Justice is a moral of those who are great, a feature of those who are
pious, the want of the righteous and the way to success for believers in
this worldly life and in the Hereafter. Justice was constituent in the
character of the prophets, the righteous, leaders, mentors and above all
the seal of the messengers, the master of humans, Muhammad enjoyed the greatest share of it.
Justice was an aspect of the great character of the Prophet
who practiced it before Allah The Almighty himself in his dealings
with others, relatives and those who were not, his friends, antagonists
and even his stubborn enemies. How could not he be fair having had Allah
The Almighty address him in the verse that says (what means): {O
you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah,
witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you
from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear
Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do} [Quran 5:8]
Therefore the Prophet obeyed the orders of Allah in all of his affairs, adopting justice with his Companions and enemies.
He would never deny anyone justice, despite those who objected to him
and showed an unfavorable attitude towards him. He would rather forgive
them, as in this story. Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri said: "While he was in Yemen, ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, sent a gold-nugget to the Prophet
who consequently divided it among four persons: Al-Aqra ‘Ibn Haabis
Al-Hanthali, ‘Uyaynah ibn Badr Al-Fazaari, ‘Alqamah ibn ‘Ulaathah
Al-‘Aamiri, a man from Banu Kilaab, and Zaydul-Khayr At-Taa'I, a man
from Banu Nabhaan . Thereupon, the Qurayshis got angry because the Prophet bestowed gifts on the chiefs of Najd and ignored them. The Prophet
justified this action by saying that he favored them to stimulate
their hearts. Afterwards, a man with a thick beard, prominent
cheekbones, hollow eyes, a domed forehead and a shaved head came to the
Prophet telling him to fear Allaah. Thereupon the Prophet said,
“Who then would obey Allah if I disobeyed Him? Does Allah the Almighty
entrust me with your affairs on earth while you do not?" “[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Such great character is clearly highlighted in a most beautiful manner when the Prophet asked a person to seek retaliation from himself. Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri narrated: "While the Prophet was dividing something among people, a man came and attached himself to him. The Prophet slapped him with a date stalk. The man went out and the Prophet called him to retaliate. However, he told the Prophet that he had forgiven him." [An-Nasaa'i]
Moreover the Prophet
always showed justice and hated to be distinguished from his
Companions. Instead he loved equality and endured difficulties from
them. Ibn Mas‘ood narrated: "On the day of the battle of Badr, every three persons would ride on one camel in turns. The Prophet had to do so with his two companions: Abu Lubaabah and ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib . When it was the turn of the Prophet
to walk, the two Companions offered to walk instead of him. However he
refused and said that they were not stronger than him, and he was in
need of Allaah’s reward just as they were in need of it." [Ahmad]
Practicing justice within the context of his family was not brought to a halt when the Prophet
was occupied with directing the affairs of the state or being engaged
in battles. He used to apportion among his wives, invoking Allaah The
Almighty not to blame him for special love or affection paid to certain
wives. This is according to a Hadeeth narrated by At-Tirmithi, but it is
judged as weak.
‘Aa'ishah the wife of the Prophet said, "If the Prophet
wanted to set out on a journey, he would draw lots among his wives so
that one of them would accompany him." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Anas narrated, "A wife of the Prophet sent to him food in a bowl as a gift. However ‘Aa'ishah hit the bowl so the food fell out and the bowl broke. Therefore, the Prophet said: "The spilled food has to be compensated for by other [food], and the broken bowl has to be compensated by another." [At-Tirmithi- Hasan and Al-Bukhaari (with different wording)]
In passing judgment among quarrelling persons, the Prophet was perfectly fair and never committed any injustice. Haraam ibn Muhayyisah
narrated on the authority of his father that a female-camel belonged
to Al-Baraa' ibn ‘Aazib, may Allah be pleased with him, entered a garden
belonging to a man and caused damage there. Thus the Prophet
judged that protection of property was the responsibility of its
owners during the daytime and the owners of cattle had to keep them
during night. This is according to a Hadeeth narrated by Ahmad.
The Prophet
did not approve suspension of the prescribed punishment set by Allah
The Almighty to administer justice among people, even if the criminal
was his relative or favorite. When a woman from Banu Makhzoom tribe
committed theft, the Prophet rejected the intercession of Usaamah for her and said his famous words:
"O people, what led to destruction of the nations preceding you was
their acquittal of the noble person if he committed theft and infliction
of the punishment on the weak if he committed theft. By Allaah, if
Faatimah the daughter of Muhammad committed theft I would cut her hand
off." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Also the Prophet
used to order his Companions to administer justice in all matters and
to achieve balance. Addressing ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibnul-‘Aas the Prophet said:
"O ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr, I have been informed that you observe daily
fasting and perform voluntary night prayers the whole night. Do not do
so, for your body, your eyes and your wife have due rights upon you." [Muslim]
Through this noble character, the Prophet
could draw people's attention to him, stimulate feelings towards his
sublime principles and set a unique method for the best nation - the
Muslims - who guide all humanity to observe justice and through which
they obliterate oppression and injustice.