Justice and the weight of responsibility. Remembering Srebrenica.
Upholding justice and responsibility in Islam
In Surah an-Nisa, Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So do not follow [personal] desire, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.” [Surat An-Nisa, 4:135]
This verse teaches us about personal responsibility and the duty to uphold justice, even when it is against our own interests or those of our loved ones. One of the core pillars in Islam is ‘adl, justice and fairness. Allah instructs us, as individuals, families, communities, and nations, to stand firm for justice, defend it, and not be swayed by desire, bias, or convenience.
Reflection on responsibility
- “Be persistently standing firm in justice” is a command to uphold justice at all times, which is a core responsibility of every believer.
- “Even if it be against yourselves or your parents and relatives” means that true responsibility requires placing truth and justice above personal interests and family ties.
- “Rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both” tells us that social or financial status should not impact your sense of fairness.
- “Do not follow [personal] desire” means that giving in to bias or emotion compromises integrity.
- “Allah is ever, with what you do, acquainted” reminds us that every failure or fulfilment of your duty is known to Allah.
Divine law and accountability
To prevent injustice and protect the vulnerable, Allah sent messengers with divine laws. Otherwise it would be a jungle with the constant exploitation of the weaker amongst us. Without moral boundaries, society collapses into chaos, the powerful take from the weak and injustice spreads unchecked. Islam insists on accountability, in every aspect of our lives.
Today, in the financial world, we see laws and regulations in place for transparency and accountability, to protect consumers and to curb money laundering and the fat cat. We have civil law, common law and divine law to protect us and to hold us accountable for our actions. Laws are to protect everyone, not a select few. When some are held accountable and others are not this is double standards.
In Islam, the Shari’ah ensures that every human interaction, whether family, financial, or societal is based on justice. It applies to everyone, regardless of position or privilege.
Justice within the family
Justice starts at home. The Prophet ﷺ was once approached by a man who said he had gifted a garden to his son. Expecting praise, the man was surprised when the Prophet ﷺ asked:
“Have you gifted all your children the same?”
When the man replied no, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“I will not bear witness to injustice.” (Muslim)
(In another narration: “I will not witness this.”) (Nasai’)
This is just one example out of hundreds within the sunnah that show the responsibility of the parent to treat children fairly.
Leadership and guardianship
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Allah will question every guardian about what he was entrusted with: whether he preserved it or neglected it – until He questions a man about his household.” (Ibn Ḥibbān, Sahih)
This hadith shows that no one is exempt from accountability. Whether as a parent, a leader, or a neighbour, we will all be asked about our responsibilities. Responsibility begins with fulfilling our commands towards Allah, ensuring that we have prayed on time, paid our zakat accurately every year, and fasted, but it goes beyond that, as it encompasses our relationships and duties to others.
Taking stock of ourselves
We must regularly assess ourselves and ask: am I fulfilling my obligations to Allah? Am I just with my spouse, children, parents, colleagues, neighbours? Carrying responsibility is a huge burden and we have to do our best to ensure we are doing our best.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Self-reflection (muhasabah) should become part of our daily life. Review your own actions before your record is reviewed on the Day of Judgement. The more we review and rectify our actions to ensure they are fair and just, the better our records will be.
Our responsibilities exist on many levels. At the individual level, we are accountable as believers to obey Allah and fulfil our daily obligations towards ourselves and others. On a communal level, we must respond to the needs within our society, including the poor, the homeless, and the oppressed. At the national level, we are responsible for holding to account and supporting just causes. And at the international level, we must remain aware of, and engaged with, the plight of our Ummah, wherever injustice is taking place.
If someone is hungry in our midst and we know about it, we are accountable. If someone is homeless, it is our communal responsibility to give him shelter.
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him) once said:
Even if a lamb from the offspring of sheep were to perish lost on the banks of the Euphrates, I would fear that Allah would question me about it.’ (Ibn Abi Shaybah in “al-Musannaf)
If he feared being questioned over a mule, what about the blood of innocents being shed, the occupation of lands, and the demolition of homes with families inside them?
The greatest calamity: silence in the face of duty
One of the greatest trials of our time is the Ummah’s silence in fulfilling its duty, and the silence of leaders in the face of oppression.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is unable, then with his tongue; and if he is unable, then with his heart — and that is the weakest level of faith.” (Muslim)
Remembering Srebrenica and the cost of inaction
This month marks the anniversary of the massacres that took place in Bosnia in 1995. The genocide in Srebrenica is one of the darkest chapters in recent European history. Over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically executed. It was the result of a deliberate ethnic cleansing campaign, fuelled by extreme nationalism and religious hatred. It was allowed to be carried out due to the international community’s failure to intervene.
This failure was not a distant historical mistake, it is a reflection of the same global silence and complicity we are seeing today. With dystopian echoes of Srebrenica, we are witnessing ongoing massacres in Gaza. The violence is not confined to its borders, but is being perpetrated in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iran. Yet, the international community refuses to wake up and put an end to this.
It is the most horrifying thing in the 21st century. A new excuse is constantly being manufactured to justify the violence. What message are we sending to the next generation: that some nations are above the law? That power allows one to escape accountability? International law becomes meaningless when it only applies to the weak and never to the mighty.
Why are there sanctions against Russia, but not against those who are currently carrying out crimes in Gaza? Why are war crimes being ignored when they are committed by those with influence and power? This is not just hypocrisy, it is moral failure on a global scale. And it continues. The phrase “Never Again” rings completely hollow if we fail to act now.
May Allah enable us to be among those who fulfil our responsibilities towards Him and His creation, to stand against injustice, to relieve the suffering of the oppressed, and to bring the oppressors to justice. Ameen.
Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 17th July 2025