The Quranic Societal Philosophy

Justice (Balance & Moderation) in this world of Dualities

Justice is natural (fiṭrī) in the sense that justice as a whole precedes man and the state in time from the beginning of creation. Justice is natural because it is an integral part of the Divine principle or law that regulates the uniformity and rationality that is apparent in the whole of nature. Natural justice pertains to the nature (fiṭrah) of man as an individual. Justice (ʿadl) is a principle of equality and a mean between excess and deficiency. It is innate in human nature and in the natural universe. God’s justice and orderliness are reflected in nature, humans, animals, and in all non-living beings. Despite the innate sense of justice within humans, they are still capable of injustice. Absolute justice only lies with God.

The Qurʾan points to the path of moderation between extremes

“Surely Allah does not do injustice to the weight of an atom, and if it is a good deed He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.” (Surah Nisa: 40)

“We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.” [Quran 57:25]

Allah is reminding us that He has provided the messengers with iron to go along with the guidance and the command to establish justice. Man has known, for untold centuries, that he cannot institute justice in almost any walk of life, or protect justice whenever needed, without the power of iron. The concept of the supremacy of justice in Islam demands that all decision making and their enforcement at whatever level be measured in terms of justice and fairness, as justice is regarded as the highest value in humanity. Therefore, arguments based on other theories will not be able to defeat or dilute the predominance or supremacy of justice. Furthermore, the concept of the supremacy of justice could not be defeated or overtaken by any subject or any area, whether, in civil laws or criminal laws, fundamental rights or constitutional laws, substantial or procedural/adjective, national or international laws, as justice must overtake all human notions, including all supporting theories, philosophies, ideologies, values, and all other types of policies. The Quran precisely accentuates this position as it declares that the fundamental purpose of Allah’s messengers’ missions on this earth is to establish justice. Establish Islam and justice over people in society in order to protect the good amongst them from the evil amongst them.

the empirical and the metaphysical (2:3-4)
revelation and reason (4:82; 38:29)
conjecture and gullibility (2:111),
physicalism and pantheism (3:191-190),
atheism and polytheism (25:3),
determinism and fatalism (13:11),
idealism and realism (91:7-10),
individualism and communalism (3:104),
materialism and spiritualism (28:77),
stagnation and haste, the vociferate and the mute (31:19),
prohibition and permission (16:116; 5:87),
jurisprudence and asceticism (chap. 107),
polygamy and celibacy (4:3),
exaggeration and underestimation (4:171),
indulgence and abstinence (7:31-32),
extravagance and miserliness (25:67),
cowardice and aggression (2:190)

The Natural Universe was created in balance

“And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance. That you not transgress within the balance. And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.”[Quran 55:7-9]

Allah’s system is fixed
- Nature, humans, animals, plants, flora, and fauna have already been determined and perfectly balanced.
Human life is dynamic, interacting with Allah’s system
- Dynamic, progressive, and constructive, so the problems in life are increasingly complex.
Man is not outside nature
- God is the creator of the universe and the creator of man. The same God is also the organizer of the universe, of human life and of human relationship to the universe. Man is a part of the universe, the laws which govern human nature are no different from the laws governing the universe. Earth has been created and designed for the purpose of testing human beings.
The Sciences help humans solve physical problems
- Science is observational knowledge which includes measures, laws of causality, and the principle of order that can be studied and researched.
Allah created attributes in objects
- For example, He created in fire the attribute of burning, in wood the attribute of catching fire, and in the blade the attribute of cutting. He made the attributes indispensable in objects according to the law of the universe such that they do not change.
Allah created instincts and organic needs in man
- These attributes have the capacity for man to perform by means of utilising them an action either according to the commands of Allah and thus it is good, or contradicting His commands and thus it is bad.

Justice to the Creator

Faith and Belief: Central to a Muslim’s identity is the belief in the Oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). The core tenets of faith (articles of faith) include belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree.
Worship and Practice: Rituals like the five daily prayers, fasting in Ramadan, giving zakat (alms), and performing Hajj (pilgrimage) reinforce this identity and connection to the Creator.

Justice to the Family

Marriage (Nikah): Islam encourages marriage as a means to maintain chastity and establish a pious family.
Maintenance and Support: The husband is responsible for the financial support of his wife and children.
Upbringing of Children: Parents have the duty to raise their children with proper Islamic education and morals.
Respect and Kindness: Treating family members, especially parents and the elderly, with respect and kindness.
Marital Rights: Both spouses have rights upon each other, including mutual respect, love, and fulfillment of physical needs.
Inheritance: Islam has precise guidelines on the distribution of inheritance among family members.
Seeking Knowledge: Parents should ensure the education of their children, both in religious and worldly subjects.

Justice to Society

Brotherhood and Community: The concept of Ummah, or global Muslim community, is significant. A Muslim is part of a broader brotherhood and sisterhood, transcending racial, ethnic, and national boundaries.
Service and Contribution: Muslims are encouraged to contribute positively to society, be it through charity, knowledge, or other beneficial deeds. Interactions with non-Muslims should be based on understanding, kindness, and justice.
Representation and Role Modeling: Living Islam authentically and representing its teachings accurately is essential, especially in diverse societies where misconceptions might exist.

The people of the Book

“Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you. So vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.” [5:48]

This Ayah means, Allah has instituted different laws to test His servants’ obedience to what He legislates for them, thus, He rewards or punishes them according to their actions and what they intend.

