clear up the misconceptions of those who think Islam is devoid of justice and impartiality.
Justice in Islam: Quotations from the Holy Quran
The Holy Qur'an repeatedly exhorts people to do justice and refrain from injustice. He says so in many of his versesSobhe is just and he loves and expects justice from people.
Allah is the incarnation of justice
Al-Quran 4:40Allah/God is never unfair in the slightest: when a good thing is done, He doubles it and gives a great reward from His own presence..
God does not want injustice for mankind
Al-Quran 3:108-109-These are the revelations of God; We recite them to you in all truth.God wants no injustice for mankind.His is all that the heavens and the earth contain. All things will return to God.
Al-Quran 4:49Have you not turned your gaze to those who claim holiness? No, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills.But they will never lack justice in the least..
judge people fairly
Al-Quran 4:48Allah commands you to return your funds to those to whom they are owed;And when judging between man and man, judge fairly:Truly how excellent is the teaching he gives you! For Allah is the One who hears and sees all things..
Take no life except by justice and law
As a general rule, Islam forbids taking the life and liberty of another person except for justice and the law.
The Holy Quran warns mankind that killing one innocent person is tantamount to killing all mankind and saving one innocent life is tantamount to saving all mankind.
Al-Quran 5:32Therefore: We command the Children of Israel that if anyone [of you] kills a person, except in the case of murder or to spread evil in the land, it is as if [you] killed all the people killed and if someone had saved a life it would be like saving the life of the whole town. Even after that, although Our Messengers came with clear signs, many of them continued to riot in the country..
The only exceptions to the sanctity of life in Islam, therefore, are murder and corruption. Corruption here means the massive disruption of public peace, law and order resulting in the loss of so many innocent lives and property.
In this case, if the rebel is caught, his life and liberty can be taken from him after a fair trial.
But even in these cases, an individual or a state cannot simply take the life of the accused.
Such deprivation of life or personal liberty must be consistent with due process of law, after having considered all facts and circumstances.
In other words, it must meet the requirements of the judiciary and the law.
Al-Quran 6:151…Do not take away the life that Allah has sanctified except by justice and law: so He commandsyou to learn wisdom.
In addition, the accused must have the opportunity to be heard, i. H. present his case before an impartial court.
In other words, it must be a substantive and not just a procedural proceeding.
Furthermore, according to Islamic law, such a trial does not always result in the execution of the murderer, even if his guilt is proven.
Read more|Islam about suicide, murder and justice
Justice and Equity in Business
Al-Quran 6:152 And do not approach the orphan's property except to improve it until it is attainedthe age of full strength;give measure and weight with (full) justice;–we do not lay upon any soul a burden which it cannot bear;- whenever you speak, speak fairly, even if you are a close relative; and fulfill the covenant of Allah. So He commands you to remember this.
Allah will judge with justice and truth
Al-Quran 40:20And Allah will judge with (justice and) truth:but those who call on (people) besides Him will not (be able) to judge at all. Verily, it is Allah (alone) Who hears and sees (all things).
God commands justice
Al-Quran 16:90Allah commands justice, doing good and generosity.to relatives and friends etcHe forbids all shameful actions, injustice and rebellion.: He commands you to receive admonition.
stand firm in righteousness
Al-Quran 4:135Oh you who believedStand firm in righteousness, witnesses of Allah, even if it is against yourself or against your parents and relatives. Rich or poor, Allah is worth more than both. Therefore, do not follow personal inclination, so as not to be fair.And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse to give it, then surely Allah is always informed of what you are doing..
Do not make mistakes and injustices
Verily, those who disbelieve and make mistakes or injustices, Allah will never forgive them or guide them on any path..(Holy Quran 4:168)
And how many cities have we destroyed that were insolent in their way of life,and these are their abodes, which were but briefly inhabited after them. And we are the heirs. Nor was it your Lord who destroyed a city until He sent a messenger to its center and taught it Our Signs.nor will we destroy a population unless its members do wrong.(Holy Quran 28:58-59)
Verily, those who deny Allah's signs, unjustly kill the prophets and kill people who uphold justice bring them good tidings of painful punishment. (Holy Quran 3:21)
Don't walk away from justice because you hate someone
Al-Quran 5.8-Oh you, who believe!Stand firm for Allah as a witness of fair dealing and do not let the hatred of others turn you away from evil and from justice. Be fair: that's almost a shame:and fear God. Because Allah is well informed about everything you do..
There is no guilt in those who do righteousness after they have been wronged. (Holy Quran 42:41)
Judge with fairness and justice
Al-Quran 5:42-They like to hear untruths, they devour everything that is forbidden. If they come to you, judge between them or refuse to intervene. If you refuse, they can't hurt you a bit.When judging, judge fairly between them. Because Allah loves those who judge fairly.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) often admonished his people to establish justice and ensure that they were fair and just in their dealings, as can be seen from the hadiths cited below.
A fair and just legal system
The Prophet (peace be upon him) strove to establish a fair and just legal system in the tribal society in which he lived. He said that many ancient civilizations were destroyedSobfor they used to punish the poor by law and pardon the rich.
He also used to say that on the Day of Judgment the bailiffs will sit next to God in the pulpits of light.
