Qur'an and the Just Society

Justice is a universal concern and central to Islam's primary scripture, the Qur'an. Ramon Harvey explores its underlying principles of social justice, covering Qur'anic Ethics, Political Justice, Distributive Justice, and Corrective Justice. His reading reconstructs the text as normatively engaging these spheres of justice in their socio-historical context, laying the foundations for future contemporary articulations of Qur'anic ethics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2019
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Justice is a fundamental concept that has been central to human societies throughout history. It refers to the fair and equitable treatment of individuals and groups within a society. In Islam, justice is considered a fundamental principle of the religion and is emphasized in the Qur'an, the primary scripture of Islam. Ramon Harvey, a scholar of Islamic studies, has undertaken a pioneering theological and hermeneutic framework to explore the underlying principles of Islam's system of social justice. His book, "Justice in Islam: A Theological and Hermeneutic Framework," is divided into four parts: Qur'anic Ethics, Political Justice, Distributive Justice, and Corrective Justice. Harvey's reading of the Qur'an reconstructs the text as normatively engaging these spheres of justice in their socio-historical context and lays the foundations for future contemporary articulations of Qur'anic ethics.

Qur'anic Ethics: Harvey begins by examining the ethical principles found in the Qur'an. He highlights the importance of treating others with kindness, respect, and justice, and emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's obligations to God and to others. He also discusses the concept of justice as a means of achieving social harmony and peace.

Political Justice: Harvey then turns to the political sphere of justice. He discusses the role of the state in promoting justice and the importance of political participation and representation. He also examines the concept of political justice in the context of war and peace, and argues that Islam provides a framework for just and peaceful conflict resolution.

Distributive Justice: Harvey then examines the distributive aspect of justice. He discusses the importance of fair trade, alms, marriage, inheritance, and other forms of wealth distribution. He argues that Islam provides a framework for ensuring that wealth is distributed fairly and equitably, and that it is used to benefit the entire community.

Corrective Justice: Harvey then examines the corrective aspect of justice. He discusses the importance of punishing crimes and ensuring that justice is served. He argues that Islam provides a framework for punishing crimes in a fair and just manner, and that it is used to promote social order and prevent crime.

One of the key themes of Harvey's book is the importance of contextualizing justice. He argues that justice is not a universal concept that can be applied to all societies in the same way. Instead, justice must be tailored to the specific socio-historical context of each society. Harvey provides numerous examples of how Islam has adapted its system of social justice to different contexts, and how it has been able to promote social harmony and peace.

Another important theme of Harvey's book is the importance of gender equality. He argues that Islam provides a framework for promoting gender equality and that it is essential for achieving social justice. He discusses the role of women in Islam and the importance of their participation in the political and economic spheres of society.

Harvey's book has received widespread acclaim from scholars and academics. It has been praised for its innovative approach to the study of Islam's system of social justice and for its ability to provide a fresh perspective on the topic. However, it has also been criticized for its lack of attention to certain aspects of Islam's system of social justice, such as the treatment of women and the role of the state in promoting justice.

In conclusion, justice is a fundamental concept that has been central to human societies throughout history. In Islam, justice is considered a fundamental principle of the religion and is emphasized in the Qur'an. Ramon Harvey's book, "Justice in Islam: A Theological and Hermeneutic Framework," provides a pioneering theological and hermeneutic framework to explore the underlying principles of Islam's system of social justice. Harvey's reading of the Qur'an reconstructs the text as normatively engaging these spheres of justice in their socio-historical context and lays the foundations for future contemporary articulations of Qur'anic ethics. While Harvey's book has received widespread acclaim, it has also been criticized for its lack of attention to certain aspects of Islam's system of social justice.

Weight: 446g
Dimension: 157 x 235 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474452755