In this issue, I invite us to reflect on Quran 7:181:
In this issue, I invite us to reflect on Quran 7:181:
“Let there be (or, there is) in Our (God’s) Creation (among mankind) a group who seek (or guides) to truth and establishes justice thereby!”
Our newsletter is built on this divine directive: that among humanity there will always be a group inspired to seek the truth, guide others to it, and make truth the foundation of a just society. Yet at the dawn of the twenty-first century, it often feels that we are failing—miserably—as a human race on both counts: truth and justice. Justice, in all its forms and across all societies, is the outcome we must strive to actualize. And the true bedrock of justice is truth; without truth, there can be no justice.
The verse above is both a call to action and an affirmation of human reality that offers hope. On one hand, it calls all people—believers and non-believers alike, since we are all part of God’s creation—to join or form communities dedicated to the pursuit of truth, with truth as our shared value. This pursuit, however, is not an end in itself. It is the means to ensure justice and to build a just society for everyone.
Viewed from another angle, the verse describes a natural order: there will always be human beings inspired—from within and through others (all ultimately by God’s inspiration)—to never abandon truth or justice.
History bears this out. The emergence of prophets across time testifies to it. So does the triumph of knowledge over ignorance and the enduring idea that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” The biblical story of David and Goliath offers another example. In modern times, the presence of Martin Luther King Jr. in the American civil rights movement and the emergence of Mandela in apartheid South Africa stand as powerful testimonies. Our common phrase—“there is light at the end of the tunnel”—captures this eternal optimism: that truth and justice will ultimately prevail over every dark evil, no matter how pervasive it may seem.
This truth is not confined to the Qur’an alone. It is corroborated in the Torah and the Bible in many places and ways. Consider these verses:
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” — Isaiah 1:17
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” — Leviticus 19:15
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” — Proverbs 12:22
“Justice, justice shall you pursue.” — Deuteronomy 16:20
For those of us who call ourselves people of faith, despair is not an option. We must always strive for truth and justice, for such effort aligns with the natural order of our world and reflects God’s will for creation.
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