The concept of Justice in Islam
by Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, Judge of the International Court of Justice
A broad definition of justice, of course, is to render to everyone his due. Islam, however, proceeds further in its definition of justice. It lays down that to maintain a proper standard of justice it is necessary that recompense of good should in no case be less than what a person has earned, and that, on the other hand, the penalty for a wrong should not exceed the wrong or transgression committed. A contravention of either of these principles would amount to injustice.
A broad definition of justice, of course, is to render to everyone his due. Islam, however, proceeds further in its definition of justice. It lays down that to maintain a proper standard of justice it is necessary that recompense of good should in no case be less than what a person has earned, and that, on the other hand, the penalty for a wrong should not exceed the wrong or transgression committed. A contravention of either of these principles would amount to injustice.