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Toothless justice is just an illusion of accountability

Toothless justice is just an illusion of accountability
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January 26, 2024
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Allah Almighty said in Surat al Hadid:

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَیِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِیزَانَ لِیَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِیدَ فِیهِ بَأۡسࣱ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِیَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن یَنصُرُهُۥ وَرُسُلَهُۥ بِٱلۡغَیۡبِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِیٌّ عَزِيزٌ﴿ ٢٥

We have indeed sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that people may uphold equity. And We sent down iron in which there is strong power, and benefits for the people; and (We did it) so that Allah knows (shows) the one who helps Him (i.e helps His Deen) and His messengers with sincerity (Bilghayb). Surely Allah is Strong, Mighty. (Al-Ḥadīd, Ayah 25)

God revealed what is just

Here Allah is summarising the purpose of all the messages He sent to us from the prophets Adam until Muhammad (peace be upon him). The purpose was firstly to give clear guidance – clarity about which path people should chose. Allah provided this to the messengers to whom He sent the Books, so they could convey to people the limits of how to live and uphold justice, how to prevent oppression, and highlight the red zones and green zones. He did not leave mankind to rule by his own opinion, because although we have our own innate fitrah, which He created in us, this can be tampered with, polluted, corrupted and misguided – so people can get brainwashed. This is why the revelation is our point of reference.

Allah is telling us that He wants people to be guided through the message He sent through His messengers which is true, pure and independent. The messengers did not make it up or put their own twist and stamp on guidance. Allah is the One who sent it.

When justice is not enforced, oppression ensues

At the International Court of Justice yesterday, despite all the atrocities, destruction and bloodshed, no ceasefire was called – allowing the oppressor to keep going and continue killing because he has the power to do so. Allah sent the messengers to teach justice and uphold justice. Why is it important? Because if you are not upholding justice, oppression will dominate. When oppression dominates, it creates crime, destruction, hatred and war. This is exactly what we are seeing.

The abuse of power

Whenever you have power, you have a tendency to oppress. As Allah stated in the Quran:

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ ٦

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ ٧

Most certainly, one exceeds all bounds

once they think they are self-sufficient. (96:6-7)

Firaun, Nimrod and others who had power, misused it. In today’s world we see those who have a great deal of power, are misusing it. Instead of utilising it to do good, they use it to do evil. In Gaza, 63,000 people have been injured, nearly 26,000 have been killed and every day two mothers are killed, more than 10,000 babies have been killed. Two million were displaced. Almost all Hospitals, schools, shelters were destroyed. What else do you need to cease fire?

When you have lost your humanity, you see a beast in operation, not a human.

The mission of courts is to serve justice

The scales of justice are meant to uphold the principles of fairness and allocate due rights to those deserving.

Allah Almighty sent messengers to rule between people with justice – that is why the scales have two pans, to weigh both sides of the argument. When you have a dispute, you give the rights to their rightful owners and restrain those who are in the wrong. It is meant to be the mission of the courts of justice to do this.

Sadly, we have been disappointed by not surprised by the International Court of Justice today.

Why we need the iron rod

Allah has mentioned that He sent the messengers with the Books to guide people, to teach and deliver justice to rule by the law of justice. However, those who act with impunity will not comply with any rules because they engage in unlawful activities without fear of facing repercussions.

Justice requires punishment as a deterrent. When there are no penalties, people will park on the red lines and yellow lines. This is why Allah also mentions that He sent down iron. Iron is hard and symbolises the the firm resolve needed for justice to prevail. Like iron, justice must be unyielding to be effective. Justice can’t be delivered if there are no consequences for ignoring it. Unless you have the force to protect justice, it will be toothless. Justice without teeth cannot be implemented.

Who will support justice?

Allah goes on to say that it is a test for us to see who will uphold equity and justice and who will uphold the limits. With His ultimate knowledge, He knows who is obedient and who is disobedient, who will support the truth and who will not. Allah does not need support, it is us who need support. Allah delivers justice and asks us to support it.

We thank South Africa for being the ones who have supported justice and those who went against it will face the harrowing punishment in the Hereafter.

Allah finishes the ayah by saying: bilghaib: in the unseen, which means in sincerity. It is something you cannot see – intention is internal. Allah knows the intention.

Purify your intention and do your action in accordance with it.

Allah is mighty and strong. He will serve justice one hundred percent in the Hereafter. We trust the wisdom of Allah and we should keep fighting to deliver justice and doing whatever we can do to support justice. We should defend our rights in all possible legal ways. Keep supplicating for our brothers and sisters in Palestine.

Allah Almighty stated:

۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًۭا ٥٨

Surely, Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between people, judge with justice. Surely, excellent is the exhortation Allah gives you. Surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (An-Nisāʾ, Ayah 58)

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِمَآ أَرَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمًۭا ١٠٥

Surely, We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, so that you may judge between people according to what Allah has shown you. Do not be an advocate for those who breach trust. (An-Nisāʾ, Ayah 105)

The strike that does not kill you makes you stronger. Inshallah these strikes will make us stronger. We need to cooperate and support one another, as Allah asked us to do when He said

وَٱعۡتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِیعاً وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ۚ وَٱذۡكُرُوا۟ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَیۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَاۤءࣰ فَأَلَّفَ بَیۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦۤ إِخۡوَ ٰ⁠ناً وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةࣲ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡهَاۗ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ یُبَیِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَایَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ﴿ ١٠٣ ﴾


Hold fast, all of you, to the cord of Allah, and be not divided. Remember the blessing of Allah upon you: When you were enemies to each other, and He brought your hearts together, so that, you became brothers through His blessing. You were at the brink of a pit of Fire, then He saved you from it. This is how Allah makes His signs clear to you, so that you may take the right path. (3:103)

If we are not united, the atrocities will continue.

We ask Allah to give relief to the people of Gaza and all those who are suffering around the world. Ameen

Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 26th Jan 2024

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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