An ideal society

There must be justice so that people can live in harmony. Without justice, every individual in the society will feels threatened regarding his life, his wealth, his family and his dignity. A society where people must have fear for people more than the fear that they have for snakes, scorpions, etc., is really a barbaric society although it seems much civilised in the eyes of people.

There must be only one type of law for everyone. There cannot be one law for the poor and another law for another category of people. A society cannot be considered as a civilised society without that. A society, where the law applies only for the poor, is an unjust and barbaric society that allows certain category of the population to trample on the rights of another category.

Once, during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), a Jewish lady had stolen. The woman was from a high-ranking family. Despite this, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) gave the command to amputate her hand. Her family interceded for her. But Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not give in and said:

"By Allah! If (by chance) Fatimah also happened to do that, I would have cut her hand. That is why the Bani Israil had perished because the law was being applied on the low-ranking people only. When a person from a high-ranking family used to steal, they did not apply the law.”

Hazrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) also did not hesitate to whip his own son for a certain crime that he had committed. It was really an ideal society where one is sure that people would come to give one one’s right in one’s own home just like a baby gets milk directly in his mouth. It was a society where everyone was concerned to assume his responsibility towards those who claimed their right. It was a society that was based principally on one thing. It is the fear of Allah Ta’ala or the belief or conviction that one will be accountable for all what one did and one will be judged without being able to influence the judgment by any means.

[English version of "Ene société idéale" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.2]