'Adalah (Justice)
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'Adalah (عدالة) is the Arabic word for "justice" and is used in various forms throughout the Islamic scriptures. While the basic concept of justice in Islam and Islamic law is not wholly distinct from modern conceptions of the word, in the definitional sense of justice being what is fair and reasonable, there are many contexts in which what is considered Islamically just is, in practice, significantly distinct from what a modern sense of justice would entail. An important example of this difference is found in the frequent and broad-ranging preferential legal and financial treatment of Muslims over and above non-Muslims and of men over and above women in Shariah courts -- while such treatment would not evoke in many modern persons the feeling that justice had been attained, it is nonetheless considered just under Islamic law. In addition to these substantive distinctions, which are themselves significant, there are also certain meaning-laden phraseologies and symbols with which the concept of justice is associated in the Islamic scriptures which are noteworthy for historical and literary reasons. One recurrent and still-popular image in the Quran is that of the Scales of Justice, which are supposed to be employed to determine individuals fate (be it Hell or Heaven) on the Day of Judgement.
Distinct from the legal and literary senses of 'Adalah, or justice, in Islam is the theological nature of expectations of Justice from Allah. According to mainstream Islamic theological schools, which defined themselves directly against the Mu'tazilites of the early Islamic period, God must be more powerful than he is just. While the Mu'tazilites, or rationalists, of early Islamic history maintained that God was bound to justice and could neither favor nor disfavor anyone except by their merits and demerits, the theological schools (particularly the Ash'ari school) that emerged to denounce this view as heretical would win first political favor and finally the contest of history. What results is that, today, all major schools of Islamic theology hold that while one may expect justice from Allah on grounds of likelihood, Allah is not bound by it, and may arbitrarily decide to punish or reward whoever he wills. This is because it is believed that justice must be beholden to an all-powerful God rather than vice-versa.
Justice in the Shariah
Muslims are worth more than non-Muslims
In many legal matters, Muslim parties involved in a dispute are given immediate and incontestable priority and preference over non-Muslim parties. One example of where such preferential treatment is given to all Muslims, no matter the facts of the case, is in the case of killing. The vast majority of Muslim scholars hold the view explicitly formulated in Sahih Bukhari 1:3:111, among other hadith, that while a non-Muslim will be executed for killing a Muslim, a Muslim should never be killed for killing a non-Muslim. A minority of scholars, by contrast, hold that a Muslim may be executed if he kills a non-Muslim, but only if that non-Muslim is a sub-citizen dhimmi who is under the "protection" of the Islamic state.[1][2]
Similarly, in the case of a killing where compensation is paid in the form of blood money, the sum to be paid for killing a Muslim is significantly more than that to be paid for killing a non-Muslim. The same is also the case for the genders: if a man is killed, the money owed is significantly greater than that owed if a woman is killed. In monetary terms, the direct implication is that the life of a Muslim is worth more than the life of a non-Muslim and that the life of a man more than that of a woman.
The value of the blood-money at the time of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was eight hundred dinars or eight thousand dirhams, and the blood-money for the people of the Book was half of that for Muslims.
He said: This applied till Umar (Allah be pleased with him) became caliph and he made a speech in which he said: Take note! Camels have become dear. So Umar fixed the value for those who possessed gold at one thousand dinars, for those who possessed silver at twelve thousand (dirhams), for those who possessed cattle at two hundred cows, for those who possessed sheep at two thousand sheep, and for those who possessed suits of clothing at two hundred suits. He left the blood-money for dhimmis (protected people) as it was, not raising it in proportion to the increase he made in the blood-wit.Death Compensation in respect of a male person:
i. Muslim - SR. 100,000/-
ii. Christian/Jew - SR.50,000/-
iii. Other religions : such as Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, etc. - SR 6666.66
In the case of death of a female, death compensation allowed is equal to half the amount as admissible to males professing the same religion. Further the amount of compensation admissible, is based on the percentage of responsibility fixed on the causer e.g. if the causer is held 50% responsible for the accident resulting in the death of a Muslim, the amount of Death Compensation admissible will be SR 50,000 only.The above example of Muslims being favored over non-Muslims is just one instance of religious preference in the Sharia. Other examples of legal issues where Muslims are unequivocally favored over non-Muslims include slavery, marriage, inheritance, transport, attire, houses of worship, taxation, residential zoning, and freedom of expression, among others.
Men are worth more than women
In perhaps equally numerous instances in the Shariah, male parties involved in a dispute are given immediate and incontestable priority and preference over female parties. Two famous examples found in the Quran include men's double right to both inheritance and testimony in court when compared to women.
Other examples of men being favored in the Shariah over women abound. These include matters of murder, slavery, marriage, attire, mobility, domestic autonomy, and public leadership, among others.
It is also worth noting that in some few cases, women are given preferential treatment. Examples of this preferential treatment include, for instance, apostasy, where according to a minority of Islamic legal authorities, a female apostate's life may be spared (by contrast, a male apostate must always be killed).
