ISLAM STANDS FOR ISLAM STANDS FOR JUSTICEJUSTICE

IN ALL SPHERES OF IN ALL SPHERES OF HUMAN LIFEHUMAN LIFE

Allah doth command you to render back your trusts

to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between man and ma that ye judge with justice:

verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you!

for Allah is He who heareth and seeth all things.

Ahadith Ahadith

Fear Allah (SWT) and do justice in Fear Allah (SWT) and do justice in between your children. (Bukhari)between your children. (Bukhari)

There will be seven types of people under There will be seven types of people under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment when there is not going to be any shade when there is not going to be any shade except the shade of Allah. One of them except the shade of Allah. One of them shall be “ Imam Adil” or just ruler.shall be “ Imam Adil” or just ruler.

AhadithAhadith

People who do justice shall be on the People who do justice shall be on the thrones of Noor on the right side of Allah thrones of Noor on the right side of Allah on the Day of Judgement.on the Day of Judgement.

3-The Paradigm of Justice3-The Paradigm of Justice

Teachings of classical Islam and classical Teachings of classical Islam and classical America typified by America’s founders America typified by America’s founders Edmund Burke and Thomas Jefferson Edmund Burke and Thomas Jefferson must be renewed to build new global must be renewed to build new global civilization.civilization.Duty of Muslims in America is to help build Duty of Muslims in America is to help build this new global civilization on the spiritual this new global civilization on the spiritual foundations. Failure to do so would end all foundations. Failure to do so would end all civilization and bring on the end of time.civilization and bring on the end of time.

Our responsibility is to plant the Our responsibility is to plant the tree ( of life and civilization)tree ( of life and civilization)

Prophet Mohammad ( SAW) said, “ Even Prophet Mohammad ( SAW) said, “ Even if you would know that the world would if you would know that the world would end tomorrow, you should go out and end tomorrow, you should go out and plant a tree.”plant a tree.”

This Hadith talks about :This Hadith talks about :1.1. Our responsibility no matter how bleak Our responsibility no matter how bleak

the situation may appear.the situation may appear.2.2. It gives optimism in all circumstances It gives optimism in all circumstances

and to think positively for the good of all.and to think positively for the good of all.

Principles of justice have 3 levels of Principles of justice have 3 levels of heirarchyheirarchy

Most general ( maqasid or purposes, Most general ( maqasid or purposes, kulliyat or uinversals, dururiyat or kulliyat or uinversals, dururiyat or essentials)essentials)

More specific ( hajjiyat)More specific ( hajjiyat)

Most specific ( tahsinyat)Most specific ( tahsinyat)

Sources of knowledgeSources of knowledge

Divine revelation ( haqq al yaqin)Divine revelation ( haqq al yaqin)

Study of the signs ( ain al yaqin)Study of the signs ( ain al yaqin)

Derived from above (Ilma al yaqin)Derived from above (Ilma al yaqin)

4- Principles of Justice4- Principles of Justice

Sources of JusticeSources of Justice

1.1. Revelations from Allah-Revelations from Allah- Justice has meaning if Justice has meaning if comes from truth which has meaning if it comes from truth which has meaning if it comes from absolute source which is Allah.comes from absolute source which is Allah.

2.2. Hadith or the teachings of ProphetHadith or the teachings of Prophet..

3.3. Usul al fiqh-roots of legal reasoningUsul al fiqh-roots of legal reasoning developed developed by scholars based upon ‘istislah’ or good of by scholars based upon ‘istislah’ or good of both individual and the society.both individual and the society.

7 Principles of Justice7 Principles of Justice(by Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Musa al (by Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Musa al

Shatibi d 1388 AC/790 AH)Shatibi d 1388 AC/790 AH)Haqq al din- respect for religionHaqq al din- respect for religionHaqq al nafs-respect the human personHaqq al nafs-respect the human personHaqq al mal- right of private property.Haqq al mal- right of private property.Haqq al hurriyah- respect of self Haqq al hurriyah- respect of self determination( khilafa, shura, ijma, determination( khilafa, shura, ijma, judiciary.)judiciary.)Haqq al kirama- respect for human dignity Haqq al kirama- respect for human dignity including religious freedom and gender including religious freedom and gender equality.equality.

