"Adal' stands for 'to straighten' to equalize, and to divide in two equal parts.
It is demand of justice that every body gets his legal right easily and affairs of society run smoothly. Due to injustice, every sphere of a society is paralyzed.
i. Islam and Justice:
Before Islam, the world got devoid of the concept of justice. The powerful thought doing cruelty was their right and victims thought it their destiny and endured brutalities. Due to religion of Islam, this business of cruelty stopped and world became familiar with high standard of justice that removed all types of discrimination.
The wall of hatred raised among different people due to injustice was demolished by Islam. It made men equal and that relation of love was established among them which is an asset for humanity. Islam commanded equality among all human beings without any discrimination.
Allah says in Quran:
ياتها الذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوامِينَ لِلهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْر مَتَكُمْ شَنَانُ قَوْمٍ
على الا تعدِ لُوْا اِعْدِلُوا هُوَ اَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى
( سورة المائدة :8)
Translation: O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just that is nearer to righteousness.
ii. Justice in light of Quran:
The system of whole world is established because of justice and equality. It is essential to do justice to establish peace in a society. Allah has commanded to do justice in Quran:
إن اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ (الحل :00)
Translation: Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct..
وَاقِسِطُوا إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ (الجرات : 9)
Translation: And act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly
وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُربى (الانعام : 152)
Translation: And when you testify, be just, and even if (it concerns) a near relative.
اعْدِلُوا هُوَ اَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى (المائده: 8)
Translation: Be just, that is near to righteousness.
وَإِذَا حَكَيْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ تَحدُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ (النساء :58)
Translation: And when you judge between people you judge with justice..
iii. Justice and Holy Prophet's Pattern:
In Islamic concept of justice, there is no importance of any high rank or status. Those sayings of Holy Prophet should be written with liquid of gold in which he said on listening words of excuse about punishment on theft of Fatima of tribe Bani Makhzum. He said", before you, nations were spoiled in which weak were punished and powerful were excused. I swear to Allah, "Had Fatima Bint Muhammad stolen, I would have chopped off her hand.
Holy Prophet said, "On the day of Qiyamat, when there will not be any shelter except Allah's, the seven (type) of people who will get that shelter, the one among them will be the ruler who would do justice". (Bukhari).
The Holy Prophet said.
Three people are among paradise dwellers, first one, who adopts justice and he gets chance (taufeq) of piety, second, the one who is kind for all, particularly for his relatives and the third one is that modest person who despite of having family is saved from Haram eating and begging.
This is quality of Islamic government that it provides justice to its citizens always and its real objective is also to establish the system of justice. Therefore, the Holy Prophet regarded a just ruler to be the shade of Allah.