Sahih al-Bukhari Volume 8, Book 81, Number 778: Narrated by Aisha (r)-“Usama approached the Prophet on behalf of a woman (who had committed theft). the prophet said“People before you were destroyed because they punished the poor by law and spared the rich.By Him in Whose hands is my soul! If Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet) did that (i.e. stole), I would cut off her hand.”
Sahih Muslim 1827 It was written under the authority of 'Abdullah b. ‘Umar, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Look! the dispensers of righteousness will sit in the pulpits of light at the side of God, at the right hand of the Merciful, Exalted, and Glorious. Each side of self is the right side, both are equally meritorious. (The Justice Donors are) those who exercise justice in their rules, in matters affecting their families, and in everything they undertake to do.
don't judge with anger
Islam not only places great emphasis on the aspect of justice and fairness in the judicial process, but also mentions and warns quite extensively about the timing and circumstances of the judiciary. For example, Islamic law prohibits judges from making decisions when they are angry or upset.
Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 272: Narrated 'Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakra: Abu Bakra wrote to his son who was in Sijistan: 'Don't judge between two people when you are angry, for I heard the Prophet (sws) say: A judge should not judge between two people when he is angry.„
Social and Economic Justice: Usury is prohibited
Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 67: Narrated by Ibn Abbas:The last verse (in the Qur'an) revealed to the Prophet was the verse dealing with usury (i.e. Riba)..
Political Justice: Release the Prisoners
Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 65, Number 286: Narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari: The Prophet said:ButEssenthe hungry, visit the sick and free (free) the captives (pay their ransom).„
create justice among people
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 49, Number 870: Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said:There is a sadaqa for every joint in the human body, and for each day the sun rises there is a sadaqa reward (i.e., charitable gift) to the one who establishes justice between people.”
Those who die for justice are martyrs
Sunan an-Nasa'i 4096 It was narrated that Abu Ja'far said: I was sitting with Suwaid bin Muqarrin and he said: The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: Whoever dies fighting against injustice defends, he is a martyr."
Injustice hastens punishment
Sunan Ibn Majah 4211 It was narrated from Abu Bakrah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no sin more deserving than Allah to hasten punishment in this world, apart from what awaits it in the Hereafter , what injustice and the breaking of kinship ties".
Justice for the poor and marginalized
Like progressive and regressive tax structures, the judicial system can be progressive and regressive.
Justice is progressive when it favors the poor, not the rich, in terms of deferment or punishment. It is regressive when it favors the rich over the poor.
The Brahmanic legal system of ancient India, in which punishment was determined by the caste status of the accused, was regressive in that it punished the poor and lower castes more heavily for the same offense compared to the higher castes.
For example to KautilyaArthshashtra, "AKshatriya (hereditary warrior of the upper class) commits adultery with an unprotected Brahmin woman (wife of ahereditary priest) will be punished with the highest penalty; a Vaisya (hereditary merchant) who does the same will be deprived of all his property, anda Shúdra (hereditary Low caste man)are wrapped in mats and burned alive“.
Prophet Muhammad (s) condemned legal systems that favored the elite over the poor.
Narrated `Aisha: Usama approached the Prophet (ﷺ) on behalf of a woman (who had committed theft). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “People before you were destroyed because they imposed legal punishments on the poor and spared the rich. By Him in Whose hands is my soul! If Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ)) did that (i.e. stole), I would cut off her hand."
Sahih al-Bujari 6787
Holy Quran: a criterion of justice
Verily We sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and with them We brought the Scripture and the scales of "righteousness" so that people might do justice. And We sent iron with its great power, benefit for mankind and means for Allah, to show who is ready to defend Him and His messengers without seeing. Verily Allah is almighty, almighty. (Holy Quran 57:25)
It was Allah Who revealed the Book with truth and balance of "righteousness". You never know, maybe the hour is near. (Holy Quran 42:17)
The word of your Lord was accomplished in truth and righteousness. Nobody can change His words. And He is the one who hears everything, who knows everything. (Holy Quran 6:115)
I trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no living being that is not completely under His control. Undoubtedly the way of my Lord is perfect righteousness. (Holy Quran 11:56)
FAQs
What is the hadith about justice in Islam? ›
Hadiths are a collection of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, many of these spoke about justice. "The just and fair will be seated on chairs of light before God. Such people are those who decide with justice and deal justly in matters relating to their families and other affairs entrusted to them."
What Quran says about justice? ›"O 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.
Why is justice important in Islam? ›As God is just, justice must be of the highest importance for all Muslims. Muslims believe that it is part of their role as vicegerents of God's creation to behave justly to other people and to ensure that the world is run in a fair way.
What does Quran 29 10 says? ›(29:10) Among people there are some who say:13 “We believe in Allah.” But when such a person is made to endure suffering in Allah's cause, he reckons the persecution he suffers at the hands of people as though it is a chastisement from Allah.
What is right to justice in Islam? ›The Right to Justice
This is a very important and valuable right which Islam has given to man as a human being. The Holy Quran has laid down: "Do not let your hatred of a people incite you to aggression" (5:2). "And do not let ill-will towards any folk incite you so that you swerve from dealing justly.
Justice or 'adl literally means placing things in their rightful place and also affording equal treatment to others. In other words, Islam has two simple propositions for a just society: (i) place things in their rightful position and (ii) give everyone their rightful due. The first can be merged into the second.