Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim Relationship Between Justice and Peace in the Holy Qur an Introduction: Holy Scriptures, which link their historical authorship with Almighty God, have amply suitable verses on justice and peace for practising on a fair balance. This applies to all peoples, regardless of community classifications. However, it is only some of the people, who are supposed to be ardent followers of those scriptures; take undue advantage of causing biased statements, which woefully disturb the peace of all others in plural communities. Regretfully, these events are frequently saddening the rest of the peace loving communities. Discussions on Relationship Between Justice and Peace: 1) Almighty God requires countries to have true democracy, democratically elected leaders and a just system of judiciary. In the Muslims scripture, the Holy Qur an, the Government of any country is required to entrust the affairs of the State to the community leaders of their country, who are worthy of this responsibility. These leaders are democratically elected by the peoples of that country. Leaders must be exemplary and do not regard community matters below dignity. This is quoted in the verse HQ21:73 And We made them leaders 1 who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of alms, and Us (alone) they served. The Holy Qur an requires the country to have a system of judiciary and its Judges to be just. People are reminded that Almighty God is ever-watching over humanity and records everything. This is in the quotation HQ4:58 Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts 2 to those worthy of them, and that 1 The Holy Qur an mentions names of only 25 revealed prophets, several times in various Chapters. These 25 prophets have become case studies amongst different communities, to which they were assigned. In HQ21:73 the leaders referenced are Prophet Abraham and Prophet Lot. They were related: Prophet Abraham was paternal uncle to Prophet Lot and their births were in city of Ur, in southern Iraq. After attempts to burn alive Prophet Abraham, they both left Ur and settled in Mesopotamia (Iran, Syria and Turkey regions). Both prophets as leaders were assigned to their own communities, which were deeply involved in idolatry, polytheism, lust of same gender sinful practises and disobedience of their leaders. Their communities were struck with Divine punishment: Scientific analysis proves volcanic destruction of both Sodom and Gomorrah, as communities, which defied their leaders directives towards Words of Almighty God. The communities stooped into sinning. 2 This refers to the law of inheritance. People are required to make will of their assets and other possessions to be resolved in prescribed matters of law. 1
when you judge 3 between people, you judge with justice. Surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent. Surely Allah is ever Hearing, Seeing. An elected Government is officially, as enshrined in its Constitution, the Trustee of that country. 2) Almighty God requires humanity to practice justice but without partiality; fairness at all times. The Holy Qur an requires that persons in capacities of Judges should not be partial to those who are the better crust of society, neither for personal gain nor driven by any assumed fear of consequences. The Holy Qur an states at HQ4:135 O you who believe, be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allah, even though it be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives 4 whether he be rich or poor, Allah has a better right over them both. So follow not (your) low desires, lest you deviate. And if you distort or turn away from (truth), surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do. Regardless of peoples standing in society, Judges must execute their best judgments. The Holy Quran states at HQ16:90 Surely Allah commands (the doing of) justice 5 and the doing of good (to others) 6 and the giving to the near of kin, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion 7. He instructs you that you may be mindful. Regardless how some communities may be having hatred against other communities, Almighty God has ordered Muslims to respect them all in the verse HQ5:8 O you who believe, be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice; and do not let hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably. Be just; that is nearer to observance of duty. And keep your duty to Allah. Surely Allah is Aware of what you do. 3) Justice alone is not the formula for good governance of any society and requires equitable balance of peace for betterment within the wider communities. In plural societies, sometimes certain groups insist on dominance over the others. This has been witnessed in many countries, which have communal violence. The Holy Quran states at HQ60:8 Allah does not forbid you, with regard to those who do not fight you for religion, 3 The Holy Qur an imposes upon communities in having a system of Judiciary, which will hear cases in all fairness. In addition, there should be an elected Government, which should become the Trustee of the country. 4 The need for persons employed in the Judiciary (e.g. Magistrates and Judges) to be correctly fair and honest in all their decisions, was already stipulated in the Holy Qur an more than 1,400 years ago. 5 The Holy Qur an makes clear stipulation to persons employed in the Judiciary (e.g. Magistrates and Judges) that the truthful practices covers both in criminal jurisdiction and in civil jurisdiction. 6 Doing good deeds to others and all acts of charity are the 3 rd of the five pillars of Islam. They are as followers: 1 st Declaration of Faith in One Almighty God. 2 nd Compulsory prayer 5 times daily. 3 rd Compulsory giving in charity. 4 th Fasting in month of Ramadan. 5 th Pilgrimage to Mecca. 7 Total refraining from indecency, evil and rebellion are those essential bonds, which bind society well. 2
nor drive you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly. Surely Allah loves the doers of justice. Sometimes people do not recognize that the internal inspirations they have against other communities are the sly workings of the devil. Almighty God warns humanity in steering clear of the devil in the verse HQ2:208 O you who believe, enter into complete peace and do not follow the footsteps of the devil. Surely he is your open enemy 8. Once people or communities of people come into the control of the devil, then those people are easily mislead into the ways the devil most cunningly desires. Often this results in quarrels within the community and requires peacemakers to intervene. Notwithstanding the consequences of sly interference by the devil, Almighty God gives His reassurances to those who have not been swayed by the devil and to maintain good relationships amongst all communities. Islam teaches that whenever people incline to peace, then the Muslims must also endeavour and incline to peace. Accordingly, when people genuinely incline towards peaceful settlement, there has to be precondition of real forgiveness as the pivotal point; then the Muslims must also reach peaceful settlements. This is in the verse HQ8:61 And if they incline to peace, you (must) incline to it also, and trust in Allah. Surely He is the Hearer, the Knower. 