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7 Macquarie L.J. 167 (2007)
Islamic Concept of Social Justice: Its Possible Contribution to Ensuring Harmony and Peaceful Coexistence in a Globalised World

handle is hein.journals/macq7 and id is 167 raw text is: Macquarie Law Journal (2007) Vol 7 ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE: ITS POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO ENSURING HARMONY AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN A GLOBALISED WORLD SAMIUL HASAN* I INTRODUCTION In the recent past, forces of globalisation have augmented the free flow of investment, goods, and technology. Globalisation is primarily homogenisation of goods and services, linking their production and distribution across borders and economies. In the process, it influences and justifies standardisation of needs and values. Globalisation benefits people and/or organisations close to political and economic power centres at the cost of those in the periphery, and creates havoc and fear for the latter especially when homogenisation of ideologies and values is emphasised. Ironically, however, factors of globalisation (especially the flow of information) have increased understanding of the exploitative nature of globalisation and how it can expand and perpetuate injustice. Adherence to and implementation of social justice for all thus becomes more important than ever before because only it can spread the benefits of globalisation to those in the periphery. Justice, a set of moral rules that concern the essentials of human well-being, is of more absolute obligation than any other rules for the guidance of life.' Justice, as seen by al-Farabi,2 like Aristotle, primarily is 'equitable distribution of common goods and honors, consisting security, property, and social standing'.3 A secondary BA (Hons). MA (DU). MA (Waterloo), PhD (UW). Associate Professor, Geography, Policy. and Urban Studies, United Arab Emirates University, Al Aim, UAE <samiulh a uaeu.ac.ae >. John Stuart Mill quoted in David M Smith, Geography and Social Justice (1994) 23. For more please see Samiul Hasan, Philanthropy and Social Justice in Islam: Principles, Prospects, and Practices (2007) ch 4. 2 Abu Nas6r al-Farabi (870-950 CE), a Turkoman, regarded as 'the first system-builder in the history of Arab-Islamic thought', is the author of, among others. of 'Virtuous City' and 'Civil Polity' offering an 'elaborate metaphysical scheme in which the Qur'anic concepts of creation, God's sovereignty in the world, and the fate of the soul after death are interpreted in an entirely new spirit': Majid Fakhry. Al-Farabi, Founder of Islamic Neoplatonism: His Life, Works and Influence (2002) 1-2. Ibid 100.