129TH KHUTBAH DELIVERED AT AREA 10
JUMA’AH MASJID ABUJA, BY YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI ON 21st JULY 2017/ 27TH SHAWWAL1438
AH
TOPIC:
SIGNIFICANCE OF ESTABLISHING JUSTICE IN ISLAM
In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most
Merciful
Respected brothers and sisters in Islam: our
last week’s Khutbah centered on bad consequences of injustice and today’s
sermon will discuss the topic: Significance of Establishing Justice in Islam.
The greatest blessing that Allah bestowed on
mankind is sending of his messenger, (SAW) with a pure religion that brings all
good to mankind and
protects them from all that is evil through its principle
of justice, security, freedom and peace to individual and the society.
Meaning of Justice
The term Justice “ al’adl” simply means placing things in their rightful
places; it can also be seen as giving others equal treatment. Justice is the
opposite of oppression, cruelty and injustice (zulm).Justice can be seen as the
ability of being just; fair under the principle of moral rightness and equity
as well as in conformity to the truth, fact, or sound reason.
In islam,
Justice referred as to rule based on that contained in the Qur’an and the
(Sunna) of the Messenger of Allah (S.AW) and refraining from ruling based on
personal speculations.Islamically, justice is part and parcel of moral virtue
and an attribute of human personality.
Justice, as defined in the Quran, commands mankind to behave in a fair and just manner. Allah (SWT) has commanded us to protect the rights of others, to be fair and just with people, to assist the one who is under oppression, to help and be fair with the weak, poor, needy, orphans and any one under our custody, and to be just and not go beyond the boundaries set by Allah, even with our enemies. We are required to be fair and just in all circumstances, and in all situations. We must establish justice in society.
Significance of Justice in islam.
The Glorious Qur’an considers justice to be a
supreme quality to the entire humanity. Allah says:“We have already
sent Our Messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them
the scripture and the Measure in order to establish justice among the people…”
(Quran 57:25)
The phrase ‘Our Messengers’ shows that justice
has been the goal of all revelation and scriptures sent to mankind. The
verse also shows that justice must be measured and implemented by the standards
and guidelines set by revelations. Islamic approach to justice is
comprehensive and all-encompassing. Any path that leads to justice is
deemed to be in harmony with Islamic Law. Therefore, all means,
procedures, and methods that facilitate and advance the cause of justice in
this world, and do not violate the Islamic Law are very much well-come.
The Quran demands that justice should be met for
all, and that it is an inherent right of all human beings under Islamic Law.
The timeless commitment of the Qur’an to the basic standards of justice is
found in this verse:
“And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in
truth and in justice. None can change His Words…” (Q 6:115)
To establish justice is a trust that Allah has
conferred on the human being and, like all other trusts, its fulfillment must
be guided by a sense of responsibility beyond mere setting of rules.
Thus, the Qur’an states: “Allah commands you to render trusts to whom
they are due, and when you judge between people, judge with justice…” (Q 4:58)
Fourteen hundred years back justice created a
society where rich and poor, friend and rival, Muslim and non-Muslim, the ruler
and the ruled, were all treated equally and all of them could count on
receiving justice. The Qadis (judges) were independent and no one, including
the khalifah (no. 1 citizen) was above the law. If a dispute arose between the
Khalifah and an ordinary person, both had to appear in court and provide their
evidence. Islamic history is full of stories of this justice that filled the earth
wherever Muslims ruled in their golden era.
Some Verses and ahadith on justice include:
1. Allah (SWT) commands justice and fair
dealing: and He says: “indeed,
Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids
immorality and bad conducts and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you
will be reminded”. (Q16:90) “We have revealed to you the scripture with the
truth that you may judge between people by what God has taught you.” (Q 4:105)
.Furthermore, the Prophet was sent as a judge between peoples, and told: “…Say:
I believe in the Scripture, which Lord has sent down, and I am commanded to
judge justly between you...” (Quran 42:15)
2. Establish justice and kindness even to your
opponent: Allah (SWT) says
“ o you who believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses
in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just.
Be just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is
fully aware of what you do”.
3. Rendering justice is highly
encouraged in Islam.
Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to
whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.
Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and
Seeing (Q4:58)
4. Justice establishes peace and security on earth
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for
Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you
from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah ;
indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (Q5:8)
5. It helps eradicating one’s pride and ego.
The practice of justice requires that we do not
give undue importance to our ego or to false ‘World’ concepts like our image in
the eyes of others. We generally avoid justice when its implementation gives
against our near ones as we are concerned about protecting our interests. Allah
says, “Certainly He does not love the proud ones”. (Q16:23)
6. In Islam, Justice helps strictly to stop
oppression, cruelty, racial discrimination and misuse of power.
The
prophet (SAW) said: “there is no honor of any Arab upon the non – Arab, except
with piety (Allah’s consciousness)”. Imam at- Tirmizi
7. We are all shepherds and we will be account for what was
entrusted in our hands.
AbiHuraira reported that, the Prophet [SAW]
said: “All of you are Shepherds and each of you is responsible for your flock”.
Imam Muslim.
