Act Justly
The Oxford dictionary defines justice as; “Just behavior or treatment. A concern for justice, peace, and genuine respect for people. The quality of being fair and reasonable.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. defined it well when he said, “real peace is not just the absence of hostilities or tension: real peace is the presence of justice. Real peace is the removal of those underlying conditions of injustice and exploitation which fan the flames of resentment and finally lead to war.”
Biblical Justice is to “make right.”
As peacemakers, we desire to “make right” the injustice and inequality in the world.
As we strive to act justly and bring peace to our world, I appreciate Dr. Aviezer Ravitzky description of Shalom.
“The Hebrew word for peace, shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness. Its significance is thus not limited to the political domain — to the absence of war and enmity — or to the social — to the absence of quarrel and strife. It ranges over several spheres and can refer in different contexts to bounteous physical conditions, moral value, and, ultimately, cosmic principle and divine attribute.” https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shalom/
What a beautiful word to describe the aspects of inner peace and bringing justice and peace to our world. Here is a story of how shalom came into reality.
Lenny, a high school student, suddenly jumped into a life of crime. He’d sneak into homes in his neighborhood and vandalize them. He would pour paint, hurl china, smash furniture, slash paintings, and generally destroy anything he could get his hands on. Then Lenny got caught. “Throw him in prison,” some may have said. “Teach him a lesson he’ll never forget.” The wise judge, William O’Neil, a man of faith, didn’t throw him into prison, but he did see that Lenny learned lessons he’d never forget.
The judge found out all about Lenny. The fact that most stood out was that one day, Lenny came home from school, walked into his bedroom, and found his dad dead. He shot himself in the head, and blood splattered on Lenny’s bedroom wall. Years later, the stain was still visible. Unable to cope, Lenny let out his anger and pain by vandalizing homes all over the neighborhood.
This boy had real problems, but he also committed some real crimes. Justice had to be served, and yet….
Judge O’Neil saw that Lenny’s sentence was aimed at restoring shalom in the neighborhood. Lenny started mowing lawns and used his earnings to repay his victims for the damage he had done. In addition, he had to meet with every family whose home he had vandalized to hear their side, listen to their anger, and apologize for his crime. Judge O’Neil wrote to Lenny every two weeks to encourage him. And Lenny used those letters of encouragement to paper over the bloodstains on the wall.
And do you know what? Shalom returned to that community, to the victims, and to Lenny.
With Judge O’Neil’s wisdom and mercy, he helped to bring restoration to all who Lenny’s actions had impacted.
One person’s wisdom and mercy helped bring shalom into reality.
Sometimes we get overwhelmed when we see the injustices in our world. We get frustrated because we are not in a position of influence to change the systems or laws that perpetuate inequality. But if we believe with God’s help, we can plant seeds of peace that will eventually bring the harvest of Shalom, we are encouraged to do our part.
Here is a poster with these words by an unknown author. It can help remind us that acts of justice can come in small ways.
God won’t ask for the square footage of your house.
He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home
God won’t ask about the clothes you have in your closet.
He’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.
God won’t ask what your highest salary was.
He’ll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
God won’t ask how many friends you have.
He’ll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived.
He’ll ask how you treated your neighbors.
“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Robert Kennedy
May you never forget your efforts of acting justly will help bring peace to our world.
Reflect on these scriptures from different faith sources
“Even if they attain to sovereignty, the wicked, engaged in cruel deeds, condemned by all men, do not enjoy it long but fall like trees whose roots have been severed. O dweller in darkness, as in its proper season the tree puts forth its flowers, so in the course of time evil actions produce bitter fruit.” (Ramayana, Aranya Kanda 29, Hinduism)
“Who is learned and leads others, not by violence but by law and equity, and who is guarded by the law and intelligent, he is called just.” (The Dhammapada 19:257, Buddhism)
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8, Judaism)
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end so that what you hope for may be fully realized.” (Hebrews 6:10-11, Christianity)
“Ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it concerns rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the lusts of your hearts lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that you do.” (Qur’an 4.135, Islam)
“The Lord bestows glorious greatness upon those who are truthful. He administers righteous justice.” (Guru Granth Sahib, Siree Raag 76:32, Sikhism)
“O people of Justice! Be as brilliant as the light, and as splendid as the fire that blazed in the Burning Bush. The brightness of the fire of you love will no doubt fuse and unify the contending peoples and kindreds of the earth, whilst the fierceness of the flame of enmity and hatred cannot bet result in strife and ruin. We beseech God that He may shield His creatures from the evil designs of His enemies. He verily hath power over all things.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh p.95, Baha’i)
Questions for Reflection
- What are the injustices you see around you?
- What is shalom to you?
- What does it mean to you to ‘act justly?”
A Call to Action for Today
Be aware of how you treat others today.
A Closing Prayer by Hiba Alalami
Originally from Jordan, Hiba holds an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature and a graduate degree in American Studies from the University of Jordan. Aspiring for higher education and in pursuit of better life opportunities in the United States, she moved with her family to Indiana. She earned a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at IUPUI in 2012.
Hiba chose to employ her expertise in nonprofit management to serve the Muslim community. She interned at the Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) and worked with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Development Foundation for three years. In 2017, she joined Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network as Executive Director.
Hiba is a proud mother of three children and enjoys volunteering at their schools. She also volunteers at Indianapolis Muslim Community Association and Al Salam Foundation in different capacities. She is a founding member of Muslim Women Giving 100 (MWG100), a giving circle that leverages the charitable traditions of Muslim women in the Greater Indianapolis area in building bridges that strengthen our local communities.
O Allah, the Giver of All, we seek Your forgiveness and mercy.
Verily, Your mercy engulfs humankind and enlightens our path
as we bring love and kindness to this earth.
O Allah, the Just, guide us to become the apparatus of justice
and grant us wisdom and courage as we bring equity to our communities.
Oh Allah, the Creator of Good, instill the goodness in our leaders
and unite them for the betterment of our nation.
O Allah, the Ultimate Source of Peace, shower us with Your blessings
and help us sow the seeds of peace and reconciliation among our neighbors.
Amen.