History has witnessed the constant change of international order since the beginning of time. One empire subdues another. Human history has recorded the rise and fall of civilizations. The most important factor of this incessant ebb and flow of world order is justice.
Prophets were sent on earth to check the unjust rulers of the past. Pharaoh was an oppressive and unjust leader that continuously mistreated the children of Israel and they were treated as slaves. When the oppression was unbearable, God sent Moises to check Pharaoh. He facilitated the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egyptian arrogance.
Prophet-Kings David and Solomon administered justice on earth to show humanity the beauty of just governance.
Justice is the epitome of Islam as it enjoins the enactment of worldly laws. Islam does not confine itself in the cocoon of religion, it has political and social dimensions. In the sacred text of Noble Quran, it commends Muslims to establish a government to see the realization of social justice.
In the book “Justice and Tolerance in the Quran”, Harun Yahya, a Turkish scholar, dealt with what kind of an understanding a person of faith should have regarding justice and the sort of society that will be established once such justice and tolerance prevail. There is, however, another point that deserves mention, that is, as follows: peoples' efforts to maintain justice in society also reflect their exactness in living by God's religion and observing His commands. Indeed, Justice is really indissoluble with religion.
God is Just, and He shows perfect justice to His creation. Thus, Muslim must implement justice. The social life marked by peace and tolerance during the governance of the Prophet Muhammad and Muslim administrators who succeeded him depended on commitment to the Noble Qur'an. Muslims have shown in history that they ruled empires with impeccable justice and incredibly amazing respect to other religions. Therefore, Muslims of today need to draw lessons from Islamic history to re-establish justice on earth.
The current situation prevalent in the Muslim world where ruling families, especially in West Asia, decide the laws that society must abide by while they remain above the very laws they have created. These people are really above the laws. Whether laws are developed collectively, through consensus or by a monarch it is inevitable that a small segment of society will legislate for themselves.
Furthermore, one of the six articles of faith states the necessity of the belief on judgment day. This is a point in time when each human being should stand before the divine court. This means that every single human being is judged based on how he dealt with justice while still living on earth. The human laws may be defective enough to put the guilty to justice, but it is with perfect assurance that divine court would be able to judge them. There is an extension of justice, and because of this, no one can escape from the long arm of the law.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Lobbyist.
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