Community Pressure as a Deterrent to Injustice

Let's examine the role of community in establishing justice in our society....


Sûrah al Hujurât 49.9
'If two parties among the believers fall into a quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them transgresses beyond all bounds against the other then fight against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of Allah; but if it complies, then make peace between them with justice, and be fair: for Allah loves those who are fair.' 
(Yûsaf Ali)


'Hence, if two groups of believers fall to fighting, make peace between them; but then, if one of the two groups goes on acting wrongfully towards the other, fight against the one that acts wrongfully until it reverts to God’s commandment; and if they revert, make peace between them with justice, and deal equitably with them; for verily, God loves those who act equitably.'
(Mohammad Asad)


This beautiful ayah guides us in how to resolve differences within the community.  We are asked to stand up, as a group, against those who abuse and oppress anyone. 
The two parties can be anyone quarreling about anything.  There is no specification as to what kind of quarrel it may be.  It could be personal, business, marital, financial or whatever. 


As a community it is telling us to do a number of things:
1 Seek help from the community.
2 Support the one being wronged. 
3 Apply relentless pressure on the wrongdoer to do the right thing.
4 Be just and fair.
5 Make peace.


Seek help from the community.
Bring the issue out in the open.  Trust each other to help resolve problems.  Get involved and work together to eliminate injustices.  It is the responsibility of each member of the community to be involved as helping each other is a cornerstone of building a healthy community.  There are two lessons to be learned from this: one is that there is no shame or weakness in bringing differences out in the open; and secondly it creates an atmosphere of mutual interdependence and support within the community.  It gives power to the community as a whole.  It gives the community the responsibility of shaping behavior.  Privacy and secrecy are to be avoided as it can breed injustice, this also helps avoid a future problem that if things fall apart later the two parties can’t blame the person they went to for help, instead there is a group who share the responsibility as well as are witnesses to the final decision. The group then has the power to hold the two parties accountable if they stray from their commitment.


Support the one being wronged.
I believe this is a very important responsibility that most Muslims overlook.  Many tend to be too weak and gutless to support the wronged, instead they grovel in front of the strong and powerful.  Such a selfish and self-absorbed attitude is extremely harmful to the well-being of the individual as well as for the health of the community as a whole.  It takes courage and honor to support the one who is being wronged.  You need a spine to stand up against injustice.  Islam teaches us that each individual is morally responsible for being just and fair, not only to themselves but also to others.


Apply relentless pressure on the wrongdoer.
I believe this is another one of those important teachings that many Muslims overlook.  Instead of applying pressure on the one who is committing injustice we keep telling the oppressed one to be patient and tolerant.  This happens not only in cases of domestic violence but other situations also.  I don’t think we realize how important this pressure is in shaping a person’s actions.  The significance of this pressure is that human beings, consciously or unconsciously seek approval for everything they do.  When the community supports what is right and opposes the wrong it serves as a moral standard for acceptance within the community.  In a subtle but very powerful way it shapes the community to be righteous and just.  It helps develop an atmosphere of mature accountability and responsibility.


Be just and fair.
If we have an ounce of justice in us we could not support or be intimidated by the oppressors and abusers.  We can only be just if we are clear about what is wrong and what is right.  When we develop a conscience that respects and honors others, only then will we be able to be just to others.  When we develop objectivity and maturity in thinking, only then will we be able to recognize abuse as abuse.  If anyone is abusive in their personal life they will not have the courage to empathize with a victim of abuse.  So this also makes us take a hard look at our own selves.  


Make peace.
This peace is a condition of justice being achieved.  There can be no peace without justice.  Muslims do preach peace but forget that without justice it is impossible to achieve. When we tell an abused person to make peace with their abuser we are giving the worst kind of message to both.  We are telling the abused that they cannot expect any support or help.  And we are condoning the abuser and in effect giving him the message that he can continue to abuse.  As a matter of fact it is quite clear from this verse that we cannot ask the abused to make peace if the abuser has not changed their behavior.  Only when the abuser has complied to do what is right can there be an expectation of peace, otherwise it is unjust. 


What a powerful community we would be if we knew that when wronged we would be supported and helped.  What an honorable community we would be if we knew that if we wronged we would not be tolerated.  What an excellent process of checks and balances it places on each individual and the community as a whole.
Most people who wrong and oppress others do so because there are no consequences for them.  The community knows and doesn’t do anything.  This non-action gives the oppressors permission to continue, as it does not affect their standing in the community.  They are not shamed or dishonored for their actions.  There is no incentive for them to change and do the right thing.  It is in the nature of the human beings to value what the community thinks of us, so when the community continues to honor us even when it knows what wrongs we are committing it is perceived as permission. 


As a community when we allow abuses to continue we create an atmosphere of mistrust and dishonor.  We also open our self up as a target for abuse.  If I don’t stand up for the victim can I expect anyone else to stand up for me in my time of need?  So we end up creating an empty, hollow and meaningless community.  Such a community serves no function or purpose.  It is not trustworthy or righteous.  It lacks courage and honor.  Such a community is disconnected from its own members.  It is self-absorbed and selfish.  We might get together for frivolous activities and meaningless functions, but at times of real need we can’t count on each other.  In difficult times we hide and keep secrets from each other.  We are ashamed even if we are the ones being wronged.  We no longer know right from wrong.


Justice is one of the most basic teachings of Islâm.  It is stressed over and over again in the Qurân.  It is one of the most difficult tenets to achieve because it requires overcoming our own selfish tendencies.  When justice is gone from a community there is nothing else worth saving.  The community is then a farce.  It has killed itself and is dead.


The following verse from Sûrah an Nisa 4.135 gives a similar message:
"O ye who believe!  Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." 


Both these verses force us to grow up, be responsible and objective.  It is very clearly telling us that it is our duty as a Muslim to support the victim and pressurize the abuser to stop abuse.  It is telling us to have the guts to stand up for what is right, to be just and fair.  Without justice we don’t amount to anything.



© May 2004 published in www.crescentlife.com