JUSTICE IN THE GOLDEN AGE
According to our Prophet (saas),
before the Golden Age a great degeneration and injustice will
prevail in society. Theft and fraud will grow, people will
not seek to meet the needs of the needy, and only a small
group of people will enjoy the benefits of affluence. But
during the Golden Age, when the Qur'an's morality will prevail,
every strata will benefit equally from justice, security,
and peace. In such a secure environment, people will not commit
any form of fraud, wickedness, and unlawful acts. The following
sayings are only a few that describe the justice unique to
the End Times:
Earth will be filled with equity and justice, just
as it was previously filled with oppression and tyranny.16
... There will be no injustice or oppression under
his [the Mahdi's] rule.17
The earth fills with justice.18
He [the Mahdi] will distribute wealth evenly among
people. His justice will permeate everywhere. Earth, replete
with violence and wickedness, will overflow with justice
upon his arrival.19
During the time of Mahdi, justice will prevail to
such an extent that every possession taken by force will
be returned to his owner; furthermore, some other person's
thing, even if it rests within one's teeth, will be given
back to its owner… Security will permeate all over Earth
and even a few ladies will be able to fulfil their hajj
without the company of men.20
O you who believe, be upholders of justice,
bearing witness for Allah alone, even against yourselves
or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or
poor, Allah is well able to look after them. Do not follow
your own desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist
or turn away, Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat an-Nisa':
135)
As this verse maintains, Allah commands the believers to
be just under all circumstances. For this reason, when the
Qur'an's morality prevails, they will exercise justice in
its true sense. Their system will ensure that all people
take advantage of all benefits and will receive what they
request, and that everyone will be protected and guarded.
For this reason, people will no longer have an attitude
that does not comply with the Qur'an's morality, and injustice
and violence will disappear completely.
In the Golden Age, people will comply scrupulously with
each Qur'anic verse and thereby bring about a Paradise-like
environment of peace and security. One of the most telling
attributes of a Muslim living in such an environment is
his or her commitment to uphold justice under all circumstances,
provide justice to others, and never to swerve from it.
In such a society, the believers will maintain justice at
every instant of life. No one will be allowed to live in
misery or be subjected to injustice, for all people will
receive a just recompense for their work, and no one will
need to suffer to make ends meet. Everyone will be asked
to accomplish things in line with his or her own ability
and will be provided with all kinds of opportunities. Allah
commands His believing servants to rule with justice. Some
of the related verses are as follows:
Allah commands justice, doing good, and giving to relatives.
And He forbids indecency, doing wrong, and tyranny. He
warns you so that hopefully you will pay heed. (Surat
an-Nahl: 90)
Allah commands you to return to their owners the things
that you hold on trust and, when you judge between people,
to judge with justice. How excellent is what Allah exhorts
you to do! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Surat an-Nisa':
58)
Among those We have created there is a community who
guide by the Truth and act justly according to it. (Surat
al-A`raf: 181)
O you who believe, show integrity for the sake of Allah,
bearing witness with justice. Do not let hatred for a
people incite you into not being just. Be just. That is
closer to heedfulness… (Surat al-Ma'ida: 8)
At present, we can see clearly the existence of great injustice
and an unequal allocation of resources. Images of children
starving to death or of people murdering one another for
a loaf of bread bring to mind social justice. That the wealth
of the 200 richest people amounts to the wealth of 2.5 billion
fellow human beings is the most explicit indication of the
prevailing unjust system. When there are so many people
in need, many affluent people still strive to hoard even
more goods to add to their fortunes. Money spent only for
pleasure and debauchery, or for no purpose at all, may well
become the way out for hundreds of thousands of people dying
of hunger. However, some miserly people still turn their
faces away from those who are suffering. In the Qur'an,
Allah describes these people as follows:
No indeed! You do not honor orphans or
urge the feeding of the poor; you devour inheritance with
voracious appetites and have an insatiable love of wealth.
(Surat al-Fajr: 17-20)
Such moral corruption is the result of being selfish and
losing the feelings of cooperation and solidarity. In this
case, the only solution is to establish the Qur'an's morality
throughout society, for those people who display its morality
are just, compassionate, and seek to help those in need.
Only through the existence of such morally excellent people
can this Earth be filled with justice, abundance, and blessings.
Some Qur'anic verses regarding the establishment of social
justice on Earth are as follows:
You will not attain true goodness until you give of what
you love. Whatever you give away, Allah knows it. (Surah
Al 'Imran: 92)
As for those who hoard up gold and silver and do not
spend it in the Way of Allah, give them the news of a
painful punishment. (Surat at-Tawba: 34)
O you who believe, give away some of the good things
you have earned and some of what the land produces for
you. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending
[from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except
with closed eyes. Know that Allah is Rich Beyond Need,
Praiseworthy. (Surat al-Baqara: 267)
If you give your alms in public, that is good. But if
you conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better
for you, and We will erase some of your bad actions from
you. Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat al-Baqara:
271)
Those who are steadfast in seeking the face of their
Lord, and establish prayer and give from the provision
We have given them, secretly and openly, and stave off
evil with good, it is they who will have the Ultimate
Abode. (Surat ar-Ra'd: 22)
Those who give in times of both ease and hardship, those
who control their rage and pardon other people-Allah loves
the good-doers. (Surah Al 'Imran: 134)
[Charity is] for the poor who are held back in the Way
of Allah, unable to travel in the land. The ignorant consider
them rich because of their reticence. You will know them
by their mark. They do not ask from people insistently.
Whatever good you give away, Allah knows it. (Surat al-Baqara:
273)
If someone is in difficult circumstances, there should
be a deferral until things are easier. But making a free
gift of it would be better for you, if you only knew.
(Surat al-Baqara: 280)
They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor
and orphans and captives [saying]: "We feed you only out
of desire for the Face of Allah. We do not want any repayment
from you or any thanks." (Surat al-Insan: 8-9)
Have you seen him who denies the religion? He is the
one who harshly rebuffs the orphan and does not urge the
feeding of the poor. (Surat al-Ma'un: 1-3)
And how is it with you that you do not give in the Way
of Allah, when the inheritance of the heavens and Earth
belongs to Allah? Those of you who gave and fought before
the Victory are not the same as those who gave and fought
afterward. They [the former] are higher in rank. But to
each of them Allah has promised the Best. Allah is aware
of what you do. (Surat al-Hadid: 10)
The Golden Age will be a blessed period during which people
will comply scrupulously with Allah's commands, and, as
a result, justice, self-sacrifice, and charity will prevail.
In this blessed period, the rich will not hesitate to give
to the needy, and everyone will think of the good and comfort
of others. This spirit of sharing will make everyone enjoy
the same level of welfare and will solve many age-old problems,
such as poverty and hunger.
16. Abu Dawud.
17. Ad-Dani.
18. Imam Rabbani, Mektubat Imam Rabbani (Letters of Imam
Rabbani), vol. 1, no. 251.
19. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23.
20. Ibid., p. 23.
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