The scrolls of Abraham (AS) emphasize the importance of justice that all messengers of Allah (SWT) preached. Abu Dhar (RA) narrated the following hadith on the scrolls of Abraham, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (SAW), what were the scrolls of Ibrahim (AS)?’
He (SAW) said, ‘They were parables,’ [and so he (SAW) recited one of the revelations that were found in the revelation to Ibrahim (AS) which read: ‘Oh king who has been entrusted with authority and who has been tested with that authority and who has been deluded by that authority: I did not send you to this world to amass the fortunes of it. Rather I sent you to avert from me the call of the oppressed for I do not reject the call of the oppressed even if it comes from a disbeliever.’” (Ibn Hibban)
This hadith teaches us that all messengers advocated justice but only differed in legislation and that the only purpose of those entrusted with authority by Allah (SWT) is to avoid oppressing the people they exercise power over.
People’s fixation with this world is often the source of injustice. Gathering the fortunes of this world and oppressing the disadvantaged of society usually goes hand in hand with each other. Allah (SWT) makes it clear that pursuing the fortunes of this world as a distraction from being just. Capitalism is an example of one of the most exploitive economic systems today that causes oppression and injustice.
Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘as (RA) reported the following hadith, The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The just will be seated upon pulpits of light. Those who are fair with regards to their judgment and with their families and anything they undertake.” (Muslim)
This hadith provides several important lessons. The people who judge, arbitrate, govern, or distribute are the muqsiteen. They could potentially be unjust but they choose not to be. Also, Allah (SWT) alludes to the ‘pulpits of light’ for the muqsiteen as a reward for their actions. He (SWT) bestows them a pulpit on the right side of Ar-Rahman. This is the opposite of the zalim (tyrant) who is power-hungry in this world and thus, Allah (SWT) humiliates him.
The muqsiteen do not let a pursuit for power to cause them to be unjust; therefore, in the next life, they are honored and stand on pulpits of light. According to a hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Allah (SWT) will grant His (SWT) shade to seven groups of people on the Day of Judgment and the first group mentioned is a just ruler. Imam Sufyan At-Thawri (RA) explains that this is because if you have a just ruler, it establishes the foundation for that society to behave righteously.
However, this hadith does not apply only to ‘rulers,’ as Ibn Hajr said, “The father is the imam of the children, the mother is the imamah of the household, the teacher is the imam of the students, the imam is the imam of the congregants (for prayer), and the employer is the imam of his employees.” This is affirmed in the following hadith, The Prophet (SAW) said, “All of you are guardians and all of you will be questioned about your flock.
The ruler is a guardian of his society, the man is a guardian of his family, the woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husband’s house and his offspring, and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). This means everyone must establish justice where they can. The bigger the group, the bigger the responsibility.
Sufyan At-Thawri said, “There are two groups of people that if they are righteous, people will be righteous, and if they are corrupt, people will be corrupt. [They are] the scholars and the rulers.” This makes sense because rulers are responsible for the worldly affairs of the people whereas the scholars offer guidance for our affairs in the hereafter.
One afternoon, the Ruler of Persia, Hurmuzan, arrived in Madinah on important diplomatic business with the Caliph. When he asked about the whereabouts of Umar (RA), the people directed him to a man sleeping peacefully under a tree with no bodyguards or weapons.
The Roman messenger stood in awe at this sight: the leader of millions of people sleeping peacefully under a tree without a care in the world. He then remarked on his famous words that remain fixed into history until today: “O Umar! You ruled. You were just. Thus, you were given security. And thus you slept.”
A person who is in a position of authority and chooses to be just will always find peace and sanctuary in this world. Whatever good I have written here is due to the Almighty Allah (SWT) while the mistakes are mine.