Justice and Allah in Islamic theology
The first significant formal theological school to emerge in the Islamic world was that of the Mu'tazilites, or rationalists. According to the Mu'tazilites, Allah was obligated to do justice to his creation and could not do otherwise. Thus, a good person was guaranteed a good fate in the hereafter, and a bad person a bad fate. Many early Islamic thinkers, however, found this notion to limit God's omnipotence to an unacceptable degree. This theological discontent ultimately manifested itself in the formation of rival theological schools, most famously Ash'arism, the school that became affiliated with Abu Hasan al-Ashari (d. 936). Ash'arism is still the most common theological school in the Muslim world today, and its stance on the doctrine of God being more powerful than he is necessarily just rings true through all major competing theological schools until today.
In the hadith
There are some authentic hadiths which convey stories immediately relevant to Allah's relationship with justice. While the messages found in these hadith are not always consistent and may not square perfectly or easily with the doctrines endorsed by the main schools of Islamic theology, they are important to consider.
The evil deeds of a rich man, when placed upon Allah's scales of judgment, will weigh more than had he been a poor man. The hadith describe how the atonement (the good deed required to make up for the evil deed) is different depending on one's income level.
Other narrations describe rich people being judged more harshly on the day of judgement
Symbolic associations in scripture
Scales of Justice in the hereafter
Scales can be considered a universal sign for justice. Many ancient religions had such a concept. Maat, the Egyptian goddess of truth, right, and orderly conduct holds the scales which weigh the human heart in the judgment of the dead. Iustitia, the Roman's Lady Justice, is another goddess of justice who carries measuring balances. And the book of Daniel refers to scales being used to judge a man just as with other ancient religions.[3]
In the Qur'an
The Law of Honest Scales
The Tanakh codified the law that scales and measuring balances be honest. Such a rule and similar statements can be found in the Torah[4] and the book of Proverbs[5][6]. The Qur'an includes the same:
Islamic Scholar on Justice and Human Rights
To sum up what these organizations promote: it is that man should be able to do whatever he wants, no matter how perverse. They support lesbians, homosexuals and bisexuals, and religious deviance. They regard it as a human right to disbelieve in whatever religions one wants and to express one’s opinion – even about the Prophets – without any fear or shame, and they also support the liberation of woman from the control of her father, husband or religion.
Secondly:
There follow some of the articles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which was approved by the United Nations on 10/12/1948 CE, which we are quoting from their website: [Quotes from Articles 2, 18, & 19]
These so called rights and freedoms which they call for all people to enjoy regardless of religion make the monotheist and the polytheist equally entitled to these rights and freedoms, so the slave of Allaah and the slave of the Shaytaan are placed on the same level, and every worshipper of rocks, idols or people is given the complete right and freedom to enjoy his kufr and heresy. This is contrary to the laws of Allaah in this world and the Hereafter. [Quotes Quran 68:35-36, Quran 38:28, & Quran 32:18]
It is a call to abolish the ruling on apostasy, and to openly flaunt the principles of kufr and heresy. It is a call to open the door to everyone who wants to criticize Islam or the Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and to have the freedom to criticize and express oneself with no restrictions.
These are corrupt principles. Even if they suit their lives, values and religion, they do not suit us and they are contrary to our pure sharee’ah, which brought rulings that are suited to individuals and societies, and establish noble morals, and protect minds, honour, physical well being and wealth, and show people the religion which Allaah loves and is pleased with.
[Quotes from Article 3] It is from this Article that the calls of these organizations come to protect criminals against execution, and started to give bad publicity to the nations which carry out the hadd punishments of Allaah by stoning married adulterers and executing bandits and those who spread mischief in the land. Now these organizations proudly claim that they have convinced many nations to abolish the death penalty for killers, rapists and criminals. This is contrary to sound human nature, reason and sharee’ah, and it is a message that gives peace of mind to those criminals that their lives will never be lost because of their deeds, which is a way of spreading mischief on earth.
They claim that the individual has the right to life and liberty, even if it is a bestial life, and even if that freedom leads to corruption, sicknesses and loss of security for the family and society.
[Quotes from Article 16] This article annuls the role of the woman’s guardian (wali) which is to protect the woman’s rights in marriage, and to help his daughter or sister to make a good choice, and to ask about the religious commitment and character of the suitor. It is by His wisdom that Allaah has prescribed this. If marriage was left up to the woman without her guardian’s consent, you would see most girls marrying those who enchant them of the wolves of men, who are eager to rob them of their chastity then throw them aside.
They also give the wife the same rights of divorce as the husband has. This is something that causes women to turn against their husbands and leads to the break up of their families. The one who knows the nature of men and women will not be able to agree to such nonsense. Western families are not so intact that we can say: Look at how they were destroyed. The call for homosexual rights and the rights of women to form any relationship she wants and women’s rights in marriage and divorce – what families can be built on such shaky foundations?
Islam Q&A, Fatwa No. 97827
References
- ↑ Killing a Muslim in punishment for killing a non-Muslim - Islamweb, Fatwa No.92261, August 1, 2006
- ↑ Fatawa: Killing a Muslim for a Non-Muslim - Islamic Science University of Malaysia, November 6, 2003
- ↑ Daniel 5:27
- ↑ Leviticus 19:36
- ↑ Proverbs 11:1
- ↑ Proverbs 16:11