اسلامی تصورِ عدل اور منصبِ قضاء: نصوصِ شرعیہ اور اسلامی فکری روایت کی روشنی میں ایک جامع مطالعہ

THE ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF JUSTICE AND THE INSTITUTION OF JUDICIARY:A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY IN THE LIGHT OF SHARĪʿAH TEXTS AND ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION

Abstract

This research article presents a comprehensive, principled, and textually grounded study of the Islamic system of justice and judiciary, aiming to demonstrate that justice in Islam is not merely a moral virtue but a complete, universal, and practical system. The article begins with an analysis of the lexical and technical meanings of justice (ʿadl), drawing upon authoritative sources such as Lisān al-ʿArab, Mufradāt al-Rāghib, and other classical lexicons. These sources clarify that the fundamental meanings of justice include balance, equality, placing matters in their rightful position, and the negation of oppression. Justice is among the Beautiful Names of Allah, which indicates that the foundation of Islamic justice is not based solely on human reason but is rooted in divine attributes.The study further presents comprehensive definitions of justice through the views of renowned Islamic thinkers and jurists, including Imām Rāghib al-Iṣfahānī, ʿAllāmah Badr al-Dīn al-ʿAynī, Abū al-Baqāʾ al-Ḥanafī, ʿAllāmah al-Jurjānī, and Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمهم الله). From these perspectives, the article concludes that justice is a guarantee of well-being and survival at the individual, societal, and state levels. Subsequently, the lexical and technical meanings of qaḍāʾ (judiciary) are discussed, where it is described as the mechanism for the final resolution of disputes and the enforcement of Sharīʿah rulings. Qur’ānic verses are cited to establish that the office of judiciary is a sacred and highly responsible position, directly linked to the implementation of divine commands.The central section of the article, titled “The Islamic System of Judiciary and Justice in the Light of the Qur’ān,” examines numerous Qur’ānic verses (such as those from Sūrat al-Naḥl, al-Anʿām, al-Māʾidah, al-Nisāʾ, al-Ḥujurāt, Āl ʿImrān, Yūnus, and al-Raḥmān). Through their interpretation, it is demonstrated that Islam demands justice and equity in every sphere of life—beliefs, worship, social relations, economics, politics, the judiciary, and international relations. The scope of justice in Islam is not limited to Muslims alone; rather, it extends to non-Muslims and even to adversaries, emphasizing fairness and impartial conduct in all circumstances.Moreover, the article provides a detailed analysis of justice and judiciary in the light of Prophetic traditions (Aḥādīth). These traditions highlight the virtues of a just ruler and judge, the sensitivity and gravity of the judicial office, the reward for sound ijtihād-based judgments, and the strict prohibition of bribery, anger-driven decisions, and judgments based on ignorance. From these narrations, the fundamental objective of the Islamic judiciary is derived as the establishment of truth, the eradication of oppression, and the preservation of social balance.

In conclusion, the article asserts that the Islamic system of judiciary and justice is a multidimensional moral and legal framework that not only promotes social stability, peace, and trust in this world but also serves as a means of salvation in the Hereafter. In the context of contemporary judicial and social crises, the Islamic system of justice offers a practical, fair, and universal alternative, grounded in divine revelation, human nature, and the highest moral values.