Justice

Al-Ḥakam: the Judge A man had just arrived with his delegation; his people called him Abu l-Ḥakam. The Prophet ﷺ said to him: "It is Allah who is Al-Ḥakam, and to Him belongs judgement; why are you called Abu l-Ḥakam?" The man explained that he settled the disputes of his people and that both parties accepted his judgement. The Prophet ﷺ approved of what he did and gave him the kunya Abu Shurayḥ, after his eldest son (Abu Daawuud 4955). Allah judges by His law in this world and He will judge between people on the Last Day.

Al-'Adl: a name or an attribute? That Allah's justice ('adl) is perfect is agreed upon by all. The name "Al-'Adl" (the Just) appears in At-Tirmidhi's list (lesson 1). Scholars differ on whether it is established as a name by a sound text, or whether it is an attribute and a description of Allah drawn from the meaning of many verses [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis]. The name Al-Muqsiṭ (the One who establishes equity) is in the same situation [À VÉRIFIER]; the Qur'an says that Allah is "maintaining equity (bil-qisṭ)" (meaning of 3:18).

Allah's perfect justice • "Allah does not wrong anyone even by the weight of an atom; and if it is a good deed, He multiplies it" (meaning of 4:40, text below). • "Allah does not wrong people in the least, but it is people who wrong themselves" (meaning of 10:44). "Your Lord wrongs no one" (meaning of 18:49). • In a ḥadiith qudsi: "O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and I have made it forbidden between you; so do not wrong one another" (Muslim 2577).

Al-Ḥasiib, Al-Ḥaqq, Maalik yawm ad-diin • Al-Ḥasiib: the One who keeps account of everything, and the One who suffices. "Allah suffices as One who takes account" (meaning of 4:6). • "We shall set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection; no one will be wronged in the least. Even if it is the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth" (meaning of 21:47, text below). "Whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it" (meaning of 99:7-8). • Al-Ḥaqq (the Truth): "On that day they will know that Allah is the manifest Truth" (meaning of 24:25). Maalik yawm ad-diin (Master of the Day of Recompense), which one recites in every rak'a (1:4).

Injustice between people • "Injustice will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection" (Bukhari 2447, Muslim 2579). • "Rights will be returned to their owners on the Day of Resurrection, so much so that the hornless sheep will obtain redress from the horned sheep" (Muslim 2582). • "Do you know who the bankrupt is?": the one who comes with prayer, fasting and zakat, but who insulted one person, slandered another and took the money of a third; his good deeds are given to those he wronged (Muslim 2581). • The just will be with Allah on pulpits of light: "those who are just in their judgements, with their families and in what they are in charge of" (Muslim 1827).

Justice and mercy Allah's justice is not opposed to His mercy. His justice means that He wrongs no one; His mercy means that He multiplies good deeds (4:40), forgives much, and that His mercy prevails over His anger (lesson 4). The believer knows that he will never be wronged, and he hopes to receive far more than he deserves.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The world is full of injustice: innocent people suffer, guilty people get away with it, rights are stolen without anyone knowing. The names of justice answer this wound: nothing is forgotten, everything is counted by Al-Ḥasiib, and Al-Ḥakam will judge. This is not an invitation to passivity: the hadith of the pulpits of light invites us to be just right now, in our families and our responsibilities. But it is peace for the oppressed: his right will not be lost. The hadith of the bankrupt is a warning for pious people: praying and fasting are not enough if one crushes others with one's tongue or hands. People's rights are settled with good deeds, on the Day when everyone will need them. The question of Al-'Adl as a name again shows the precision of the scholars: all agree that Allah's justice is perfect; they only discuss what is proven as a "name".

Lessons to draw from it • Be just with your children, your spouse, your employees, and in what you say about others. • Return today the rights you owe, before the Day when you will pay with your good deeds. • When suffering an injustice, act through permitted means, then remember that Al-Ḥakam will judge. • Do not belittle a small good deed or a small fault: everything is weighed (99:7-8). • For the question of the names Al-'Adl and Al-Muqsiṭ, keep the agreement on the meaning and ask the imam for the details.

Key points to remember • Al-Ḥakam: "It is Allah who is Al-Ḥakam" (Abu Daawuud 4955). • "I have forbidden injustice for Myself" (Muslim 2577); He wrongs no one by an atom (4:40). • The scales of justice (21:47); the weight of an atom (99:7-8). • The bankrupt (Muslim 2581); the hornless sheep (Muslim 2582). • Al-'Adl: perfect justice by agreement; its status as a name is discussed.

The main message Allah wrongs no one and He will judge with perfect justice: be just from today, return what is owed, and hope for His mercy, which gives more than is deserved.

The text: Surah Al-Anbiyaa' (21), verse 47 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 21:47]

The text: Surah An-Nisaa' (4), verse 40 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 4:40]

Meaning: 21:47: "We shall set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection; no soul will be wronged in the least. Even if it is the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And We suffice as reckoners." 4:40: "Allah does not wrong anyone even by the weight of an atom. And if it is a good deed, He multiplies it, and He gives from Himself an immense reward."

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.