الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي أنزل القرءان، الحمد لله الذي علمنا العدل والقسط، نحمده تعالى ونستعينه، ونشكره تعالى ونستغفره ونستغيثه، نعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهد الله فهو المهتد ومن يضلل فلن تجد له وليا مرشدا، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك و له الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن سيدنا و مولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، وحبيبه وصفيه، بلغ الرسالة وأدّى الأمانة ونصح الأمة، النبي الأمي الذي أرسله الله بالهدى والدين الحق، بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة، صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم. ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما. اتقوا الله فيما أمر وانتهوا عما نها عنه وزجر قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريم يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
Today, I wish to delve into the profound concept of justice as beautifully outlined in the Quran. Allah (SWT) calls upon the believers to uphold justice steadfastly, even if it means going against one’s own interests or the interests of loved ones. Allah commands in Surah An-Nisa, verse 135: ” O you who believe, be of those people who truly stand over and over again for justice, 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 the lusts of your heart, lest you be tempted to not be just. And if you distort [justice with your testimony] or refuse to do justice then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, fully acquainted.”
As a point of interest, it is worth noting that at the entrance to Harvard University this Ayah is quoted and displayed boldly. Whether they’re able to follow its wisdom completely is another story and one that we will indirectly touch on in today’s khutbah.
This divine directive emphasizes a universal principle in Islam: the imperative of justice. However, justice in the Islamic context is not limited to legal systems or court proceedings; it extends deep into the fabric of our personal conduct and societal interactions.
The Qur’an employs different terms to elucidate the multifaceted nature of justice. One term, ‘adl, signifies internal balance and rectitude within the soul, while qisṭ relates to the application of justice in socio-economic affairs. Both these terms on mentioned in this ayah and Both are crucial components of a just society, where equity and fairness reign supreme.
According to Isfahani (an 11th century Muslim scholar who wrote prolifically on the topic of justice), he says that justice to the self is ‘adl’ and justice towards society is ‘qist’. ‘Adl’ carries within its meanings of balance, as in generosity being the balance between being miserly and extravagant.
The Quran’s concept of justice begins with the creation of the world;
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ
“… the sky He has raised up and He has set up the balance (of Justice)” (55:7). One of the words used for justice is mizan, because justice is about restoring balance.
The idea of balance, indeed, is woven within the entire Islamic code of life, wherein Muslims are required to live, worship and act in a balanced way. The ummah having being described at qawmun wasat many times, the middle or balanced nation is indicative of this concept.
Similarly, justice is one of Allah’s qualities: the Qur’an says:
وَتَمَّتۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدۡقٗا وَعَدۡلٗاۚ
“And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice” Allah is the source of this divine law, just as He is the source of the natural law of innate nature (fiṭrah). This fitrah is inclined to know Allah and to know good and evil in the universal sense. The law of nature is, therefore, eternal like divine law because the former is ultimately the product of Allah’s will.
THE world is rife with crimes against humanity; not only the more obvious ones such as genocide, ethnic cleansing, torture, bombing of innocent non-combatants and the use of chemical weapons, but also the more insidious racism, exploitation of the poor, adulteration, abuse of the young and vulnerable and theft in the name of development.
Add to this the increasing danger to individual safety, repression of free thought and expression in the name of patriotism and religion and the use of legislation to suppress criticism of the state, and one has all the makings of an order where a few world powers and a handful of individuals control the lives, honour and property of large populations.
It is increasingly an unjust and unfair world, and not because Allah made it so.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٖۖ
“Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight” (4:40). The Prophet (SAW) quoted Allah as saying:
يَا عِبَادِي إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا
“O My Servants, I have forbidden injustice upon Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not commit injustice” (Sahih Muslim 2577).
Therefore, our loyalty is to justice is paramount, وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا even against our own selves, our own parents, our own relatives, whether a person is rich and we have something to gain from them or the person is poor and we feel pity for them. Allah declares that he has more right to all them because He is there Lord and yours and has commanded justice regardless of how you feel about it.
فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا
“So follow not the lusts of your heart, lest you be tempted to not be just”
وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
“And if you distort [justice with your testimony] or refuse to do justice then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Fully acquainted.” in another verse Allah makes mention of a group who Yalwuna distorted the Book with their tongues (as they read).
It’s essential to distinguish between mere legal enforcement and the pursuit of genuine justice. Implementing laws alone does not equate to justice if they perpetuate societal disparities or fail to address root causes of injustice. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized the importance of fairness and empathy in resolving disputes, warning against favoring the eloquent over the less articulate solely based on speech prowess.
