Justice in The Quran - Justice Regarding Non-Muslims

Justice Regarding Non-Muslims

In practice, Islamic law offers differing interpretations of Qur’anic justice, but this is done largely by ensuring there is a separation between legal and divine justice. This essentially means the notion of justice regarding non-Muslims is one of how non-Muslims will be punished or rewarded in the afterlife. In common Muslim understanding, it is certain that disbelievers, including atheists and polytheists, will go to jahannam. This is seen as just, as Allah does not accept polytheism or anyone to be associated with Him. However, there are disagreements regarding how justice will work for the People of the Book as they also follow strict monotheism but do not regard Muhammad as a prophet.

It has been proposed by some scholars that Christians, Jews and other monotheistic religions will be allowed to enter jannah. They consider this as justice as it draws upon one of the main pillars of Islam, namely that everyone is judged by their intentions and their deeds. These scholars have made use of varying verses in the Qur’an to support their point. These verses appear to state that as long as there is a belief in God, the Day of Judgment and that they remain righteous, justice shall be done and these people shall find their reward in jannah. As a further basis for their arguments, other verses are drawn upon, such as ‘let there be no compulsion in religion’. Another Qur’anic interpretation that supports this claim is seen when Glassé argues that “in theory, Islam accepts Christianity as a divinely revealed religion”. This is based on verses in the Qur’an which state that the Believers are not solely Muslims, and that these people will be justly rewarded for their prayers and way of life with a place in jannah.

Alternatively, the Qur’an also offers many verses which seem to demonstrate that the only form of justice for all non-Muslims is one where they are all condemned to jahannam due to their failure to follow Muhammad as a prophet of God. This view is proposed by Qutb, who claims that “Judaism and Christianity, which also taught submission to one God, are dismissed as unacceptable to God, since they fail to recognize the Prophet Muhammad as a source of authority”. However, this interpretation is partially based on verses of the Qur’an which state that Islam is the one true religion. Other scholars and Qur’anic translations have taken Islam in its literal meaning: submission to God. This would be in conjunction with other interpretations of aforementioned Qur’anic verses that promulgate the view that divine justice regarding non-Muslims is based on their deeds and intentions if they still practice monotheism. Conversely, the Qur’an also contains verses in which it is stated that People of the Book are unworthy of Allah’s mercy and they shall be justly condemned to hell. This is seen when the Qur’an states “those who conceal God’s revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit - they swallow into themselves naught but Fire”. Christians and Jews are seen as having changed the Message that was originally sent to them by Muhammad, which some commentators have interpreted as hypocrisy and linking hands with polytheists and atheists. However, in the same verse, the Qur’an also proposes to “forgive them, and overlook their misdeeds: for God loveth those who are kind.”