By Shaykh Abdul Qayum | 26 July 2024

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

With so much injustice and oppression across the world, I felt compelled to address the crucial topic of justice in this week’s sermon. As Muslims, we are called upon to uphold justice in all aspects of our lives. Those in positions of power and authority are commanded to heed this call with even greater care and responsibility.

The Qur’an, the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the sayings of renowned scholars all emphasise the paramount importance of justice, especially for those in positions of power and authority. Allah loves justice and those who establish it, while He abhors injustice and oppression. This foundational principle is clear in numerous Qur’anic verses and prophetic traditions.

Allah states in the Qur’an (16:90):

Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.

The significance of justice for rulers and those in authority is further emphasised in a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

Seven types of people will be sheltered under the shade of Allah on the Day when there will be no shade except His: the just ruler,…

[Sahih Al-Bukhari 660, Sahih Muslim 1031]

This Hadith underscores not just the reward awaiting ‘just rulers’, who will receive Allah’s special protection on the Day of Judgement, but also the tremendous duty placed upon our leaders to uphold justice.

A similar message is echoed in another Hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said:

Indeed, those who are just will be near Allah on pulpits of light, those who are just in their rulings and towards their families and those who are under them.

[Sahih Muslim]

This Hadith further illustrates the high status accorded to just rulers in the afterlife, emphasising that justice should extend to all aspects of one’s responsibilities.

Justice, as Imam Ibn Taymiyyah noted, is a universal principal. The renowned Islamic scholar famously said that Allah grants victory and support even to non-Muslim countries if they establish justice, while He withholds His help from Muslim countries that perpetrate injustice and oppression.

Islam’s prohibition against oppression and injustice is unequivocal, and the consequences of injustice and oppression are equally stark, both in this world and the hereafter. In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah (SWT) says:

O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another.

[Sahih Muslim]

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ further warned against the dangers of oppression, saying to Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (RA) when he sent him to Yemen:

Be afraid of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah.

[Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim]

This Hadith is a powerful call to accountability for our rulers and those who have been placed in authority over us.

The concept of justice in Islam extends beyond mere fairness in ruling; it encompasses all aspects of human interaction. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, who pray for you and you pray for them. The worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you, and you curse them and they curse you.

[Sahih Muslim]

Our religion teaches us that true justice and effective governance are not achieved through mere legal frameworks, an overarching security apparatus or government policies alone. Real justice is deeply rooted in the quality of relationships between leaders and their communities. It requires mutual respect, affection, and solidarity between rulers and the ruled.

One of the gravest forms of injustice is the unjust taking of life. The Qur’an (5:32) equates the killing of one innocent person to the killing of all humanity:

Whoever kills a soul unless for a just cause – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.

This famous verse underscores the sanctity of human life and the severe consequences of unjustly taking a life.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ further emphasised this point:

A believer continues to guard his faith [and thus hopes for Allah’s Mercy] so long as he does not shed blood unjustly.

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The severity of unjust killing is further illustrated in another Hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said:

If the inhabitants of the Heavens and the inhabitants of the Earth all took part in shedding the blood of a believer, Allah would cast them (all) in the Fire.

[Sunan At-Tirmidhi]

There is no more powerful statement against the taking of an innocent life and the severe punishment that awaits those who shed blood.

May Allah (SWT) guide all of us to refrain from injustice and oppression. May He grant us the wisdom and strength to establish justice in our personal lives, our communities, and our societies. Let us take this message to heart and work towards creating a more just world for all.

Ameen

---

Help us complete our Phase 3 expansion for the new prayer halls!