I leave justice to God.
This is purely an opinion piece. No hard facts, no deep long investigation, just something I desperately felt I needed to type, to express in the best way I can.
The Nazim Jokhio case has been making the rounds again on social media. It gained a lot of attention initially but then like most things on the internet got old and slowly forgotten. Until recently when it started becoming a part of the conversation again with the No-Confidence Motion against Imran Khan. This piece is not about politics so will refrain from corrupting it with my thoughts on the matter.
However, recently a voice message was revealed where the now-widowed wife of Nazim Jokhio forgave the murderers of her husband. In the message, she says that because of her kids she cannot keep fighting anymore. Everyone she knew had deserted her. “I leave justice to God because there is no justice in Pakistan.”
While many of us are already painfully aware of the justice system in Pakistan, that is not what I want to focus upon. When she says “I leave justice to God,” that is something I felt like I really needed to elaborate on.
(While I have done my fair bit of research on Islam, I do not claim to be a scholar by any means. The following is just what I have learned so far, so if I make any errors they are not intentional and I am truly sorry.)
In Islam, there are two types of sins one can commit. One is the sin against God (verily which is actually a sin against oneself), such as not offering prayer, not observing fast, etc. These sins are completely forgivable, God says multiple times in the Quran that all a sinner needs to do is repent but once and all shall be forgiven (except Shirk). This however refers to the type of sin mentioned above, there is, however, another kind.
The second is sin is against another person. Stealing, cheating, abuse, murder, etc. This sin no matter how small, how insignificant has no forgiveness. God will under no condition let it be unpunished (unless forgiven by the one sinned against, which in this case isn’t really possible anymore). No matter how much one begs for forgiveness justice will be delivered. As merciful as God claims to be he also claims to be the best ‘Deliverer of Justice.’
In the Nazim Jokhio case, it would not only be the people responsible for his death that would be a part of the sin. Everyone who was a part of delaying justice (in Pakistan), everyone who tried to unjustly silence the matter, would be a part of it.
People also forget just how wrathful God can be. While his gift of heaven is truly the greatest blessing his warnings of hell should never be taken lightly. It is a fate I wouldn’t wish upon the worst of my enemies even.
A part of me even wishes that this is all just a huge misunderstanding and things just happened that were out of anyone’s control. As naive as that may sound I am painfully aware of the end that waits for those who invite God’s wrath, as it is the most terrible of fates.
These words that sound mostly just like a rant are just my attempt at some sort of redemption. That when on that terrible day if I am asked if I just silently stood there and observed not doing what I could, I can at least say I did something, no matter how insignificant. I hope that these words somehow make it to those who actually hold influence over the outcome of this tragedy and they are reminded about their own accountability to one who is above all else.
