The Qur’an Concept of Justice and Its Application in the 21st Century

Abstract

Justice (al-‘ad) in the Qur’an is one of the central values underpinning Islamic civilization. It transcends legalistic dimensions and serves as a moral, spiritual, social, and political imperative that governs human conduct, community relations, and institutional frameworks. In the Qur’an worldview, justice represents balance, fairness, and equity in all spheres of life, ranging from individual behavior to global governance. The Qur’an repeatedly commands justice not as a choice but as a divine obligation, reflecting the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings. In the 21st century, a world marked by globalization, technological advancement, rising inequality, climate crisis, and moral relativism, the Qur’an conception of justice provides profound guidance. This paper examines the holistic understanding of justice as envisioned in the Qur’an and its relevance to contemporary challenges such as human rights, gender equality, economic fairness, environmental stewardship, and global peace. It emphasizes that Qur’an justice is not restricted to retributive measures but extends to distributive justice, social welfare, ethical governance, and reconciliation. By analyzing key Qur’an verses and engaging with modern academic debates, this study demonstrates that the Qur’an concept of justice is timeless, capable of addressing contemporary dilemmas while offering a moral compass that transcends cultural and political boundaries. The research underscores the urgent need to revisit the Qur’an paradigm of justice as a guiding principle for global ethical governance in the 21st century.