Harvard Law School, one of the most prestigious
institutions of its kind in the world, has recently posted a verse of the Holy Qur’an at
the entrance of its Faculty Library, describing the verse as one of the
greatest expressions of justice in history. Verse 135 of Surah Al Nisa
(The Women) has been posted at a wall facing the faculty’s main entrance,
dedicated to the best phrases articulating justice:
“O you who believe!
Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses
To Allah,
even as against
Yourselves or your parents,
Or your kin, and whether
It be (against) rich
or poor;
For Allah can best protect both".
Established in
1817, Harvard is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United
States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. Among its
alumni is US President Barack Hussein Obama and a host of influential journalists,
writers, media and business leaders and even professional athletes. According
to its official website, The Words of Justice exhibition is a
testimony of the endurance of humanity’s yearning for fairness and dignity
through law. “The words on these walls
affirm the power and irrepressibility of the idea of justice.”
We reproduce below an insightful explanation of this
particular verse provided by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius
as part of his forthcoming Commentary on
the Holy Qur’an:
"O you who
believe, be persistently standing firm in justice, (and be) witnesses for
Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one
is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not low desires lest
you do not act with justice. And if you conceal (the truth) or evade (it), then
remember that Allah is well aware of what you do".
A
true believer is expected by His Maker to be just in all circumstances. Justice
is an attribute of God and Allah wants that His servants reflect that
exceptional quality also in them. The true believer lets justice rule his life,
even if he has to defy his own blood relations in settling a matter with
justice.
Someone
who loves Allah, His prophet and Islam must come forward to be the witnesses
for Allah, witnessing to the establishment of justice and righteousness. No
rich is to be favoured more than a poor one. Justice should prevail even if a
wealthy person has to be tried after having been found guilty in a serious and
appalling matter. Justice should be meted out at all stages of life and for all
people. A perfect example of the establishment of such refined justice is found
in the well-known saying of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him):
A
woman from noble descent was found guilty of theft and the prescribed divine
punishment as found in the Holy Quran was to have her hand cut off. As she was
from a noble line, Usama bin Zaid, the beloved companion of the Prophet (peace
be upon him) was selected to go to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and plead on
the behalf of that woman. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was
very angry with such a request, especially concerning one of the prescribed
divine punishment and later in the evening stood on the pulpit and delivered a
sermon:
“This
(injustice) destroyed those before you that when any one of (high) rank
committed theft among them, they spared him, and when any weak one among them
committed theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment upon him. By Him in
Whose Hand is my life, even if Fatima daughter of
Muhammad were to commit theft, I would have cut off her hand.”
Afterwards
the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered that justice be made and that
the hand of the guilty woman be cut off. (Muslim)
Therefore
this Hadith goes hand in hand with this present verse which stipulates that
there is no family feeling in meting out justice, and even if a close and
beloved family member is found guilty of a heinous act then Allah’s commandment
comes first. The believer is to submit to the divine laws and implement justice
come what may.
Justice
outside Islam is not as excellent in nature as that found in our pure religion.
Justice in Islam would mean that it is the fear of Allah which regulates the
believer in all circumstances. His fear of Allah propels him to establish truth
and justice even if he is to rebel against his own people. This form of
rebellion is a sign of the strength of the believer for this rebellion is made
against injustice, against corruption of one’s mind and soul.
Therefore,
a true believer is not one who lets his family feelings blind him in the
settling of justice. If his own parents are guilty, then he is the one to
denounce his own parents, siblings, near relatives etc., all for the sake of
Allah, for the sake of justice. He should bear in mind that Allah is watching
him and that his first and foremost duty is to obey Allah and implement justice
as ordained by Allah, even if his family members or friends are not happy with
him.
In
such times of trials, family feelings can become a poison which eats away faith
when the person happens to fall prey to his low desires and choose his family
over the divine commandments. Such person therefore falls in the eyes of Allah,
losing his dignity as a true believer and witness for Allah.