Principles of JusticePrinciples of Justice

Haqq al Ilm- respect for knowledge. It Haqq al Ilm- respect for knowledge. It requires freedom of thought, press, requires freedom of thought, press, assembly.assembly.

Justice is at the core of Islam. This Justice is at the core of Islam. This paradigm of human responsibilities is paradigm of human responsibilities is being revived.being revived.

Such principles of justice do exist in all world Such principles of justice do exist in all world religions in lesser degree.religions in lesser degree.

Principles of justice in secularismPrinciples of justice in secularism

They start from the material universe as the They start from the material universe as the ultimate reality.ultimate reality.Human reason as the only source of truth.Human reason as the only source of truth.Such unaided human reasoning has led to the Such unaided human reasoning has led to the principle of might makes right.principle of might makes right.This leads to totalitarian concepts as stability This leads to totalitarian concepts as stability through unilateral preemptionthrough unilateral preemptionConcepts like freedom and democracy can Concepts like freedom and democracy can divorce rights from responsibilities and produce divorce rights from responsibilities and produce worse injustices.worse injustices.

Thomas Jefferson-author of the Thomas Jefferson-author of the Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence

No people can remain free unless they are No people can remain free unless they are properly educated.properly educated.

Education consists first of all in learning Education consists first of all in learning virtue.virtue.

Entire people can be virtuous only if both Entire people can be virtuous only if both private and public life are imbued with and private and public life are imbued with and guided by truth and justice within a guided by truth and justice within a spiritual frameworkspiritual framework

Advantages of American policy Advantages of American policy based upon justice based upon justice

It would undercut the appeal of exclusivist It would undercut the appeal of exclusivist and radical elements and promote stabilityand radical elements and promote stability

It would powerfully restore the image of It would powerfully restore the image of America as a force for justice in an age of America as a force for justice in an age of globalization and a true moral leader of the globalization and a true moral leader of the world.world.

Can Muslims be both Muslims and Can Muslims be both Muslims and Americans?Americans?

Members of the Center for Understanding Members of the Center for Understanding Islam answered it in their first publication Islam answered it in their first publication during first 2 years after 9/11during first 2 years after 9/11Our country is America and our faith is Our country is America and our faith is Islam. No need to choose between them.Islam. No need to choose between them.Responsibility of a loyal American is to Responsibility of a loyal American is to support the government when it governs support the government when it governs according to its founding principles and according to its founding principles and loyal opposition when it does not.loyal opposition when it does not.

4 Methods of Integration4 Methods of Integration

1- Work at the local level.1- Work at the local level.

To develop a better understanding of To develop a better understanding of Islam.Islam.

To develop practice of Ibadah at personal To develop practice of Ibadah at personal and social level including Salaah, Zakah and social level including Salaah, Zakah and social wok.and social wok.

Explain Islam to others for developing Explain Islam to others for developing better understanding .better understanding .

Main reasons for our failureMain reasons for our failure

Hostile climate for Muslims after 9/11. It has Hostile climate for Muslims after 9/11. It has discouraged Muslims from thinking big. Those discouraged Muslims from thinking big. Those who do not think big, fail.who do not think big, fail.Intellectual basis for such integration. Our Intellectual basis for such integration. Our thinkers and intellectuals must work upon these thinkers and intellectuals must work upon these ideas consulting primary and secondary ideas consulting primary and secondary sources.sources.Lack of funding. Those who could fund such Lack of funding. Those who could fund such work no longer appreciate this work. We need to work no longer appreciate this work. We need to revive the institution of endowment.revive the institution of endowment.

ConclusionConclusion

Challenges and opportunities for Challenges and opportunities for prosperous future for Muslims in America prosperous future for Muslims in America are enormous.are enormous.Time frame for success must be measured Time frame for success must be measured in decades. Work must begin now.in decades. Work must begin now.Urgent need in America is spiritual Urgent need in America is spiritual renewal not just moral reforms.renewal not just moral reforms.Best planner is Allah and we are merely Best planner is Allah and we are merely His servants. We must rely upon Allah.His servants. We must rely upon Allah.

Last WordLast Word

And if anyone puts his trust in Allah sufficient is (Allah) for him.

For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: verily for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion