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Economic Justice

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Economic Justice

العدالة الاقتصادية

Economic Justice (العدالة الاقتصادية) in Islam is a profound theme rooted in the belief that all wealth ultimately belongs to God, and humans are its trustees, tasked with managing it justly. It calls for fairness and equity in all financial dealings, aiming to create a balanced society where exploitation is minimized and basic needs are met. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes honest transactions, urging believers to [give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due] and to [establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance]. This principle extends beyond mere honesty to active redistribution, ensuring wealth does not become [a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you]. While acknowledging that [Allah has favored some of you over others in provision], Islam mandates social responsibility through practices like Zakat and charity, encouraging those with means to support the less fortunate. This pursuit of economic justice is seen as integral to social harmony and achieving divine pleasure, fostering a community built on shared responsibility and mutual support.

Quran 5 verses

وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ وَلَا تَنقُصُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكُم بِخَيْرٍ وَإِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ مُّحِيطٍ

Wa ilaa Madyana akhaahum Shu'aibaa; qaala yaa qawmi' budul laaha maa lakum min ilaahin ghairuhoo wa laa tanqusul mikyaala walmeezaan; inneee araakum bikhairinw wa innee akhaafu 'alaikum 'azaaba Yawmim muheet

And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu'ayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. And do not decrease from the measure and the scale. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, but indeed, I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day.

اور مدین کی طرف ان کے بھائی شعیب کو (بھیجا) تو اُنہوں نے کہا کہ اے قوم! خدا ہی کی عبادت کرو کہ اس کے سوا تمہارا کوئی معبود نہیں۔ اور ناپ تول میں کمی نہ کیا کرو۔ میں تو تم کو آسودہ حال دیکھتا ہوں اور (اگر تم ایمان نہ لاؤ گے تو) مجھے تمہارے بارے میں ایک ایسے دن کے عذاب کا خوف ہے جو تم کو گھیر کر رہے گا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary An account of Sayyidna Shu'aib and his people appears in the verses cited above. Besides being kafirs and mushriks, his people used to give less in weights and measures. Sayyidna Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) carried his call to them, told them not to give less in weights and measures, and warned...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We sent to Midian their brother Shu‘ayb. He said ‘O my people worship God! affirm His Oneness. You have no god other than He. And diminish not the measure or the weight. I see you in prosperity enjoying a grace which precludes any need for stinting people; and I fear for you should you not belie...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of the People of Madyan and the Call of Shu`ayb Allah, the Exalted, says, `We sent a Messenger to the people of Madyan.' They were a tribe of Arabs who lived between the land of the Al-Hijaz and Ash-Sham, close to the land of Ma`an. Their land was known by the name of their tribe and was t...

وَيَٰقَوْمِ أَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

Wa yaa qawmi awful mikyaala walmeezaana bilqisti wa laa tabkhasun naasa ashyaaa'ahum wa laa ta'saw fil ardi mufsideen

And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.

اور قوم! ماپ اور تول انصاف کے ساتھ پوری پوری کیا کرو اور لوگوں کو ان کی چیزیں کم نہ دیا کرو اور زمین میں خرابی کرتے نہ پھرو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Obviously, the very prohibition of weighing and measuring short makes weighing and measuring in full necessary. But, to emphasize it further, Sayyidna Shu'aib علیہ السلام said: وَيَا قَوْمِ أَوْفُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O my people give full measure and weight fulfil the due of both of these in justice and do not defraud people in respect of their goods do not diminish anything of their due and do not be degenerate in the land working corruption by killing or otherwise lā ta‘thaū derives from ‘athiya meaning afsada...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): First, he (Shu`ayb) prohibited them from cheating in business by decreasing the weights whenever they gave (products) to people. He commanded them to give just measure and weight whether they were giving or receiving (in transactions). He also forbade them from causing mischief and corruption in the...

وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِى ٱلرِّزْقِ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا۟ بِرَآدِّى رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ

Wallaahu faddala ba'dakum 'alaa ba'din fir rizq; famal lazeena fuddiloo biraaaddee rizqihim 'alaa maa malakat aimaanuhum fahum feehi sawaaa'; afabini'matil laahi yajhadoon

And Allah has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allah they reject?

