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Rights Over Justice?

Just like a man who has four wives, a class teacher who has several pupils, a leader and their subordinates, or a boss and their employees, one of the most sensitive issues comes from others claiming their rights mostly without other people in mind. No doubt that some people stomp on other’s rights especially when they are the higher-ups. Nevertheless, people are yet to know the difference between them asking for their rights and that justice be served in the cause of serving that right.

An example is the case of feminism which was built to claim the rights of equality of both genders for women but in the long run, the other genders are now complaining about feminism being unjust against them. This is because the idea that was supposed to ensure equal scale on both sides has now begun to tilt the favoritism towards the latter. In this case, feminism has achieved the cause of claiming the rights of women but unfortunately has become unjust against the rights of men.

Therefore it is not enough to know one’s rights it is necessary to know how to be just in claiming one’s right to not affect other people’s rights. Right and justice are quite intertwined they both are different.

Rights are people’s legal or moral entitlement it is what everyone deserves to live a peaceful and happy life, while justice refers to fairness and equality. Initially, rights were supposed to be qualified by equality. I believe the right to equality and equity should be established as punishable if violated.

Imagine a case between siblings. Every child deserves attention, feeding, and so on. It is not justice when a sibling is paid more attention, justice is not about having to give all of them equal size of food and equal amounts of money but rather when they have enough to survive. For example, a 15-year-old teenager who has a seven-year-old younger brother would feed more than his junior one. Justice here is when each of them has their fill. If they both happen to receive the same portion, definitely the younger brother would have much more food than needed and will probably waste it and the older brother will probably not eat enough.

Examining justice with regards to rights can be considered in different ways; it can be considered in comparing a right with the other for example the freedom of movement compared to the right to life and good health in a scenario where there is a riot outside. A parent decided to lock their children inside whether grown or young. Their right to freedom of movement has been barred and placed below their rights to life these may seem like injustice but it is not because, in the long run, it is for their own sake because it is more important to be alive.

On the contrary, in a case where two market women are fighting over the space of their stall, it is the right of both of them to have a space to display their commodities or market but it would be unjust if a person decided to help them water down the dust by placing a person above another without even considering what’s initiated the fight between and who got the initial. It happens that some people just don’t think of others when making decisions. They don’t want to consider the comfort of others and accommodate them.
Another scenario is the Nigerian justice saga known to everyone. One of the rights of citizens is that criminals should be punished and rehabilitated for the peace of the country and also the criminals have the right to be heard in the court of law and the right to an attorney. If for example there are two criminals on a case, it is relatable that after they have both been heard in the court of law if one of them is of high social or political status, he is given less punishment or pardoned totally. It is not just against the other person and this is seen as very rampant in the typical Nigerian society where a rookie thief who is found stealing a kilo of foodstuff is executed and mercilessly frowned upon but a popular or political figure who embezzles or commits other forms of scandal is given light punishment, short terms in prison or bailed without too much struggle.

Therefore it is important to note that justice caps upright, and for the rights of people to be enjoyed justice has to be implemented just as Allah has commanded the believers in the Quran to be just to one another whether they be noble or less privileged one of the most prominent teachings of Islam, especially at its advent was being just towards the less privileged and the weak ones such as orphans, women, old people, and widows.

One should also be careful while claiming one’s right not to soil or be unjust against other people’s rights because the value of rights does not come except with equal enjoyment of such rights because the idea of human rights was never brought about for just one person to enjoy or a particular set of people rather it was meant for all which means fairness for all is required. The practice of Justice along with claiming our rights makes others feel loved and seen. This in turn makes life easier for all. Justice is the culture of God that he has enjoined on man. It is a quality for Muslims to uphold