Purpose of Life, and Justice in the Sharī’ah (Ethics 3.

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abukhadeejah.com/justice-shariah-ethics

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid 6 March

2019

Ethics 3.1 Purpose of Life and Justice in the Sharī’ah

Introduction
This series of articles explores Muslim views on conflict and suffering. It looks at how
Muslim attitudes to conflict and peace are influenced by their beliefs. The Islamic
teachings about the purpose of life, justice, reconciliation and peace are important.
These teachings help us to gain a better understanding of Muslim views on war conflict
and peace.

The purpose of life: The purpose of life for mankind as Allah has stated is: “I did not
create the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship me alone.” So the
purpose of life for a Muslim is “to worship and obey Allah.” To understand this fully, we
need to consider Muslim beliefs about the relationship between Allah and human
beings. The word Islam in Arabic means: “To submit to Allah alone in worship, to yield to
him in obedience and to reject idolatry.”

A Muslim is someone who has submitted himself (or herself) to the will of Allah. This will
is the commandments of Allah and has been revealed through the noble Qur’an and the
Sunnah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Throughout their life, a Muslim should always be conscious of Allah and their
responsibility to Him. Having awareness of one’s duty to Allah and fear of Him is known
as Taqwa. It is compared to walking through thorns in a forest and being careful not to
tear one’s clothing. As a Muslim lives their life they should be aware that all they do is for

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Allah and nothing exists except by His will. Obedience to Allah and avoiding temptation
(and sins) is essential because Allah knows everything, and one cannot hide from His
sight and knowledge.

The main purpose of life for a Muslim is to worship Allah (Tawheed of ibādah). In Islam,
this means to understand Tawheed and to know what violates it. A Muslim is to obey
Allah in what He has commanded, and especially the Five Pillars. This life is a test and
when it is over the body will wait in the grave, and feel its reward or punishment until the
Day of Judgment.

Everyone will be resurrected and Allah will fairly judge each person’s actions and
intentions during their life on earth. The permanent afterlife will be spent in either a
wonderful Paradise or in eternal suffering in Hell. For Muslims, this life is meaningful and
has a purpose because it will determine where they spend the afterlife.

Allah said: “We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods
or fruits and crops – but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere – who
say, when afflicted with calamity, ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’”
(2:155-156)

Justice:
Allah said in a hadith Qudsi: “I have forbidden injustice for Myself and also forbidden
it for you. So avoid being unjust to one another.” Allah said in the Qur’an:

ْ َ َ َ
‫س‬ َ ْ ‫ﻂ وَأﻧَﺰﻟ ْﻨ َﺎ اﻟ‬
ٌ ‫ﺤﺪ ِﻳﺪ َ ﻓِﻴﻪِ ﺑ َﺄ‬ ِ ‫ﺴ‬ْ ‫س ﺑ ِﺎﻟ ِْﻘ‬
ُ ‫م اﻟﻨﺎ‬ َ ‫ن ﻟ ِﻴ َُﻘﻮ‬ ِ ْ ‫ب وَاﻟ‬
َ ‫ﻤﻴَﺰا‬ َ ‫ﻢ اﻟ ْﻜ ِﺘ َﺎ‬ َ ‫ت وَأﻧَﺰﻟ ْﻨ َﺎ‬
ُ ُ‫ﻣﻌَﻬ‬ ِ ‫ﺳﻠ َﻨ َﺎ ﺑ ِﺎﻟ ْﺒ َﻴﻨ َﺎ‬
ُ ‫ﺳﻠ ْﻨ َﺎ ُر‬
َ ‫ﻟ ََﻘﺪ ْ أْر‬
57:25 – ‫ﻪ ﻗَﻮِي ﻋ َﺰِﻳٌﺰ‬ َ ‫ﺐ إ ِن اﻟﻠ‬ِ ْ ‫ﻪ ﺑ ِﺎﻟ ْﻐَﻴ‬
ُ َ ‫ﺳﻠ‬
ُ ‫ﺼُﺮه ُ وَُر‬ُ ‫ﻣﻦ ﻳ َﻨ‬َ ‫ﻪ‬ َ َ ‫س وَﻟ ِﻴ َﻌْﻠ‬
ُ ‫ﻢ اﻟﻠ‬ ِ ‫ﻣﻨ َﺎﻓِﻊُ ﻟ ِﻠﻨﺎ‬َ َ‫ﺷﺪ ِﻳﺪ ٌ و‬ َ

“Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the
Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought
forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for
mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His
Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.”

Justice is the concept of right and fair actions based on just laws. Where there is justice
there can be harmony and peace between people. In Islam justice is a supreme virtue.
This means that it is a good moral quality that Muslims must embrace. The Qur’an makes
clear that Allah expects people and nations to treat each other with goodness,
compassion and justice in all aspects of life. It makes clear that justice is a duty and
injustice is against the legislative will of Allah.

Achieving justice is not easy. Allah has given human beings the responsibility to bring
about justice upon the earth. The Qur’an explains that Allah has sent His Prophets and
laws to help people understand how to achieve justice. These revelations give guidance
on many aspects of justice. For example, treatment of the poor, widows, criminals and
enemies. Muslims are expected to unite against injustice and put things right in
accordance to the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is wrong to ignore injustice and the suffering of
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innocents. In the case of the law, victims have a right to be compensated by the
wrongdoer, and the criminal is punished as a purification for his bad deeds and as a
deterrent for others.

If societies are to be fair and just, every individual has to contribute according to their
ability and role. Muslims believe that they must live their lives correctly. They follow the
code of behaviour known as the Sharī’ah – the path, the Law. This gives guidelines that
help Muslims judge behaviour and conduct. The laws help to determine what is halāl
(allowed and permitted) and what is harām (prohibited). Muslims believe that if all
people followed the will of Allah that He legislated (i.e. the Sharī’ah) then justice would be
achieved for everyone.

Questions:

1. Describe what Muslims believe about the purpose of life.

2. Believing in afterlife scares people into being good. Do you think this fear is
healthy?
3. Explain what is meant by the term justice.
4. How are Muslims guided by their faith to bring about justice?
5. Is the achievement of justice possible? Explain.

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