Peace and Justice in Islam
6/11/2008
By: Imam
Zaid Shakir
IslamiCity* -
We are living in a world where there could obviously be
more peace. As Muslims, we realize this fact more than most people, as the
peace of many off our brothers and sisters in various parts of the globe has
been tragically disrupted: Palestine, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Kashmir, and other
locales. Similarly, we are living in a world where there could be more justice.
We read almost daily of assassinations in various parts of the world where
terrorist groups, military forces, or intelligence services, oftentimes in
summary fashion, declare victims guilty and then proceed to execute them.
Unfortunately, such unprincipled political behavior has become increasingly
common in both the foreign and domestic policies of this country, causing
untold damage to her image and credibility abroad.
These two issues, peace and justice, are joined in the slogans we hear from
many activists, especially here in the United States, "No Justice, No
Peace!"1 This linkage is logical, as justice must be considered
one of the indispensable prerequisites of any lasting peace. This article
intends to briefly look at the ideas of peace and justice in Islam and explore
their deeper significance in the life of a Muslim,
Peace
In the Arabic language, the word peace is derived from the radicals S-L-M. The
scholars of language mention four closely related terms that can be derived
from this origin: Salam, Salamah, Silm, and Salm.
Raghib al-Isfahani says in his lexicon of Qur'anic terms, "As-Salm and
as-Salamah mean freedom from any external or internal ruination."2
Based on that, he mentions that true peace will only exist in Paradise, for
only there will there be perpetuity with no end, complete satisfaction with no
need, perfect honor with no humiliation, and perfect health with no disease. In
this regard, God is known as As-Salam, because He alone is described as being
totally free from any defects or flaws.3 This understanding of true
peace being a reality associated with a transformed world is also understood in
both Jewish and Christian theology.4
At the level of interstate relations, if we ponder the above definition, we can
consider peaceful relations between nations as a condition where violence, a
state inevitably involving both internal and external ruination, is absent. In
this sense, war can be viewed as an aberrational state. The aberrational nature
of war is made clearer if we consider that murder, the ultimate consequence of
war, is considered an innovation that destroyed the peace formerly existing
among the human family. It is stated in a prophetic tradition, "No soul is
killed unjustly, except that the elder son of Adam (Cain) shares in the stain
of the crime. That is because he was the first to innovate murder [in the human
family]."5
At the individual level, peace can be viewed as an absence of the ruinations of
the heart. One free from such ruinations will succeed, God-willing, when he/she
meets his/her Lord. Therefore, he/ she will enter safely into the Abode of
Peace (Dar as-Salam). God says in that regard, [On] the day no amount of wealth
or children will be of any benefit. [The only one benefited] will be one who
comes before God with a sound (salim) heart. [Quran 26:89]
If one reflects on these meanings, it should be clear that the wars that
Muslims have been involved in throughout our long history do not nullify the
validity of the statement, "Islam is the religion of peace." what is
meant by that expression, and God knows best, is that Islam provides a path for
the human being to enter Paradise (Dar as-Salam), and there he/she will know
true peace.
Peace has meanings wider than those mentioned above. One of the loftier
objectives of our religion is to introduce into the world an ethos that facilitates
the spreading of peace at every level. Our personal relations with our fellow
Muslims should begin with the implementation of the Prophetic order
"Spread peace between you all."6 This order is so pressing
that the Beloved Prophet - advised its indiscriminate implementation. He said
at the end of a tradition in which he described one of the best forms of Islam,
"Extend the greeting of peace, to those you know and those you know
not."7 This is a very weighty matter that calls for our deeper
reflection. Its weightiness is illustrated by the fact that it is mentioned as
being one of the things that completes our faith. The Prophet said in that
regard, "You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not
believe until you love one another. Shall I indicate to you something that will
surely lead to your mutual love? Spread the greeting and spirit of peace
between yourselves."8
Our relations with our spouses should also be characterized by peace. God
admonishes us concerning those relations, And peace is best. [Quran 4:128]
Similarly, in our relations with other nations, God commands us, If they (the
enemy) incline towards peace, then you should similarly incline, and place your
trust in God. [Quran 8:61] As mentioned above, peace is the original state that
prevailed in relations between individuals and societies. This opinion is
based, among other narrations, on the saying of the Prophet that Jesus
"will return the world to a state of peace" (Yurji' as-Salim) after
his appearance at the end of time.9
Justice
Our lexicographers define justice, variously, as "to rule based on that
contained in the Book of God and the tradition (Sunna) of His Messenger and
refraining from ruling based on empty opinion." It is also defined as
"extending inherent rights [to their possessors] equitably."10
This latter definition emphasizes the importance of equity as an essential
aspect of distributive justice.
