The World Day of Social Justice on 20th February is a reminder of the importance of justice in all our interactions – within our families, in our communities, and in the global context.
“No light can compare with the light of justice. The establishment of order in the world and the tranquillity of the nations depend upon it”, states Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
At an individual level, justice calls for fair-mindedness in our judgments, for equity in treatment of others, and application of justice daily: in everything we do and towards all our fellow human beings.
At a group level, a concern for justice is necessary for collective decision-making, because it is the only means by which unity of thought and action can be achieved.
According to a statement of the Bahá’í International Community, “the emergence of a peaceful and just social order animated by moral principle is contingent upon a fundamental redefinition of all human relationships – among individuals themselves, between human society, and the natural world, between the individual and the community, between individual citizens and their governing institutions”.
There is need for recognition – in spirit and practice – of the principle of the oneness of humankind, to accept that “the body of humankind is one and indivisible” and to recognize that every human being is “born into the world as a trust of the whole”.
Unity, peace and justice are reciprocal in their effects. It is the requirement of justice that everyone is treated equally and with dignity. The chief instrument for the transformation of society and the achievement of global unity and peace, Bahá’u’lláh asserts, is the establishment of justice in the affairs of humanity. “The light of men is Justice”, He states, “The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men”.
Furthermore, justice is the quality that enables each person to distinguish truth from falsehood. In the sight of God, Bahá’u’lláh says, justice is “the best beloved of all things”, since it permits each individual to see with his own eyes rather than the eyes of others, to know through his own knowledge rather than the knowledge of his neighbour or his group (nation, race, ethnic background or religion).
In order to eliminate discriminations due to differences in race, nationality, religion or ethnic origin, it is crucial that the peoples of the world become convinced of the oneness of humanity and proceed to reconstruct their lives and their societies on that basis.
The establishment of a peaceful and just social order will, therefore, require the acceptance and the practice of the principle of the oneness of humanity, and by acting in line with moral and spiritual teachings, such as love and respect, justice and equity towards people of all races, nations, religions and ethnic groups.
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