“Be Fair” article tackled one of the most important pillars of peace among people: Justice; as it is the way towards the power of the nation and human being. Justice is the path of security and safety: the messenger of the Persian King Khosrow came to Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab, found him sleeping on the ground, laying on the sands under the sunlight, resting his head over his stick as a pillow; seeing him in such conditions, the messenger said: “A man feared by all kings, and this is his condition! However, since you have done justice, you are safe, so you slept, Umar.” Many poets praised justice, one of them called for vigilance in it:
Do not turn away from justice, be vigilant
Let your judgment among people be rightful
Treat them gently and do them kindness
Never replace your contentment with discontent
Resolve their biggest conflict with the pearl of righteousness
Observe the Lord of Creation while resolving and suspending
Then he urged fairness and warned of the path of injustice:
Be fair and walk in the path of piety,
for the oppression’s night is gloomy dark
Avoid oppression, never allow it
I swear by God, an oppressor shall never thrive!
However, another aspect that the seeker for justice should truly take into account is not to have double standards. Hence, the verses composed by Poet Gibran Khalil Gibran on justice emerge, being worthy of mention and remembrance:
Justice on earth shall make the fairies weep if listened
Shall make the dead laugh if looked
Prison and death for the young culprits
But glory, pride and enrichment for them old
A blossoms’ stealer is abhorred and despised
Yet the garden’s stealer is deemed valiant
A flesh’s killer shall be killed too
But a soul’s killer is known by none
The verses speak of those who adopt a double standard policy in ruling, which is a far-from-justice approach. A just person never changes his judgments, regardless the different justice seekers he meets. I would like to refer to the term “double standard” which denotes any set of principles that contain judgments that change when applied on a certain group of people compared to another. First of all, we shall realize that God has no double standards, His judgments are always right and just; so, the Bible states that God is not partial: “Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands.” “For there is no partiality with God.” Rather, He punishes who is partial: “But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Double standards are abhorred with God, so He commanded man to walk impartially: “doing nothing with partiality.”, So, King Jehoshaphat commanded the judges: “Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.” Solomon the Wise said, “These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.”
God rejects partiality in judging and dealing, as well as having double standards: “Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.”. Since cheating in selling and buying is an abomination to the Lord; He said: “You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord your God.”, how much more would it be in judging people and dealing with them?!
The Quran warns of unrighteously using scales for all people: “Woe to the defrauders! Those who take full measure when they buy from people, but give less when they measure or weigh for buyers”, it recommends having balanced measures: “Give full measure, and cause no loss to others. Weigh with an even balance, and do not defraud people of their property. Nor go about spreading corruption in the land. And fear the One Who created you and all earlier peoples.” And, “Give in full when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is fairest and best in the end.” And that justice shall be done to all equally: “And do not come near the wealth of the orphan—unless intending to enhance it—until they attain maturity. Give full measure and weigh with justice. We never require of any soul more than what it can afford. Whenever you speak, maintain justice—even regarding a close relative. And fulfil your covenant with Allah. This is what He has commanded you, so perhaps you will be mindful.”
Thus, a just man treats all equally, giving everyone his due…
Indeed, the talk about “Beautiful Egypt” is endless.
The General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
