When Trust is Lost Justice becomes a Thing of the Past
Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer. — Qur’an 4[An-Nisa’]:58
History will never forget Umar ibn Khattab as Amirul Mu’meeneen. He was one man who was stern and steadfast upon the truth. He kept the trust of this ummah by discomforting himself. As a leader, he was practically the chief servant to his people. He was tough to a point that shaytan gives way for him wherever he smells Umar’s presence. He was known as Al-Farouq for he gave distinction between truth and falsehood. This was a man whom the Prophet said: 'if there was to be a prophet after me from my ummah, it would be the son of Al-Khattab’. The life of Umar was a typical example of justice and fairness for all. He would sometimes patrol the city at night to ensure everyone is in tranquility. He failed to be sponsored by the state treasury. He ordered his son to be punished publicly in he courtyard for violating Allah’s injunction. This indeed was a symbol of justice for today’s Muslim to emulate.
Before the Burden of Trust
When AbuBakr realized his end was near, he thought of appointing a successor to lead the Muslims. He summoned AbdurRahman bin Auf, and asked for his opinion about the nomination of Umar as the Caliph, Abdurahman favored the nomination. Some other companions were also consulted. The general consensus was that Umar was the fittest person to be appointed as the Caliph. Uthman favored the nomination and remarked, “What is hidden of Umar is better than what outwardly appears; there is not his equal amongst us.”
However, Talha bin Ubaydullah objected the nomination. He said: “O successor of the Prophet, you know fully well how harsh Umar has been towards us all during your regime, and Allah only knows what he will do to us when you are gone. You know that you are leaving us forever, and yet you are content to leave us in the hands of a man whose fierce and ungovernable rages are well known to you. Think, what answer will you give to Your Lord for such a behest?”
At this objection of Talha, AbuBakr who was lying prostrate on his bed rose up with considerable effort and addressing Talha said: “Have you come to frighten me? I swear that when I meet my Lord, I will gladly tell Him that I appointed as ruler over His people, the man who was the best of them all.” That response was sufficient and convincing to the companions.
A practical Example in his Regime
During his reign as Khalifah, three people came to him dragging a young man with them and said to him: Oh leader of the believers! This man has murdered our father. The following ensued…
Umar: why did you kill their father?
Young man: I'm a guardian, my camel ate from his farm, and their father threw a stone at it and killed it. I also took the stone threw it at him and he also died.
Umar: Owing to your action, I will pass judgment (charge with murder) on you.
Young man: I ask for three days before you pass the judgment, my late father left me some wealth and I have a sister to take care of, if you kill me now, the wealth and my sister will have no guardian.
Umar: Who will stand for your bail?
Young man: Looking into the crowd, he pointed to Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari.
Umar: Do you agree to stand for him Abu Dhar?
Abu Dhar: Na'am (Yes!)
Umar: You stand for someone you don’t know, if he doesn’t return you will receive his penalty.
Abu Dhar: I accept
The young man left. After two days, there was no trace of him. Still on the third day, no sign indicated the young man was coming. Everyone was scared for Abu Dhar who accepted to receive the penalty of death should the boy fail to come. Before the time for maghrib, the boy appeared. He was exhausted in appearance and stood before Umar bin khattab.
Young man: I have handed the wealth and the welfare of my sister to my uncle, I’m now yours, you may pass the penalty.
In great shock and surprise, Umar said: Why did you return after having a chance to escape the penalty?
Young man: I was afraid, it will appear that humanity has lost the ability to fulfill promises kept.
Umar turned and looked at Abu Dhar: Why did you stand for him?
Abu Dhar: I was afraid, it might appear that humanity have lost the will to do good to others.
This scenario pleased the brothers who wanted justice for their father's death and so, said they have forgiven the young man.
Umar: furiously said, why?
They said: we are afraid, it will appear as thou forgiveness has lost place in the heart of humanity.
The Scenario of Today’s Muslims
The times we live in have proven Muslims to become betrayers of the trust save a few. It’s sad that Muslims even cheat each other in the name of brotherhood. The ability to keep to promise has become scarce in our society today. Even if the promise is kept, who will stand as a guarantor? The bad people have made it difficult for the good ones to be trusted. The leaders who are meant to protect the people are the ones killing them. So ours is a two’s and three’s situation; a higgledy-piggledy state.
This could only be rectified if we return to the basis — the Qur’an and the sunnah in line with the understanding of the earliest generation of Muslims as depicted above. We must eschew nepotism and tribalism. We should be our brothers’ keeper and stick our head out for them while in need. Let’s embrace truthfulness and revive the trust in order to establish a fair judicial system. This will in turn be a source of good deed weighty on our scale on the last day. Allah admonishes us thus:
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. — Qur’an 4[An-Nisa’]:135
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