Injustice

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

All human beings are supposed to live like one big family.  This is because they all came from a common parent; Adam and Eve.  Allah tells us about this in the Holy Qur’an in the following verse:

Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. (2:213)

Part of the strategy that Satan uses to create division amongst the human beings is to cause some to be unjust to others.  This is in spite of the fact that Allah tells us to be loving and kind to others as we would like them to be with us.  Allah says:

Do good (to others) as Allah has been good to you; and seek not (occasions to create) mischief in the land. For, Allah does not love those who make mischief. (28:77) 

One way used by Satan to cause people to be unjust to others is to decorate the evil.  Allah says:

Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them. (6:43)

One of the evils that Satan uses to corrupt people is to promote injustice in the dealings of one with the other.  A common form of injustice practiced by thousands of people is to commit fraud by giving short weight and measure.  Allah says:

Woe unto those who commit fraud. Those, who when they have to receive from men exact full measure; but when they have to give by measure or weight they give less than due. (83:1-3) 

Establish weight with justice, and fall not short in the balance. (55:9)

There are many factors which are some of the causes for being unjust in one’s dealings with others.  Some of these are mentioned in the following verses of the Qur’an:

O you who believe, shun as much suspicion (as possible) for lo: some suspicion is a crime (because it involves cruel injustice to innocent people). (49:12)

Some people use their wealth and position to deal unjustly with others.  Allah says;

Do not consume your property among yourselves iniquitously, neither proffer it to the judges, that you may sinfully consume a portion of other men’s goods, and that wittingly. (2:188) 

Injustice is a grave sin, and was condemned by all the Messengers of Allah.  For example Prophet Shuaib told his people the following:

O my People. Give just measure and full weight as justice.  And wrong not people in respect of their goods; and do no evil in the earth as it is corruption. (11:85) 

When people practice injustice, they would have to pay the price for doing so, either in this life or in the Next.


Transcript of discourse delivered by
Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed

At his weekly Zikir session held at the Hermitage Masjid

Upholding Justice

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

 

Every week, in almost every Mosque in the world, the Imam or Khateeb (Lecturer), in every country of the world, concludes the Friday Sermon with the reminder which is taken from the Holy Qur’an as follows:

Certainly, Allah commands Justice and (participation) in refinement (in all matters), giving from ones material assets to kith and kin; and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion. He instructs you that you may receive admonition. (16:90)

The Commands contained in this verse are many and comprehensive. It comprises of justice to oneself, to Allah, to family members, to neighbours and to society at large. It incorporates every aspect of life, individually, collectively and socially.

The first and most important requirement of every individual is to ensure that the principle of justice is given priority and importance in every aspect of life. By so doing everyone will get what is due to him or her. Allah says:

O you who believe, be staunch in justice, witnesses to Allah, even though it is against yourselves, parents, kindred, whether it is for a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer to both of them. So follow not (your) passion lest you lapse from justice; and if you should lapse or fall away, then take note that Allah is well informed of all that you do. (4:135)

A Muslim is not only supposed to be just in all dealings, but is also required to promote this universal principle at all times. Allah says:

O you who believe, stand out firmly for Allah as a witness to fair dealings, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong, and depart from Justice. Be just, that is nearer to Righteousness, and fear Allah, for Allah is well acquainted with all that you do. (5:8)

One of the beauties of the Islamic Way of life is that no one is above the Law. All Muslims must respect and follow the Law. Allah says, to David, and this law is still binding upon us:

O David, We did indeed make you a vicegerent on earth; so you judge between men in truth and justice. Nor do you follow the lusts of your hearts, for they will mislead you from the Path of Allah. (38:26)

Every Muslim is required to abide by the Laws prescribed in Islam as it is the Perfect way of life, and is based on justice. The dos and don’ts are designed to keep us on the Straight Path. Anyone who does not uphold justice will be responsible to Allah and will have to answer to Him on the Day of Accountability. Allah says:

The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice. For such, there will be a grievous penalty. (42:42)

Some people sacrifice justice for personal material reasons. Perhaps they become prey to the temptations of Satan who decorates the evil and make it look attractive. Allah tells us about this in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an. He says:

Fair In the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to return to). (3:14)

Every right thinking person must aspire to be just to himself, to the rest of mankind and to his Lord in every matter, if he has hopes of passing through the world successfully, and to be rewarded in the Hereafter.

 

 

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed
At his weekly Zikir session held at the Hermitage Masjid

Justice To Oneself

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

In almost every Mosque, in every country of the world, the Imam closes his Friday sermon with a reminder to the people with the following verse of the Holy Qur’an. Allah says:

Verily, Allah orders, justice and refinement. (16:90)

Again He says:

Be just, that is closest to piety. (5:8)

To be just is a general, universal command; and it incorporates many dimensions in a person’s life. One of these is justice to oneself.

As the human personality is made up of two dimensions, viz. the physical self i.e. the nafs, and the non-physical self, i.e. the ruh, it is the duty of every person to take care to nurture both of them, by giving to each one of them what is necessarily required to ensure that they grow healthy and strong.

Because the nafs is the energy produced by the working of the physical body, it thrives on the satisfaction of the physical desires. The ruh, on the other hand, can be sustained with deeds and actions relating to spirituality and exercises focusing on God-consciousness. The individual is required to be just too both dimensions of the personality by engaging in permissible physical and spiritual exercises which will result in true representation of Allah here on earth.

The majority of human beings however, concentrate on taking care of the physical self and some do not even think that they need to sustain the spiritual. The unfortunate consequences of such a lifestyle will be a materialistic outlook of life that will benefit the individually, to some extent, materially and it will end with death.

As a representative of Allah here on earth, He wants us to behave like Him in our own humble way. He says:

(Establish) Allah’s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind; no change (let there be) in the work by Allah; that is the Upright way, but a lot of people do not understand. (30:30)

Behaving like Allah means to cultivate some of the qualities of the Divine Attributes in our physical lives. These include Glorifying His Holy Name and displaying qualities, like compassion, forgiveness, etc. when relating with fellow human beings.

In addition to the physical manifestation of the Godly qualities in dealing with other human beings, we are required to be just to our souls by keeping them polished, bright and shining.

Many people spend all their time and energy taking of the body, and completely neglect their souls. They spend all their wealth in material things and forget that they must send some for use in the next phase of life. They do not have time for worship, taking care of the poor and needy, only do and eat what is halaal, etc. Such people are neglecting the Qur’anic Command of being just to oneself.

Such people will regret what they did and some of them will ultimately say:

The day when man will see the deeds which his hands have sent forth; and the unbelievers will say: Woe unto me, I wish I was never created. (78:40)

We all should make every effort to nurture and cultivate both dimensions of our personalities, if we are to be just to ourselves. Islam gives us the recipe for so doing, beginning with the five fundamental principles, and extending to all the other dos and don’ts which we are required to uphold if we want to be truly just to ourselves in every possible way.  

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed