The Essence of Justice and Universal Balance
Justice is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam and Sufi ethics. It’s not merely a rule applied in courts, but the very balance of existence – both within the cosmos and within the heart. The spiritual luminary, Mevlâna Jalaluddin Rumi, beautifully encapsulates this by defining justice as “watering trees” and oppression as “watering thorns.” Justice is placing blessings precisely where they belong; oppression is misplacing things in an inappropriate and unjust manner, which inevitably leads to calamities and ruin. When Allah bestows favor upon a people, He grants them wise, insightful, and just leaders. Conversely, if He intends to devastate a place, He leaves its governance in the hands of oppressors. In this context, justice is not merely a matter of state administration but also a requirement of an individual’s responsibility towards their own self, their surroundings, and their Creator. Establishing justice in the heart is possible only by ensuring that everything is placed in its rightful place according to divine guidance.
The Darkness of Oppression and the Fate of the Oppressor
Oppression involves seizing the rights of the innocent, trampling upon the weak, and inflicting suffering. In a nation where vulnerable populations and the poor are subjected to hardship, sleep should elude its rulers. As Sheikh Sadi Shirazi stated, even if an oppressor possesses temporary power and grandeur, that splendor will vanish; only the bitter bill for the injustices inflicted on the oppressed remains, along with a lasting negative reputation. The oppressor is a merciless figure who ignites the world’s fires, leaving no joy in their wake. In reality, the oppressor inflicts oppression not upon the helpless poor but upon their own self; for on the Day of Judgment, the oppressed will seize hold of the oppressor and burden them with all their sins. On that terrifying day, the oppressor will be unable to even lift their head out of shame.
The Oppressed’s Prayer and the Boundaries of Compassion
Spiritual guides have always cautioned against the curses of those who suffer oppression. Even if a fatwa is issued for the killing of an innocent person, it has been emphasized that if they leave behind children or dependents, compassion should be shown to them, and the sin of the wrongdoer should not be transferred to those innocent family members. The inevitable fate of an oppressor who inflicts suffering upon people is a wretched end. On the other hand, true compassion also necessitates setting boundaries with oppressors. To pity an oppressor is, in fact, to inflict oppression upon the innocent populace; for if the fire ignited by the world-consuming oppressor is not extinguished, an entire society will burn. The worldly dominion of those who oppress people is a harbinger of their poverty and beggary in the Hereafter. True justice means delivering what is right at any cost and taking the weak person’s rights from the hand of the tyrant.