4) Political situations are not the only ones causing injustice. Often, settling of debts and contracts are not appropriately made which causes disharmony within the communities. The Holy Qur an advises humanity to enter into contracts with other parties, but must have witnesses. This is in the verse HQ2:282 O you who believe, when you contract a debt for a fixed time, write it down 9. And let a scribe write it down between you with fairness; nor should the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him, so let him write. And let him who owes the debt dictate, and he should 8 It is vitally important for everyone to remember at all times the cause of friction between Almighty God and the accursed devil. The devil will forever inspire humanity against Almighty God. After Almighty God created Adam, it became the commencement of disobedience by the devil. The devil refused to accept Adam and to respect Adam: HQ7:11-18 And We indeed created you, then We fashioned you, then We said to the angels: Be submissive to Adam. So they submitted, but not Iblīs; he was not of those who submitted. He said: What hindered you from submitting when I commanded you? He said: I am better than he; You have created me of fire, while him You did create of dust. He said: Then get forth from this (state), for it is not for you to behave proudly in it. Go forth, therefore, surely you are a degraded one. He said: Grant me respite till the day when they are raised. He said: Surely you are granted respite. He said: As You have judged me to be in error, I will certainly lie in wait for them in Your straight path, then I shall certainly come upon them from in front of them and from behind them, and from their right and from their left; and You will not find most of them thankful. 9 Writing down of contracts or debts with witnesses, is essential material proof between debtor and creditor. The Holy Qur an established this essential point more than 1,400 years ago. 3
observe his duty to Allah, his Lord, and not diminish anything from it. But if he who owes the debt is unsound in understanding or weak, or (if) he is not able to dictate himself, let his guardian dictate with fairness. And call to witness from among your men two witnesses 10 ; but if there are not two men, then one man and two women 11 from among those whom you choose to be witnesses, so that if one of the two commits error, the one may remind the other. And the witnesses must not refuse when they are summoned. And do not be averse to writing it whether it is small or large along with the time of its falling due. This is more equitable in the sight of Allah and makes testimony surer and the best way to keep away from doubts 12. But when it is ready merchandise which you give and take among yourselves from hand to hand, there is no blame on you in not writing it down 13. And have witnesses when you sell 14 to one another. And let no harm be done to the scribe or to the witnesses. And if you do (it), then surely it is a transgression on your part. And keep your duty to Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knower of all things. 5) Islam requires peoples of all countries to respect all other ethnicities and religious Faiths. The Holy Qur an mentions by examples at HQ22:40 Those who are driven from their homes without a just cause except that they say: Our Lord is Allah. And if Allah did not repel some people by others, surely cloisters and churches and synagogues, and mosques in which Allah s name is much remembered, would have been pulled down. And surely Allah will help him who helps Him. Surely Allah is Strong, Mighty. Muslims must respect that all other Faiths have rights to exist and practice and must not abuse them, in the verse HQ6:108 And do not abuse those whom they call upon besides Allah, in case, exceeding the limits, they abuse Allah through ignorance. Thus to every people have We made their deeds seem good; then to their Lord is their return so He will inform them of what they did. 10 Two witnesses are essential in the event of non-availability of either. 11 Two women are always recommended as witnesses in the Holy Qur an in lieu of a man. The reason being that when both women get married, they almost always get relocated to the house of their husbands in a different district and in addition, their name would likely change and get aligned to the family name of their husbands. Sometimes the witness may err on any point, or suffer from memory loss, so the other person would assist in refreshing. 12 These are matters which may incite friction and develop into festering problems between parties. 13 This refers to barter trading between parties. Barter trading does not involve cash or debts. But when there is no barter trading and the merchandise is sold between parties, there is cash transaction and must be receipted, as witness. The systematic magnificence of the Holy Qur an reigns supreme. 14 This refers to the principles of invoicing for arm s length sales, which requires documented records, a feature required in modern practises in commerce. The Holy Qur an established this 1,400 years ago. 4
6) Some of the causes of conflicts is imposing State religion on all communities. (a) The Holy Qur an states in the verse HQ2:139 Say: Do you dispute with us about Allah, and He is our Lord and your Lord, and for us are our deeds and for you your deeds; and we are sincere to Him? Islam has proclaimed that there is no compulsion in religion. (b) Countries should not impose a State religion. HQ2:256 There is no compulsion in religion 15 the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error. So whoever disbelieves in the devil and believes in Allah, he indeed lays hold on the firmest handle which shall never break. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing. 7) Imparting correctness of Islamic principles on justice and peace to others. It is for all correct thinking Muslims to guide and assist other Muslims; the Holy Qur an has sanctioned that correct advice shall be given to those who need to be guided. This is given in the Holy Qur an at HQ3:104, as And from among you there should be a community who invite to good and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong. And these are they who are successful. Conclusions on Justice and Peace: a) Regardless of ethnicity on matters of community classifications, there has to be balanced justice, practised both by the Judiciary and elements within the population mix. This has to be embedded in every country s National Constitution. b) Notwithstanding that mistakes may have been committed without intention, forgiveness must nevertheless be sought from the aggrieved parties. c) Reading and following revealed Scriptures on regular basis is the first step in steering away from potential communal frictions. Fiji -End of Document- 15 This is a matter which should be enshrined in the Constitutions of all countries, whether or not they have Muslims in their population. For example, Clause 4-(3) of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji, describes Fiji as a Secular State in matters of religious liberty and stipulates that religion and State are separate. 5