The Concept of Justice in Islam — Page 7
oneself to the judgement in one's mind so that no resentment or sense of privation is left behind. Judges have been commanded to perform their duties impartially. Verily, God commands you to make over the trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between men, you judge with justice. And surely excellent is that with which God admonishes you! God is All-Hearing, All- Seeing. (IV. 59) The obligation to do justice is absolute and is not subject to any limitation or modification with reference to the parties to a dispute, or with reference to their being Muslims or non-Muslims, or their being in conflict with the Muslims or in alliance with them. Oh ye who believe! Be steadfast in the cause of God bearing witness in equity; and let not a people's enmity in- cite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear God. Surely God is aware of what you do. (V. 9) As already observed, Islam is a way of life and is also a code of laws and regulations. As illustrations of the manner in which, and the care with which, the Quran seeks to set up standards of conduct and to preserve and safeguard testimony, attention may be drawn to the fol- lowing: 0 ye who believe! when you borrow one from another for a fixed period, then write it down. And let a scribe write it in your presence faithfully; and no scribe should re- fuse to write, because God has taught him, so let him write and let him who incurs the liability dictate; and he should fear God, his Lord, and not diminish anything therefrom.