Description: Justice as a basic objective of Islam and a moral virtue, and the standard of justice envisaged by the Quran.

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• Published on 10 Jul 2006
• Last modified on 19 Feb 2008
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The Meaning of Justice

In theIslamic worldview, justice denotes placing things in their rightful place.  Italso means giving others equal treatment.  In Islam, justice is also a moralvirtue and an attribute of human personality, as it is in the Western tradition. Justice is close to equality in the sense that it creates a state of equilibriumin the distribution of rights and duties, but they are not identical.  Sometimes,justice is achieved through inequality, like in unequal distribution of wealth. The Prophet of Islam declared:

“There are seven categories of people whom God willshelter under His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His.  [Oneis] the just leader.”(SaheehMuslim)

God spoke to His Messenger in this manner:

“O My slaves, I have forbidden injustice for Myselfand forbade it also for you.  So avoid being unjust to one another.” (SaheehMuslim)

Thus, justice represents moral rectitude and fairness,since it means things should be where they belong.

The Importance of Justice

The Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam, considersjustice to be a supreme virtue.  It is a basic objective of Islam to the degreethat it stands next in order of priority to belief in God’s exclusive right toworship (Tawheed) and the truth of Muhammad’s prophethood.  God declaresin the Quran:

“God commands justice and fair dealing...” (Quran 16:90)

And in another passage:

“O you who believe, be upright for God, and (be) bearers ofwitness with justice!...” (Quran 5:8)

Therefore, one may conclude that justice is anobligation of Islam and injustice is forbidden.  The centrality of justice tothe Quranic value system is displayed by the following verse:

“We sent Our Messengers with clear signs and sent down withthem the Book and the Measure in order to establish justice among the people…”(Quran 57:25)

The phrase‘Our Messengers’ shows that justicehas been the goal of all revelation and scriptures sent to humanity.  The versealso shows that justice must be measured and implemented by the standards andguidelines set by revelation.  Islam’s approach to justice is comprehensive andall-embracing.  Any path that leads to justice is deemed to be in harmony withIslamic Law.  God has demanded justice and, although He has not prescribed a specificroute, has provided general guidelines, on how to achieve it.  He has neither prescribed a fixed means by which it can be obtained, nor has He declared invalid anyparticular means or methods that can lead to justice.  Therefore, all means,procedures, and methods that facilitate, refine, and advance the cause ofjustice, and do not violate the Islamic Law are valid.[1]

Equality in Justice

The Quranic standards of justice transcend considerationsof race, religion, color, and creed, as Muslims are commanded to be just totheir friends and foes alike, and to be just at all levels, as the Quran putsit:

“O you who believe!  Stand out firmly for justice, aswitnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, and yourrelatives, or whether it is against the rich or the poor...” (Quran 4:135)

According to another Quranic passage:

“Let not the hatred of a people swerve you away from justice. Be just, for this is closest to righteousness…” (Quran 5:8)

With regards to relations with non-Muslims, the Quranfurther states:

“God does not forbid you from doing good and being just tothose who have neither fought you over your faith nor evicted you from yourhomes...” (Quran 60:8)

The scholars of the Quran have concluded that theserulings apply to all nations, followers of all faiths, as a matter of fact toall humanity.[2]  In the view of the Quran, justice is anobligation.  That is why the Prophet was told:

“…If you judge, judge between them with justice…” (Quran 5:42)

“We have revealed to you the scripture with the truth that youmay judge between people by what God has taught you.” (Quran 4:105)

Furthermore, the Prophet was sent as a judge betweenpeoples, and told:

“…Say: I believe in the Scripture, which God has sent down,and I am commanded to judge justly between you...” (Quran 42:15)

The Quran views itself as a scripture devoted mainly tolaying down the principles of faith and justice.  The Quran demands that justicebe met for all, and that it is an inherent right of all human beings underIslamic Law.[3]  Thetimeless commitment of the Quran to the basic standards of justice is found inits declaration:

“And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and injustice. None can change His Words.” (Quran 6:115)

To render justice is a trust that God has conferred onthe human being and, like all other trusts, its fulfillment must be guided by asense of responsibility beyond mere conformity to set rules.  Thus, the Quranstates:

“God commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, andwhen you judge between people, judge with justice…” (Quran 4:58)

The reference to justice which immediately follows areference to fulfillment of  trusts indicates that it is one of the mostimportant of all trusts.[4]

Justice and the Self

The Quranic concept of justice also extends justice to beinga personal virtue, and one of the standards of moral excellence that a believeris encouraged to attain as part of his God-consciousness.  God says:

“…Be just, for it is closest to God-consciousness…” (Quran5:8)

The Prophet himself instructed:

“Be conscious of God and be just to your children.”[5]

The Quran tells the believers:

“…When you speak, speak with justice, even if it is againstsomeone close to you…” (Quran 6:152)

Specific Examples of Justice Encouraged in the Quran

The Quran also refers to particular instances andcontexts of justice.  One such instance is the requirement of just treatment oforphans.  God says:

“And approach not the property of the orphan except in thefairest way, until he [or she] attains the age of full strength, and givemeasurement and weight with justice…” (Quran 6:152, also see 89:17, 93:9, and107:2)

Fair dealings in measurements and weights, as mentionedin the above verse, is also mentioned in other passages where justice in thebuying, selling, and by extension, to business transactions in general, is emphasized. There is an entire chapter of the Quran, Surah al-Mutaffifeen (‘The Detractorsin Giving Weights,’ 83) where fraudulent dealers are threatened with divinewrath.

References to justice also occur in the context topolygamy.  The Quran demands equitable treatment of all wives.  The verse ofpolygamy begins by reference to orphaned girls who may be exposed todepravation and injustice.  When they reach marriageable age, they should bemarried off, even if it be into a polygamous relationship, especially whenthere is inequality in the number of men and women, as was the case after theBattle of Uhud when this verse was revealed.  But, as the Quran states:

“If you fear that you can not be just, then marry only one…”(Quran 4:3)

In conclusion, ‘to render justice’, in the words of Sarkhasi,a noted classical Islamic jurist, ‘ranks as the most noble of acts of devotionnext to belief in God.  It is the greatest of all the duties entrusted to theprophets…and it is the strongest justification for man’s stewardship of earth.’[6]

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