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22<br />
JUSTICE AND TOLERANCE IN THE OUR'AN<br />
have never committed or bear false witness aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
although <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>nocence is known to <strong>the</strong>m. On account of<br />
such enmity, m<strong>an</strong>y people may be subjected to unbearable<br />
oppression. Some people avoid bear<strong>in</strong>g witness <strong>in</strong> favour of<br />
people <strong>the</strong>y disagree with, although <strong>the</strong>y know <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
<strong>in</strong>nocent, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>the</strong>y keep evidence which would reveal <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
<strong>in</strong>nocence hidden. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, <strong>the</strong>y take pleasure <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
misery <strong>the</strong>se people face, <strong>the</strong>ir encounters with <strong>in</strong>justice or<br />
great suffer<strong>in</strong>g. Their greatest worry, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>, is that<br />
justice should be done <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>the</strong>se peoples' <strong>in</strong>nocence proved.<br />
For <strong>the</strong>se reasons, it is very hard for people <strong>in</strong> corrupt<br />
societies to trust one <strong>an</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r. People worry about fall<strong>in</strong>g victim<br />
to someone else all <strong>the</strong> time. Hav<strong>in</strong>g lost mutual trust, <strong>the</strong>y also<br />
lose <strong>the</strong>ir hum<strong>an</strong> feel<strong>in</strong>gs, such as toler<strong>an</strong>ce, compassion,<br />
bro<strong>the</strong>rhood <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> co-operation, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> start hat<strong>in</strong>g one <strong>an</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
However, <strong>the</strong> feel<strong>in</strong>gs someone holds <strong>in</strong> his heart towards<br />
a person or community should never <strong>in</strong>fluence a believer's<br />
decisions. No matter how immoral or hostile <strong>the</strong> person he is<br />
consider<strong>in</strong>g may be, <strong>the</strong> believer sets all <strong>the</strong>se feel<strong>in</strong>gs aside<br />
<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> acts <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> makes his decisions justly <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> recommends that<br />
which is just. His feel<strong>in</strong>gs towards that person cast no shadow<br />
over his wisdom <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> conscience. His conscience always<br />
<strong>in</strong>spires him to comply with God's comm<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>s <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> advice, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />
not to ab<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>on good m<strong>an</strong>ners, because this is God's comm<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Qur'<strong>an</strong>. In Sura Ma'ida, it is related as follows:<br />
O You who believe! Show <strong>in</strong>tegrity for <strong>the</strong> sake of God,<br />
bear<strong>in</strong>g witness with justice. Do not let hatred for a<br />
people <strong>in</strong>cite you <strong>in</strong>to not be<strong>in</strong>g just. Be just. That is<br />
closer to faith. Heed God [alone]. God is aware of what<br />
you do. (Qur'<strong>an</strong>, 5:8)