Being Just is a part of faith or Emaan and is therefore very important. In this article we explore the different ways in which we will be tested when it becomes to being just.
With the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful
It was a bitterly cold, rainy morning and Fadil the cook had no choice but to get up early because he had to cook the food for the Meelad that was organised by Salim. Promptly at 4 am he was knocking on the door of Salim’s house.
A window opened and Salim’s son gave him a key and told him that everything he needed to cook was in the garage. Fadil battled against the poor weather to light his fire and finally succeeded by finding some sheeting to cover the fire.
He somehow managed to get the food going and at 11.am Salim’s son came to take the sheeting. Fadil asked him the reason for him wanting the sheet and to his astonishment Salim’s son replied that he wanted the sheeting to cover the muddy ground so that the ‘molana’ would not mess his shoes.
Fadil was disappointed and thought to himself that, here I am from 4 in the morning struggling to cook the food and no one had the decency to offer me a cup of tea but the ‘molana’ comes in late and he is treated like royalty. He probably was paid more too.
Once, Rauf was doing the building for Farad and he worked hard daily to finish the building. Towards the end of the project, one of his workers, a white driver delivered some of his materials on site and out came the fine china, tea, biscuits and sweet talk.
Rauf thought to himself, I have worked so long and hard on this project and I am better qualified but I was never offered a cup of tea from my Muslim brother yet only the colour of the skin of my worker got him first class treatment.
The problem is not that someone treats you badly but the problem is with the inequities and injustice. Fadil and Rauf would not have felt bad if everyone was treated in the same way. These are true stories but the names have been changed.
It is easy to see the fault in others and before we condemn Salim and Farad completely, we need to evaluate our behaviour to see if we are also behaving in the same manner. No matter how rich or how poor we are, we will all, most likely behave in the same way.
If a wealthy man comes to our door to raise funds then we will most likely treat him better than a poor man that had come for the same project. We will most likely give in to our prejudices and be influenced by wealth, clothing, talking, status, race etc.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “What destroyed the nations preceding you was that if a noble person amongst them stole, they would forgive him, and if a poor person amongst them stole, they would inflict Allah’s legal punishment on him. By Allah! if Fatima (RA), the daughter of Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam stole, I would cut off her hand.” Bukharie Vol 4 Hadis 681.
Islam teaches us to be unbiased at all times. Skin colour, language, race, wealth, status etc. should not determine the way we react to people. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said in his Last Pilgrimage: “If a slave is appointed over you and he conducts your affairs according to the Book of Allah, you should listen to him and obey (his orders).” Sahih Bukahari Bk 20, Number 4528.
When the Holy Prophet ﷺ was in such a situation he did not react anywhere near the way we do, yet, just his innocent frowning and turning away from a blind man was brought to his attention by Allah Subhanatallah as an example for us.
“He (the Prophet) frowned and turned aside, because the blind man (Ibn umme Maktum) came to him (interrupting him unknowingly). … But you neglect him and pay him no regard. This should not have been so. Verily, this (Quran is a means to rise to eminence (for you all).” Al Quran 80:1
The Holy Prophet ﷺ was doing something noble. He was already in a conversation about Islam with the wealthy men of Mecca when he was disturbed. He was not behaving like the way Salim and Farad behaved, yet Allah Subhanatallah still brought this to his attention.
Our prejudices stem from what we hold as important. If we think that wealth is important then we would look up to wealthy people and their lifestyles, if we think that it is important to be a leader then we would look up to people that have some sort of position even if they are not good people.
If we look up to the wrong things then these very things will be our downfall. Therefore, the correct attitude to have is to look up to “Truth” then we would appreciate good pious people and look up to them.
In the times we live, some people purposely use certain techniques to influence others. We must not fall for these techniques and it is important for us to be able to see through such facades.
Fancy dress, fancy titles and fancy words are no excuses to be fooled. We must see people for what they are worth and we must treat everyone equally until they earn our trust by being good pious people. We have to be educated in Islam in order not to be duped.
This matter of being fooled by others is so important that we are warned about this in the very first sura of the Holy Quran.
We must never judge people on face value. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said that we should be careful to judge people by their appearances because there are sometimes poor looking people that are looked down upon yet these people are highly regarded by Allah Subhanatallah and if they had to pray, then their prayers would be answered.
Even when it comes to our children and our family in conflicting situations we must not take their part and overlook their wrongs. Many marital disputes end in divorce today because parents do not consider who is right and who is wrong. They simply take the part of their children without pausing a second to consider.
What we fail to realise is that our children’s spouses are our children too.
“O you who believe! Be strict observers of justice, bearers of true evidence for the sake of Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (against your) parents or near of kin; (let neither of the parties) whether (the one against whom or the one in favour of whom you bear evidence) be rich or poor (influence you). (Bear in mind) Allah is more regardful of them both (than you are), therefore, do not follow your low desires in order to be able to do justice. And if you distort or evade (true evidence) remember Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.” Al Quran 4:135.
Being just is important and there are many verses of the Holy Quran that teach us to be just and I just quote one more.
“….give full measure and weight with equity. We charge no soul except to its capacity, and that when you speak (giving your verdict), observe justice even though the person concerned be a relative (of yours), and fulfil the covenant (you made) with Allah. That is what He enjoins upon you so that you may take heed,” Al Quran 6:152.
End.
Peace and salutations be upon Allah’s Messengers who are responsible for guiding humanity throughout time. Ameen.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2016.
The Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saab RA).
Author: Mohamed Hassan Gaffoor WhatsApp; +27 84 910 1486