THE UNFINISHED COVENANT
“In South Africa, our justice is not measured
by the peace of the powerful, but by the peace of mind of the powerless. It is
a covenant written not only in our Constitution, but in the conscience of every
citizen who refuses to be a silent witness to wrong. For true justice is the
relentless, uncomfortable, and prophetic work of ensuring that the dignity of
the humblest person is held as sacred as the reputation of the most powerful
institution. It is the unfinished covenant of our nation, and to silence a voice
in its pursuit is to break faith with our very soul.”
-Whalid Safodien
The Feather Pen
The justice that prioritizes the powerless is a universal divine command, not a modern political ideal.
· The Quran is unequivocal: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (Quran 5:8). It commands believers to be “upholders of justice, bearing witness for God alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives.” (Quran 4:135).
· The Bible echoes this, with God revealing Himself as the champion of the marginalized: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17). The Psalms declare, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:3-4).
· The Torah instructs, “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15). Its system of law was designed to protect the vulnerable within the community.
· Hindu Scripture, in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna advises performing one's duty without attachment, for the welfare of the world: “Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world; by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life.” (Bhagavad Gita 3:19). This selfless work is the foundation of a just society.
The covenant in our conscience and the duty to speak are rooted in the indigenous and spiritual principle of Ubuntu and ancient wisdom.
· The KhoiSan Indigenous People hold a profound connection between community, land, and conscience. A central tenet is the idea of collective stewardship and speaking out to maintain harmony. To be a "silent witness to wrong" is to disrupt the balance of the community, which is a sacred trust.
· The Black Peoples of South Africa (Ubuntu Philosophy) give us the defining ethic: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” – “I am because we are.” This philosophy dictates that our humanity is interdependent. Injustice against one is an injury to all, and silence in the face of it is a betrayal of our shared humanity. The conscience of the individual is the guardian of the community's soul.
· The Bible reinforces this duty to speak: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9).
The relentless, prophetic work of upholding dignity is the core of prophetic tradition across faiths.
· The Quran establishes the community's role: “And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.” (Quran 3:104). This is a divine sanction for public accountability.
· The Bible is filled with prophets who confronted power uncomfortably. The prophet Nathan risked his life to confront King David for his injustice (2 Samuel 12). Amos thundered against those who “trample on the heads of the poor and deny justice to the oppressed.” (Amos 2:7).
· The Torah showcases Moses, the prophetic liberator, who stood before Pharaoh, the most powerful institution of his day, to demand the freedom and dignity of his enslaved people (Exodus 5-12).
This Unfinished Covenant is our shared national project. To break faith with it by silencing a voice is a sin against God and our collective humanity.
· The Quran warns against hiding testimony: “And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it, their heart is sinful.” (Quran 2:283).
· Ubuntu teaches that to diminish another is to diminish oneself. Silencing a voice seeking justice severs the bonds that make us human.
· The Bible issues a stark warning about failing in this duty: “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16). Complacency and silence in the face of injustice are a spiritual failure.
Therefore, this
Unfinished Covenant is more than a legal principle; it is a sacred charge that
resonates through our diverse spiritual and cultural heritage. It calls every
South African to be a persistent, courageous witness, ensuring that the dignity
of every person becomes the immutable cornerstone of our nation.
