In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Source of all Justice & Truth; Al-Haq
Moral integrity of all believers originates from the divine ethics and righteousness acts detailed in God's scriptures. When believers reverence God alone, they tend to adhere to those standards. Conversely, when they attend to other idols besides God, they violate God's teachings on the expense of their morality.
[22:32] Indeed, those who reverence the rites decreed by GOD demonstrate the righteousness of their hearts.
[16:51] GOD has proclaimed: "Do not worship two gods; there is only one god. You shall reverence Me alone."
[13:20] They are the ones who fulfill their pledge to GOD, and do not violate the covenant.
[13:21] They join what GOD has commanded to be joined, reverence their Lord, and fear the dreadful reckoning.
God calls Himself as Al-Haq, the noun and the most explicit definition of justice and truth (22:62, 24:25, 31:30). This only means He is the source of ALL justice and truth. This is why He is the Best Judge (6:57, 7:87, 10:109, 12:80.) A deep analysis of all of His attributes and all of His righteous standards would lead to the conclusion that Justice is the soul and the essence of all ethics and values.
We are commanded by God to incorporate such ethic into our moral practices to establish justice on earth based on the judging laws He has decreed for us (16:90, 7:29, 55:7-9). To establish justice is nothing but to be honest and truthful in upholding and applying the judging laws in the scripture. This would naturally lead to justice which we learn from Quran is crucial for the enhancement of peace and morality in our communities (49:9-10).
[57:25] We sent our messengers supported by clear proofs, and we sent down to them the scripture and the law, that the people may uphold justice. ....
[55:7] He constructed the sky and established the law.
[55:8] You shall not transgress the law.
[55:9] You shall establish justice; do not violate the law.
To help us advance our souls, God teaches us in Quran through many examples how to strive to practice justice and why we should abhor all forms of oppression. We are to pay close attention to these examples, heed them and never underestimate how justice is an integral part of healthy souls and communities.
The following example is challenging. It is not limited to commerce as we have been always lead to understand. It could be applicable to any interactive human relation between two parties that mandates lawful EXCHANGE of anything, physical, intellectual, or emotional - money, goods, time, legal documents, services, consulting, attention, compassion and care. We are to be equitable when we give as much as we care to be treated justly when we receive. This is a tough test. Our selfish, aggressive and unappreciative nature would betray most of us in such situations!
[83:1] Woe to the cheaters.
[83:2] Who demand full measure when receiving from the people.
[83:3] But when giving them the measures or weights, they cheat.
Other examples to reflect on are:
[4:29] O you who believe, do not consume each others' properties illicitly - only mutually acceptable transactions are permitted. You shall not kill yourselves. GOD is Merciful towards you.
[4:58] GOD commands you to give back anything the people have entrusted to you. If you judge among the people, you shall judge equitably. The best enlightenment indeed is what GOD recommends for you. GOD is Hearer, Seer.
[38:24] He said, "He is being unfair to you by asking to combine your sheep with his. Most people who combine their properties treat each other unfairly, except those who believe and work righteousness, and these are so few." Afterwards, David wondered if he made the right judgment. He thought that we were testing him. He then implored his Lord for forgiveness, bowed down, and repented.*
[4:10] Those who consume the orphans' properties unjustly, eat fire into their bellies, and will suffer in Hell.
[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
[49:6] O you who believe, if a wicked person brings any news to you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit injustice towards some people, out of ignorance, then become sorry and remorseful for what you have done.
Bearing a truthful witness is another challenging situation. It is indeed a practice test for the claim of being righteous and a chance of redemption for our souls:
[33:70] O you who believe, reverence GOD and utter only the correct utterances.
[9:119] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD, and be among the truthful.
[25:72] They do not bear false witness. When they encounter vain talk, they ignore it.
[22:30] Those who reverence the rites decreed by GOD have deserved a good reward at their Lord. All livestock is made lawful for your food, except for those specifically prohibited for you. You shall avoid the abomination of idol worship, and avoid bearing false witness.
The challenge gets bigger when we have affairs or conflicts on our way of being honest and equitable:
[5:8] O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe GOD, when you serve as witnesses. Do not be provoked by your conflicts with some people into committing injustice. You shall be absolutely equitable, for it is more righteous. You shall observe GOD. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
The ultimate challenge is when we are asked to establish a truthful witness against our loved ones or even ourselves:
[4:135] O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe GOD, when you serve as witnesses, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives. Whether the accused is rich or poor, GOD takes care of both. Therefore, do not be biased by your personal wishes. If you deviate or disregard (this commandment), then GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
In conclusion, when we are equitable and just towards others, we are equitable and just towards our own souls. We poorly serve our souls and our communities when we violate any of God's commands, including the command of being just. The reverent can not live with the guilt of committing injustice...repentance is the only course for that. The reverent cannot live with injustice committed against them...standing for their rights and forgiveness are the only choices for that. The reverent can not tolerate witnessing injustice against others...they stand for the truth and strive in the cause of God, Al-Haq, for that.
[59:18] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD, and let every soul examine what it has sent ahead for tomorrow. You shall reverence GOD; GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
[16:111] The day will come when every soul will serve as its own advocate, and every soul will be paid fully for whatever it had done, without the least injustice.
[3:30] The day will come when each soul will find all the good works it had done brought forth. As for the evil works, it will wish that they were far, far removed. GOD alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone. GOD is Compassionate towards the people.
[39:68] The horn will be blown, whereupon everyone in the heavens and the earth will be struck unconscious, except those who will be spared by GOD. Then it will be blown another time, whereupon they will all rise up, looking.
[39:69] Then the earth will shine with the light of its Lord. The record will be proclaimed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forth. Everyone will then be judged equitably, without the least injustice.
[39:70] Every soul will be paid for whatever it did, for He is fully aware of everything they have done.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.