Principles – Justice (1) – 24/8/2013

Justice is one of God’s attributes and a crucial factor of a prosperous society. Absence of justice, according to the German philosopher, Emmanuel Cant, means nothing but the absence of humanity. “If justice disappeared, man will be valueless”
Justice means doing your duties and getting your rights. Uprightness, fairness and adherence to all that is truth are similar attributes that just people share. Justice can exist only within the parameters of equality. Moral or ethical justice is judging uprightly and adherence to truth, freedom and equality.
Socrates said that the first requirement of humans is justice. All people are equal before justice as Socrates stated. According to Ibn Miskawayh justice is: a virtue that came into existence through the harmony of others like wisdom, bravery, and chastity. Hence, justice is not considered an independent virtue; rather, it is the essence of the very habits. Justice is the principle that defines the essence of truth. This principle should be regarded through respecting others’ rights, getting one’s rights too. Thus, equality would be fulfilled and would guarantee abstention from evil and not violating others’ rights.
In Greek Methodology, justice was associated with Gods. Plato deemed it the top of virtues. According to him: justice means order and harmony; in other words, the equilibrium of parts. He does not believe in equality thus he thinks that justice is achieved when each person does his job. As for Aristotle, he thinks that justice is a perfect virtue that includes all virtues. It is called “the mother of all virtues”. Moreover, justice should be used to serve others and should be directed to the public benefit.
Religions put justice on a pedestal. Buddhism called for justice as Buddha says to the unjust that that they should be attentive and judge the depth not the appearance. They should give up to selfishness and know that thorns would not bring forth grapes. Confucianism suggested that people suffer for their love of possessions, the kind of love that creates trifles between people.
In Jewish, Christian and Islam, Justice is one of God’s attributes. God is All-Just. Bible says at Deuteronomy 32:4 “For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.”, Psalm2:79 ” Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne ” Timothy 4:8, ” The Lord, the righteous Judge” Revelation 16:5″ “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be ,Because You have judged these things.”.In Islam Just is one of God’s names. He was also described as The Utterly Just and The Arbitrator.”Verily God has enjoined justice, the doing of good, and the giving of gifts to your relatives; and forbidden indecency, impropriety and oppression. He warns you so that you may remember.”Surat AL-Nahl Verse No.90.
I once read a beautiful story of a woman that asked a wise man about God’s justice. The wise man said that God is All-Just. She then told that she was widow and had three little girls. She was a weaver and once she waved some clothes to sell at the market, the bird snatched her bag of clothes and she became sad not knowing how to get money to feed her little girls. While she was reciting her story….to be continued