Islam & Justice (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

The Nature of Justice

What is the nature of justice?

• Justice means treating people fairly

• In society, it means living according to a certain set of laws that ensure people are safe and society is orderly

• These laws are upheld by law enforcement agencies, including the police

• The laws must be just so that everyone is treated fairly. If people break the law, they must be punished in a way that fits the offence.

• If the laws, the enforcement or the punishments are unfair, it would lead to unrest and disruption in society

Muslim Attitudes Towards Justice

Why is justice important for Muslims?

• Justice is very important for Muslims

• The Qur’an describes Allah as just

  • One of his qualities is Al’Adl, meaning ‘the Just’

• The Qur’an teaches that Muslims should treat others fairly in their daily lives and establish justice in their societies

• The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) set an example to his followers through his commitment to justice

• He was known as a trusted mediator who helped people to settle disagreements

  • Many Hadith describe the example the Prophet set and his teachings to Muslims that they should also act justly

• Therefore, Muslims should always try to be fair in their lives today:

  • They are vicegerents of God’s creation, which means they should act justly to others and ensure that the world is governed fairly

  • They are taught to stand up for what is right and fair

  • They should always try to support victims of injustice

  • However, they should not break the law themselves in trying to get justice for others 

• Equality before the law is one of the basic principles of the Shari’ah justice system in Islam

  • Justice has to be equal for everyone, and people have to act fairly

• Muslims are not allowed to let their own personal interests stop them pursuing justice

• This even applies if doing so goes against oneself or one’s friends or family

• Muslims have free will to choose good or bad behaviour

• There are consequences for Muslims for failing to act justly because they believe they will be judged on Judgement Day

• The Qur’an reminds Muslims that their actions will be judged

Islam: Justice & Victims

Why do Muslims consider justice important for the victims?

• Victims of crime and injustice suffer physically, emotionally, and financially

• Muslims believe that justice is important for the good of the victims because:

  • ‘No justice, no peace’: Justice being done shows victims that there are consequences for the perpetrator for the actions that have harmed them and others

  • It will help victims by recognising publicly that they are innocent and have suffered

  • The Qur’an teaches that victims of crime should be compensated, which will help to give them justice

• The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) helped anyone who had been the victim of injustice

  • On one occasion, Muhammad (pbuh) helped a man who was owed money by Abu Jahl, a leader of Makkah

  • He went to the leader’s house and as a consequence, the man paid the debt in full

Importance of justice in society

• For Muslims, justice is important in all areas of society

  • All people should have a fairer share of the earth’s resources

• Islam forbids the charging of interest on loans and credit cards to avoid the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor (Qur’an 2:275)

• Zakah, the third pillar of Islam, means that Muslims pay a share of their wealth to help those less fortunate

• The work of groups such as Muslim Aid and Islamic Relief tries to relieve poverty and bring justice for the poor and oppressed throughout the world

Islam & Non-religious Views on the Importance of Justice

Non-religious views on the importance of justice

• Justice is important for non-religious people, including atheists and humanists

• A society with just laws and systems:

  • allows people to feel safe and protects the innocent

  • ensures that people can work hard, trade fairly, and keep the rewards of their labour

  • provides police, law enforcement and courts to ensure that everyone keeps to the rules and the country can run well

Muslim responses to non-religious views on the importance of justice

• Muslims would agree with non-religious people that justice is not just for the religious, but is essential for everyone

• Muslims believe that everyone is born with an inbuilt sense of justice and their prophets have always stood up for this, although many world leaders have not always set a good example