The concept of justice is one of the essential pillars in the maintenance of
both the natural and social orders. God, be He Exalted, has said, He has
established the scale, therefore, do not transgress in the scale [of justice].
Undertake the measuring with justice and do not cheat concerning the scale.
[55:7-8] Justice, as many of our scholars point out, is one of the
underpinnings of the order that has been established by God. This reality is
also a foundation of a healthy social order. God says in that regard, O, You
who believe! Be upright for God, witnesses to justice; and do not let your
hatred of a people move you to a position where you are unjust. Be just, that
is closer to piety. Be mindful of God! Verily God is well informed concerning
all that you do. [Quran 4:135]
This social aspect of justice has been beautifully summarized by Imam
al-Qurtubi. He says, discussing the relationship between two words that are
usually translated as justice (al-'Adl), and distributive justice (al-Qist),
"Justice is the basis of all human relations and a foundation of Islamic
rule."11 This saying is illustrative of the meaning conveyed by
the saying of God, Verily, we have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs,
and we have revealed unto them the Scripture and the Balance in order that they
lead people with justice... [Quran 57:25]
Imam al-Mawardi has summarized the social implications of distributive justice
in the following way:
One of the things that reforms worldly affairs is the principle of distributive
justice. It facilitates amicable relations between people, engenders obedience
to the Divine Law, and brings about the prosperity of countries. It is the
basis of a thriving economy, strong families, and stable government. Nothing
devastates the land nor corrupts the mind as quickly as tyranny. That is
because there are no acceptable limits [to regulate tyranny].12
For this reason, Ibn Taymiyya sees the responsibilities of Islamic government
emanating from a single verse in the Qur'an, God enjoins that you deliver
the Trusts to their rightful possessors. And when you rule over [or judge
between] people, that you do so with justice... [Quran 4:58]13
The Noble Prophet has said in this context, "Surely the most beloved of
people with God and the closest to Him on the Day of Resurrection will be a
just leader. And the most hated of people and the furthest removed from Him will
be a tyrannical leader."14
Clearing himself from even an inadvertent association with oppressive, unjust
acts, our beloved Prophet is reported to have said:
You bring your disputes to me for adjudication; perhaps one of you is less
eloquent than another, and I rule against the wronged party on the basis of
what I have heard. Therefore, if I inadvertently grant one of you something
owed to his brother do not take it, for I am granting him something that
constitutes a piece of Hellfire.15
Our impeccably just Khalifa 'Umar b. al-Khattab uttered the following
penetrating words:
Verily, God sets forth parables for you, and He directs admonition towards
you in order that hearts will be quickened. Surely, the hearts are dead until
God quickens them. Justice has signs and portents. As for its signs, they are
shyness, generosity, humility, and gentleness. As for its portents, they are
embodied in mercy. He has [likewise] made for every affair a gate, and He has
made that gate accessible by providing a key. The gate of justice is a deep
consideration of consequences, and its key is otherworldliness. Consideration
of consequences ultimately involves remembering death and preparing for it by
freely parting from one's wealth. Otherworldliness involves dealing justly with
everyone and being satisfied with what suffices. If one is not satisfied with
what suffices him, no abundance will every enrich him.16
Much of this discussion has focused on distributive justice. However, the
Qur'an also places great emphasis on commutative justice. God commands us, Do
not be moved by partiality to discriminate in meting out divinely legislated
punishments. [Quran 24:2] The Prophet Muhammad mentioned that one of the
reasons behind the ruination of a nation is a lack of commutative justice.17
In this context, he mentioned that if his very daughter were to steal, he would
not hesitate to punish her to the full extent of the law.18
In summary, this brief discussion should make it clear to any Muslim that peace
and justice are comprehensive concepts with deep implications and we have to be
people committed to peace and justice. We must clearly illustrate to the world
that our religion is indeed the religion of peace. However, our striving for
peace must never allow us to be unjust, nor should it allow us to passively
accept injustices. We must take a stand for justice, as we are ordered in the
Qur'an, Be you upright supporters of justice... [4:135] However, that stand
must go far beyond slogans, such as the one mentioned at the beginning of this
article, and move into the realm of positive action; action inspired by the
Qur'an and the words and deeds of our illustrious Prophet
* Excerpted from the
book "Scattered Pictures", by Imam Zaid Shakir
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0602-2924
