Justice

The word '' justice '' is very beautiful to hear. And in reality it is something very good that guarantees salvation, well-being, security, harmony and peace for each and everyone. It is due to it being good/its goodness that people use it as their slogan to attract the public. But it is not easy to apply it. It requires sacrificing many things in order to apply it. That's why its reward also is great.

Justice should be applied for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala. That is why it must be applied when necessary without giving any preference to anyone. When will one know that one is sincere in applying justice? If one can apply the same thing on one's beloved ones and one's close ones, which one applies on a stranger, it means that one is just. But if one cannot apply on one's close ones whatever one applies on a stranger, then it is not justice. Yes, it may be called "settlement of an account", rather which might be motivated by an internal disease in one.

Once, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had rendered the verdict to amputate the hand of a Jewish woman who had committed theft. Hazrat Usama (Radiyallahu Anhu) tried to plead in favour of that woman for her hand not to be cut. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) became very angry and said that if Hazrat Faatimah (Radiyallahu Anha) had committed this crime, he would have done the same with her.

One must think carefully when criticising someone for a shortcoming in him. Would one be able to have done the same with one's close ones who might have done something a bit more serious? Certainly, one will tend to be more comprehensive and tolerant. It is that same tolerance that one should adopt with everyone. Then only will one be just and equitable and one will be distanced from all factors and elements that can distort one's judgment. Otherwise, one will not be able to give one's daughter-in-law, for example, a good treatment. One will always blame one's daughter-in-law for something that one would have complimented one's daughter.

Evil will always remain evil. And a good believer must detest evil. To approve something which is bad indicates a shortcoming and a weakness in Imaan. That's why one must always have disgust for something which is against the Shariah. Nevertheless, one must not show so much of dislike for someone who is in disobedience as though one is safe from it and one is not vulnerable.

We all have weaknesses. And we can all be prone to reprehensible things. One must not believe that one is too special or extraordinary. That's why one must dislike a sin but without underestimating the sinner or abasing him and without considering oneself superior to the sinner.

In this way, one will do justice not only to strangers but to oneself and one's close ones also.

[English version of "La justice" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.12]