What does the Quran say about justice?

Does the Qur’an require justice against your own interest?

Explicitly. Qur’an 4:135 instructs believers to be persistently standing firm in justice as witnesses for God, even if it is against themselves, their parents or their relatives — and adds that whether one is rich or poor, God is more worthy of both. It closes by warning against following personal inclination so as to avoid being just. The verse anticipates the two ordinary reasons people distort testimony — family loyalty and financial interest — and rules out both by name.

Does it require justice toward enemies?

It does, and it is one of the more demanding instructions in the book. Qur’an 5:8 tells believers to be persistently standing firm for God as witnesses in justice, and continues: do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. The verse concedes the hatred rather than pretending it away, and then rules out acting on it. Qur’an 4:105 similarly instructs judging by what God has shown, and not being an advocate for the deceitful.

What does the Qur’an say justice is for?

Qur’an 57:25 gives it as a purpose of revelation itself: messengers were sent with clear proofs, and with them the Scripture and the balance, so that people might uphold justice. Qur’an 16:90 states it as a standing command — God orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, wrongdoing and oppression. Qur’an 4:58 instructs that when you judge between people, judge with justice, calling it an excellent instruction.

Does the Qur’an address commercial fairness?

Directly and in detail. Qur’an 83:1-3 pronounces woe on those who give short measure — who take in full when they receive, and give less when they measure or weigh for others. Qur’an 55:9 instructs establishing weight in justice and not making the balance deficient. Qur’an 26:181-183 instructs giving full measure, weighing with an even balance, and not depriving people of what is theirs. The recurrence of scales and measures throughout is not incidental: the same word for balance appears both in commerce and in the description of the Day of Judgement Qur’an 21:47.

What does the Qur’an say about oppression?

It treats it as among the gravest wrongs and forbids it alongside immorality in Qur’an 16:90. Qur’an 4:75 asks why believers would not fight for the oppressed among men, women and children who ask to be brought out of a town whose people are oppressors. Qur’an 42:42 states that blame lies only on those who wrong people and commit oppression in the land. The Qur’an also directs the standard inward: Qur’an 4:135 makes the first place to look for injustice one’s own testimony.

Common questions

What is the main verse about justice in the Qur’an?

Qur’an 4:135 — stand firmly for justice as witnesses for God, even against yourselves, your parents and your relatives. Qur’an 5:8 is its counterpart, requiring justice toward people you dislike.

Does the Qur’an require fairness toward non-Muslims?

Qur’an 5:8 forbids letting hatred of a people lead you away from justice, and Qur’an 60:8 states that God does not forbid dealing kindly and justly with those who have not fought you over religion.

What does the Qur’an say about cheating in business?

Qur’an 83:1-3 pronounces woe on those who take full measure for themselves and give less to others. Qur’an 55:9 instructs establishing weight in justice and not making the balance deficient.

The Surahs this page draws on

Every verse quoted above comes from one of these chapters. Each is set out in full — why it was revealed, and what it teaches.

• 4. An-Nisa — The Women
• 5. Al-Maidah — The Table Spread
• 16. An-Nahl — The Bee
• 21. Al-Anbiya — The Prophets
• 26. Ash-Shuara — The Poets
• 42. Ash-Shura — The Consultation
• 55. Ar-Rahman — The Beneficent
• 57. Al-Hadid — The Iron
• 60. Al-Mumtahanah — She That Is to Be Examined
• 83. Al-Mutaffifin — The Defrauding