When the Balance Is Disturbed… Justice in an Age of Classism

Chapter One: A Disturbing Question Years ago, in a small Indian village, a photojournalist captured a powerful image: a child from the “untouchable” (Dalit) caste sitting outside a school, watching with longing as other children entered. The image shook the world for a few hours. Then it was forgotten.

But the question remained: Why is a child born with a “sin” he did not commit? Why does society decide a person’s fate before they are even born? And where is justice in this? This question is not limited to India. It is a question for all humanity. How do we build a just society amid all these inequalities and unfair differences?

Human systems have tried and failed. Communism oppressed people. Liberal democracy makes promises that are not fulfilled. This is natural, because these systems are created by humans—who err, who follow their desires, and who pursue their own interests.

Chapter Two: Oppression… When the Self Takes Control Why does a human oppress others? Because within him is a driving force toward injustice. The Qur’an calls it “the commanding self” (النفس الأمارة بالسوء). It whispers: You are better than him. You deserve more. He is less than you. This self created the caste system in India.

A group of people decided they were superior, and others inferior, and that this superiority should be inherited generation after generation. This same self creates racism everywhere. It makes the rich exploit the poor. The strong dominate the weak. True justice cannot exist while this self dominates.

It cannot be achieved unless there is a force strong enough to restrain it. Where is this force?

Chapter Three: Faith… The Only Force That Creates Justice Human experience proves: laws alone do not create a just society. You can write a thousand laws, but if people want injustice, they will find a thousand loopholes. Humans need an internal monitor. Something that reminds them that oppression is wrong—even when no one sees them.

That is faith. Faith in God creates a sense of accountability. It teaches a person that someone sees him—even in darkness. That someone will judge him—even if he escapes earthly law. Faith creates taqwa—a state of mindful awareness that makes a person hesitate before committing injustice.

Faith reminds us that all humans come from one origin: {O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul} AN-NISĀ-1 There is no superiority of Arab over non-Arab, or white over black, or rich over poor—except through righteousness. This is the foundation. This is the source of true justice.

Chapter Four: Islam and the Caste System India has suffered for centuries under the caste system—a system that classifies humans from birth and deprives millions of basic rights. What does Islam say? The Prophet ﷺ declared: “O people, your Lord is one and your father is one.

There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a red over a black, nor a black over a red—except by piety.” This is a global declaration abolishing all racial and class discrimination. In Islam, the highest status a person can reach is taqwa. And it cannot be inherited, bought, or linked to lineage.

Bilal, once a slave, became the caller to prayer of the Prophet. Salman, a Persian, became from the household of the Prophet. Suhaib, a Roman, became among the early believers. Those considered “low” in class systems were elevated in Islam. This is true justice—the justice that looks at essence, not appearance.

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Chapter Five: Difference… Not Injustice When Fair Does Islam eliminate all differences between people? No. Differences exist—but not all differences are injustice. A doctor and a nurse are not equal in skill. Treating them the same would not be just. A hardworking person and a lazy one are not equal in effort.

Giving them equal reward is not fair. Men and women differ biologically. Assigning identical roles is not necessarily just. Justice means giving each according to effort, ability, and need. In the caste system, difference is unjust because it is imposed before action.

In capitalism, difference may be unjust when wealth accumulates without effort. In Islam, difference is based on effort, productivity, and righteousness. This motivates growth, not stagnation.

Chapter Six: Applications of Justice in Islam With non-Muslims: Islam does not force belief. {There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion.} AL‑BAQARAH -256 Justice here means freedom of belief, with accountability. With the poor: Zakat is not charity—it is a right of the poor.

Between spouses: The man is responsible for provision and protection, but the woman has full rights to fairness and kindness. In judiciary: Everyone is equal before the law.

Chapter Seven: A Thought Experiment Imagine you are building a society. Would you treat everyone exactly the same? Of course not. You would give the strong responsibility, and the weak protection. You would give the scholar a position fitting his knowledge. You would give the worker a wage fitting his effort. That is justice.

Justice is recognizing differences without turning them into oppression.

Conclusion: Justice Is Light Justice is not just an idea—it is a complete way of life. The Prophet ﷺ said that oppression is darkness on the Day of Judgment. So justice is light in this world and the next. {Say, [O Muúammad], "My Lord has ordered justice} AL‑A‘RĀF -29

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