Dr Qurratul-Ain Anni Rehman, London (the National President of the Ahmadi Muslim Women’s Organisation UK)
As 2025 approaches, here in the UK there will be preparations for welcoming in the new year with fireworks and parties and reminiscing about 2024. However, for many people in the world 2024 will be a year that they would rather forget or delete from their lives. There is persecution and conflict everywhere you look. The misery that the people in Gaza have suffered not just since 7th October 2023 but for decades prior to this, has so far claimed the lives of 46,233 people, of which the majority are innocent women and children. There is also the war in Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen and a precarious ceasefire in Lebanon.
Worldwide, diplomatic efforts to end these are failing and more leaders are pursuing their ends militarily and more believe they can get away with it. What kind of a world do we want to leave behind for our next generation? It certainly feels like world leaders are only thinking of the here and now and have no thought of the future or of any consequences of their actions in the hereafter. Even at school we learnt of Newton’s third law which states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Do perpetrators of injustice really believe that they will not be called to account for their deeds? Even thieves go to great lengths to avoid getting caught as they know that punishment is inevitable if they are. Whether we are of faith or of no faith we cannot truly believe that there will not be consequences for the cruelty we are witness to.
2024 began with wars across the globe and we are ending the year with even more. There is no solution to these wars unless the world adopts the Islamic teaching of justice, even for one’s enemies. If the world adopts this principle, a global revolution can take place. International relations as we see them today are riddled with revenge and retaliation. Disproportionate responses and barbaric retributions are being normalised, which is why the Quranic injunction of absolute justice, even towards enemies, is something humanity at large so desperately needs.
The Holy Quran establishes this golden principle with crystal clarity:
“O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be [always] just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.9)
Explaining this verse, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) stated: “This command has not been given in any other religious scripture. There should be no discrimination in acting justly, and Muslims and non-Muslims alike are equally entitled to attaining justice.” (Friday Sermon, 10 November 2017)
This teaching does not apply only to international affairs but to every aspect of life: “This [verse] is the command of establishing the standard of justice in personal and domestic matters as well as social matters, no matter what is at stake and with the sole intention of seeking the pleasure of God Almighty.” (Ibid.)
The practical implementation of this injunction is beautifully illustrated through the example set by the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him). When some companions killed two enemies near the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, thinking it was justified due to the constant threat they faced, Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) did not condone their actions. Instead, as Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) noted in the same sermon, “He immediately took action and […] ordered for the blood money of the two killed to be paid right away. He paid this off and reprimanded the companions for the wrong they had committed.” (Ibid.)
Even in financial dealings, this standard of justice remained absolute. A companion, who owed four Dirhams to a Jewish man, was instructed by the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) to pay his debt immediately, even if it meant selling the clothes he was wearing.
Showing this level of fairness, impartiality, and neutrality is much easier said than done. When it comes to our own parents, children, and other family members, it becomes extremely difficult to implement this teaching and practise what we preach. There is only one way that we can achieve this level of justice: to adopt true righteousness and establish a personal relationship with Allah the Almighty. In the words of Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper), “This can only be achieved when a person has absolute faith in God Almighty and when his belief is of the highest standard and very strong.” (Ibid.)
The message is clear: true Islamic justice knows no exceptions. Whether dealing with friend or foe, in personal matters or international relations, the standard remains unchanged. This is not just a moral teaching but a practical solution for today’s world, where selective justice has become a root cause of global conflicts.
Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper), repeatedly reminds us that we should be proud of our religion, to do the right thing and never worry about being ridiculed by others because we are only answerable to God. Lajna Ima’illah UK has always been at the forefront of sacrifices whether it be of time, children or wealth. May Allah enable us to always be the torchbearers of justice in every sphere of our lives as we are the nation builders. In doing so we can be hopeful of heaven for our families, cities, countries and nation not only in the hereafter but also a heaven on Earth.
Pray for all the innocent people caught up in conflicts all over the worlds. Pray for the elderly, children and women in Gaza. Always pray for our Beloved Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) and his family who stays awake at night to pray for all of us.
May Allah enable each and every one of us to achieve our personal spiritual goals and collective goals given to us by our beloved Khalifa. May Lajna Imaillah UK go from strength to strength taking every child, Nasirat and Lajna member along in its progress.