3. Significance of being a just leader: Abu Huraira (R.A) reported: The Prophet (SAW),
said, “There are seven persons whom Allah will shade on a Day when there is no
shade but His. They are: a just ruler, a young person who grew up in the
worship of Allah, a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two persons
who love each other who meet and depart from each other for the sake of Allah,
a man whom a beautiful woman of high status seduces but he rejects her by
saying I fear Allah, a person who spends in charity and conceals it such that
his right hand does not know what his left hand has given, and a person who
remembered Allah in private and he wept.” Bukhari and Muslim
4. Establish justice even if it is against
you, close friends and family relatives: Allah says: “o you who have
believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even
if it be against your selves 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. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it],
then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, acquainted.”Q:4:135
5. Justice andone-Self: The Qur’anic
concept of justice also extends justice to being a personal virtue, and one of
the standards of moral excellence that a believer is encouraged to attain as
part of his God-consciousness. Allah says: “…Be just, for it is closest to
[taqwa] God-consciousness…” (Q 5:8) The Prophet ( SAW) instructed one of
His companion saying: “Be conscious of your Lord and be just to your children.”
LIVE EXAMPLES FROM UMAR (RA) IN ESTABLISHING
JUSTICE:
1. The Second Rightly Guided Caliph, `Umar bn Al
Khattab, who was responsible for organizing the administration of justice in
the muslim state upon the firm foundation of the Glorious Qur’an and the
Traditions of the Prophet, said in his first speech after becoming Caliph:
"O people I swear by Allah that there is no
man among you as powerful as he who is helpless until I restore his rights to
him, and there is no man amongst you as helpless as he who is powerful until I
restore what he had taken to its rightful owner".
2. `Umar bn Al Khattab's message to Abu Musa Al
Ash'ary concerning the administration of justice embodied the greater part of
the rulings of the Faith of Islam on justice. He wrote "From the servant
of Allah, `Umar bn Al Khattab, Commander of the Faithful, to the servant of
Allah, IbnQays, and Peace be upon you.
The administration of justice is a religious
duty and a tradition from the Prophet to be observed, so understand thoroughly
the cases presented before you and enforce the sentence that you know to be
just, for declaring the truth without executing justice is not just. Treat all
people who stand before you equally in the way you greet them, address them and
judge them. By so doing no nobleman would expect or hope for an unjust sentence
in his favour and no poor man would despair of your just ruling''.
3. Umar bn Al Khattab's last testimony to his
successor as Caliph was:
"Treat all people equally and do not be
influenced by any person who deserves punishment, and take no notice of any
person's censure provided you have pronounced a just sentence. Never allow your
preference or partiality for any person to influence your judgment in the
affairs of the people whom Allah has entrusted to our authority."
JUSTICE AND SOCIETY
Justice is very important pillar of society, any
society with a proper foundation of justice are usually societies that growth
and develop, thrive and flourish. While on the contrary, where corruption and
self-interest prevails, oppression and cruelty dominate, injustice everywhere,
social justice fall apart then sooner or later negative consequences will also
prevail.
Obviously, when we have very good social justice
system, that can lead to a strong and just society free from threats, poverty,
terrorism, unemployment, kidnapping and all sorts of social vices. A society
where everybody is accorded justice in a proper manner, irrespective of one is
feeling towards the dependent or the prosecution, as a society that thrives. It
doesn’t matter what the color of your skin is, what your political or religious
affiliation is, everybody will be accorded a fair opportunity in the justice
system.
Another form of corruption within the justice
system that Islam drew our attention to, is when family member is involved, on
this, the Quran says: “And when you speak, then be just though it may be
(against) a relative, and fulfill Allah’s covenant, this He has enjoined you
with that you may be mindful. (6:152).
So the Quran employs the Muslims, to be just
even if it is against a relative, i.e our own family members. Therefore, in
Islam while blood relation is very important, and Islam teaches all Muslims to
uphold ties of kinship, even if their family members are non – believers, blood
relation should never come in the way of justice. Justice must prevail even if
means going against your relations.
Again, corruption within the justice system is
when justice is applied to the sense of common man, not the person of
influence, and on this; the Quran says : “O you who believe ! stand out
firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it is against yourselves,
your parents, and your relatives, or whether it is against the rich or the
poor” …..(Quran 4:135).
Brothers and sisters in Islam, if we put all the
teachings of Islam of justice into morals and
implementation of our laws, we will have solid justice system, which in
turn leads to strong society. Islam has clearly mentioned that justice must be
applied to everybody, the rich, or the poor. So if a person of influence breaks
the law or goes against justice, he should be treated in the very same manner
as the common person, there is no distinction between them in the eyes of
Allah, justice must prevail.
In conclusion, Islam is a religion of justice
and justice for all Muslims, non – muslims, poor, rich, rulers and ruled. It
does not matter who is involved, all stand equal before the eyes of justice.
For a short term of benefit, we should not deviate from justice thinking that
we can safe – guard our personal interest by ignoring, avoiding or going
against justice as Allah ordered for it.
Brothers and sisters in Islam, Justice should be
given importance in our dealings and lives and all its affairs that self –
seeking considerations should not be allowed to weaken justice.
NB. I
will seize this opportunity to pray for our brother in Islam DR. Nurruddenlawal
of University Abuja who was kidnapped day before yesterday along Kaduna-Abuja
road may Allah SWT free him from hands of evil people, at same time I
amappealing to the FG through our securities to put more effort to ensure
protection of lives and properties of people in this country particularly issue
robbery and kidnapping.
May Allah (SWT) forgive me where I am wrong and
guide us to the right path.
We pray Allah should assist our leaders and help
them established justice in Nigeria and aid them ending corruption. As we are
all aware, that Nigeria is suffering from the diseases of injustice and
corruption.
We ask Allah the Most High, to continue to
guide, protect our Iman and may He guide our just leaders, and eliminate
corrupt people, evil leaders and their supporters in our country Nigeria.
Ameen.
Thanks
ma’assalam
Kindly extend
it to others…
For questions
and suggestions, pls. call 08039584612
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