اور خدا نے رزق (ودولت) میں بعض کو بعض پر فضیلت دی ہے تو جن لوگوں کو فضیلت دی ہے وہ اپنا رزق اپنے مملوکوں کو تو دے ڈالنے والے ہیں نہیں کہ سب اس میں برابر ہوجائیں۔ تو کیا یہ لوگ نعمت الہیٰ کے منکر ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary In the previous verses, by referring to major manifestations of His knowledge and power and blessings which descend on human beings, Allah Ta` ala has the natural proof of His Oneness (Tauhid). By looking at it, even a person of ordinary commonsense would not accept that any created being...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And God has favoured some of you above others in respect of provision thus some of you are poor some are rich some owners others are owned. Now those who have been more favoured namely the masters would not hand over their provision to those slaves whom their right hands possess that is they would n...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): There is a Sign and a Blessing in Matters of People's Livelihood Allah explains to the idolators the ignorance and disbelief involved in their claim that Allah has partners while also admitting that these partners are His servants. In their Talbiyah for Hajj, they used to say, "Here I am, there are ...

وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلْوَزْنَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا۟ ٱلْمِيزَانَ

Wa aqeemul wazna bilqisti wa laa tukhsirul meezaan

And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.

اور انصاف کے ساتھ ٹھیک تولو۔ اور تول کم مت کرو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ (And observe the correct weight with fairness, ....55:9). The word قِسط qist literally means 'justice'. The meaning is obvious: 'And observe the weight with equity'. وَلَا تُخْسِرُ‌وا الْمِيزَانَ (and do not make weighing deficient...55:9). The word خُسر khusr means...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And observe the weights with justice fairly and do not skimp the balance do not decrease the value of what is being weighed.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah Imam Ahmad recorded that Zirr said that a man said to Ibn Mas`ud: "How is this recited: "Ma'in Ghayri Yasin or Asin" He asked him, "Are you that proficient in reciting the whole Qur'an" He replied, "I recite the Mufassal section in one Rak`ah." So he said, "Woe to you! D...

مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَىْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةًۢ بَيْنَ ٱلْأَغْنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

Maaa afaaa'al laahu 'alaa Rasoolihee min ahlil quraa falillaahi wa lir Rasooli wa lizil qurbaa wal yataamaa walmasaakeeni wabnis sabeeli kai laa yakoona doolatam bainal aghniyaaa'i minkum; wa maaa aataakumur Rasoolu fakhuzoohu wa maa nahaakum 'anhu fantahoo; wattaqul laaha innal laaha shadeedul-'iqaab

And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.

جو مال خدا نے اپنے پیغمبر کو دیہات والوں سے دلوایا ہے وہ خدا کے اور پیغمبر کے اور (پیغمبر کے) قرابت والوں کے اور یتیموں کے اور حاجتمندوں کے اور مسافروں کے لئے ہے۔ تاکہ جو لوگ تم میں دولت مند ہیں ان ہی کے ہاتھوں میں نہ پھرتا رہے۔ سو جو چیز تم کو پیغمبر دیں وہ لے لو۔ اور جس سے منع کریں (اس سے) باز رہو۔ اور خدا سے ڈرتے رہو۔ بےشک خدا سخت عذاب دینے والا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary The Concept of Fai' and its Law of Distribution وَمَا أَفَاءَ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ رَ‌سُولِهِ مِنْهُمْ (And whatever fai' [ left over property ] Allah has passed on to His Messenger from them, ...59:6). The word afa'a is derived from fai'un which means 'to return'. Thus the time of the afterno...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Whatever spoils God has given to His Messenger from the people of the towns such as al-Safrā’ Wādī al-Qurā and Yanbu‘ belong to God dispensing with it as He will and to the Messenger and to the near of kin the Prophet’s kin from among the Banū Hāshim and the Banū al-Muttālib and the orphans the orph...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Fai' and how it is spent Allah the Exalted explains the regulations for Fai', the booty that the Muslims acquire from the disbelievers, without fighting them or using cavalry and camelry in war against them. For instance, the booty collected from Bani An-Nadir was not acquired because of fightin...

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