Most of the Torah consisted of the knowledge of judgements, that which is concerned with the states of the soul and its refinement, its call being an exoteric one.

In the case of Jesus, the dominant was the faculty of the heart and its light, which is why he disengaged himself from the apparel of this world, enjoined monasticism and would say to some of his disciples ‘Whoever shall smite you on your [right] cheek, then turn to him who has smote you the other cheek also’ [Matt. 5:39]. Most of the Gospel consisted of the knowledge of the self-disclosures of the attributes, character traits, admonitions, and counsels that are concerned with the states of the heart, its purification and its illumining, its call being an esoteric one.

In the case of Muḥammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the dominant was the sway of the spirit and its light. Thus he brought together to all the noble character traits, completing of them, equitable in judgements and moderate therein.

If Allah willed, He would make all mankind follow one religion and one Law, that would never be abrogated. Allah decided that every Prophet would have his own distinct law that is later abrogated partially or totally with the law of a latter Prophet. Later on, all previous laws were abrogated by the Law that Allah sent with Muhammad, His servant and Messenger, whom Allah sent to the people of earth as the Final Prophet.

Tafsir: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi – Tafhim al-Qur’an
The reason for different Laws

(1) It is wrong to infer that the different Laws have been derived from different sources and have different origins. As a matter of fact, they all have come from Allah, Who prescribed different regulations to suit different communities and different ages.
(2) One of these reasons is to test people whether they obey or not what is given to them by Allah. Those people, who understand the real nature and spirit of the Divine Way and the position of the regulations in it and are not prejudiced, will recognize and accept the Truth in whatever form it comes. Such people will never hesitate to submit to the new regulations sent by Allah to replace the former ones. Those, who do not understand the true spirit of the Way, but consider the regulations and their details alone to be the Way, and who have become static and prejudiced because of their own additions to it, will reject every new thing that comes from Allah.
(3) As the real object of all the laws is the cultivation of virtues, Allah has commanded the people to excel one another in virtues, without paying heed to the apparent differences in different Laws. This is why those people, who keep in view the real aim of the Law, should advance towards it on the lines indicated by the Divine Laws and regulations.
(4) As regards the differences, which have been produced by the prejudices, obduracies and wrong mental attitudes, these can neither be resolved in polemical symposiums nor on the battlefield, but will be decided by Allah Himself in His Final Judgment. Then the Reality will be revealed and the people will come to know the amount of truth or falsehood that lay hidden in the arguments in which they were engaged throughout their lives. From here the same subject has been resumed that was interrupted by the parenthesis. The word Jahiliyyat (ignorance) is the antonym of Islam. The way of Islam is entirely based on the knowledge imparted by Allah Who possesses the knowledge of all realities. On the contrary, every way different from and opposed to the way of Islam is the way of ignorance. The pre-Islamic period of Arabia is called the period of ignorance in the sense that the people had invented their own ways of life that were based on mere guess-work or lusts. Therefore whenever any of these ways will be adopted, that period will be called the period of “ignorance”. Likewise the knowledge which is imparted in Schools and Universities today is only a partial knowledge end cannot in any way suffice for the right guidance of mankind.

Truth in God’s Revelation

Perseverance and Long-Term Perspective
- Continued preaching despite opposition for 13 years in Makkah.
- Made pragmatic decisions like the Treaty of Hudaibiya to secure future success.
Proactive and Aggressive Approach to Events
- Actively sought alliances and took decisive steps to expand Islam.
- Managed military and administrative matters with foresight.

Justice in God’s Revelation

Human beings have not been given the right to rule and legislate.

Our purpose

Palestine will be liberated when it’s neighbours are free.

It is the Israeli’s that are the real prisoners

Anyone whose purpose is only this world, becomes imprisoned by it.

The ultimate battle is between Truth and Falsehood

Freedom of Speech

Over 200 Journalists killed in Gaza. Most journalists targeted and assassinated ever.

If the settler feels threatened, their law allows them to draw their gun and kill a Palestinian.

Allah is peace and only the Islamic Way of Life brings peace

Allah made man in His image

Allah loves justice

Allah does not love aggression

Come together with sincerity, for our sisters and children in Gaza

Getting to our destination, requires both speed and direction.

or is the message of the Quran that direction is most important, but speed is necessary as well ?

Security & Justice

Part of an international security structure

Allah is in control

Allah will expand his light of Islam in the world

We wish to only hold the torch of Islam.

The end of Times is victory from Allah SWT.

Focus on the planner and his reward, not your plans and rewards.

Tawakkul

Doing your best and placing you hope in Allah’s mercy.

Ways forward from a spiritual paradigm

One strong power – No room for conflict

Intense security competition.

Proxies doing the fighting.

If their are two Gods, The world will be in ruin.

There can only be only one Strong Power.

Key players in establishing international Laws and Norms

Speech is a form of act.

Words harm and words matter.

Words must be constrained and regulated.

China Communist Party determines this?

It took the Prophet SAW 13 years to establish Medina.
It took the Muslims 88 years to liberate Al-Aqsa from the crusaders.

Modern version of the Ottoman Millet System
In an Islamic state, certain areas where there are predominantly certain ethnic groups, they can have their own laws and customs and ways. Druze, the Alawites, the Shia will all have there own areas, but you cannot impose your laws on the rest of the country.

Religious Innovations