Furthermore, Islamic law, or Shariah, serves as a framework for establishing justice, not merely imposing penalties. Punitive measures should only be administered within a context where justice, mercy, and social welfare are upheld. As Allah’s servants, we are duty-bound to strive for equity and dignity for all, irrespective of wealth, status, or affiliations.
Let us reflect on our roles in promoting justice in its truest form. Are we fair and just in our dealings with ourselves, our families, and our communities? Do we challenge injustice and inequality when we encounter them? These questions compel us to introspect and take meaningful action.
Remember, the pursuit of justice is not confined to grand gestures; it starts with the smallest acts of kindness and fairness in our daily lives. With our children, our employees, our time. As we strive for justice, let us emulate the noble example of our Prophet (PBUH), who epitomized justice, compassion, and mercy in all facets of his life.
May Allah (SWT) grant us the strength and wisdom to uphold justice in every aspect of our existence. Let us be advocates for fairness, champions of equity, and beacons of hope in a world yearning for true justice.
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، صلى الله وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وصحبه، والتابعين وتابعي التابعين ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين. أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“O you who believe, be of those people who truly stand over and over again for Allah, Witnesses for Justice”
قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ M
قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ N
As you might recall in the previous ayah in surah Nisa it was “stand for justice” and “Witness for Allah”, in other words Allah and justice have swapped places in this Ayah. This slight and deliberate shift is something very profound. It now raises the question, Is justice something only Muslims are interested in? No. Any decent human being will say that we need to fight for justice. It’s something Allah put in human nature, Our fitrah. Reflect on the causes championed by humanity—human rights, animal rights, economic rights, civil rights—all are rooted in the pursuit of justice. It is a calling that resonates with our fitrah, our natural disposition as human beings. However, Allah elevates this pursuit beyond mere instinct. He calls us to uphold justice for His sake, saying:
وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا
“Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice” (Quran 5:8).
In Surah Nisa, we are commanded to stand for justice even against our own selves and loved ones. Now, in Surah Maidah, Allah addresses the believers who have achieved victory over their enemies, reminding them not to allow animosity to cloud their commitment to justice. This underscores the universal nature of justice—it transcends personal biases and conflicts.
Therefore, Allah emphasizes:
اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى
That “doing justice is closer to righteousness” (Quran 5:8), linking justice with taqwa, consciousness of Allah. Why this linkage? Because consciousness of Allah instills in us the awareness of a Day of Ultimate Justice—the Day of Judgment. Knowing that Allah is the All-Knowing and will hold us accountable for our actions prompts us to act justly and fairly.
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“Be mindful of Allah; indeed, Allah is Aware of what you do” (Quran 5:8). This verse highlights two dimensions of our actions: matters of the heart (Umur Qalbiyyah) and matters of the hand (Umur Yadawiyyah). When the context is sincerity and taqwa, Allah mentions Himself first, signifying the importance of our internal state. Conversely, when action is emphasized, Allah mentions the action first, underscoring the tangible impact of our deeds.
The change in emphasis teaches us a profound lesson: Justice is not just an outward act but a reflection of our inner consciousness. It requires sincerity, righteousness, and a deep awareness of Allah’s presence and ultimate judgment.
Let us put this in more practical terms, let us imagine for a moment that the Muslims have the upper hand against the Zionist Occupiers. What would you do? Would you execute them all! Would you take them as prisoners? Or would you have mercy on them and release them all? Let’s say that you decide to take them as prisoners, and you do not have enough food to feed both them and yourselves? What would you do? What would your Islamic Justice command of you? It commands you to feed them over yourselves, that is why the Muslims of old, our righteous predecessors when faced with the same very real dilemma would release these prisoners lest displease our Lord Most Just.
As believers, let us heed Allah’s call to stand for justice not out of obligation but out of reverence for Him. Let our pursuit of justice be a manifestation of our faith and commitment to righteousness. May Allah grant us the strength and wisdom to embody justice in all facets of our lives.
May Allah guide us to uphold justice, embodying the principles of fairness and empathy in our interactions and decisions. Let us be witnesses for justice, echoing the eternal values of our deen.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا ، وَعَلَى رئيسنا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ، وَاخْذُلِ الْكُفْرَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ، وَانْصُرِ المُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ. وَاجْعَلْ كَلِمََتَكَ هِيَ العُلْيَا وَكَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ هِيَ السُّفْلَى.
رَبَّنَا ءَاتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقَِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، رَحِمَكُمُ اللهُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ. أَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ تَعَالَى أَعْلَى وَأَوْلَى وَأَعَزُّ وَأَهمُ وَأَكْبَرُ.
