Islam, lays extreme emphasis on fairness and ensuring justice, even if it is against one's kith or kin or friends. The emphasis on justice is both on individuals as witnesses and the judges as they sit on seat of authority and any wrong judgement or taking side of personal relationship or the powerful and wealthy can be devastating for those who may be wronged twice, one by false witness and then by a wrong judgement
Therefore, Allah commands in 152nd verse of Surah Al-An‘am (6:152) to ensure justice as is expected of Him:
"...وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ..."
"...And when you speak, be just, even if it concerns a near relative..."
Explanation of the Verse
This command is part of a longer passage (verses 6:151–153) in which Allah lists fundamental moral teachings — similar to the Ten Commandments — which form the foundation of Islamic ethics.
The part in focus here is a direct instruction to: Speak with fairness and justice, regardless of personal relationships.
Meaning:
- "When you speak..." – whether in testimony, advice, judgment, or everyday interaction.
- "Be just..." – adhere to truth, fairness, and impartiality.
- "Even if it concerns a near relative..." – don’t let family bias cause you to twist the truth, hide facts, or take sides unfairly.
Ethical and Legal Importance in Islam
- Justice is a core value in Islam:
- Allah commands justice even against oneself, parents, or kin.
- At another place in Qur'an, Surah An-Nisa, 4:135, the emphasis of justice is given as : "O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, or your kin..."
- The Prophet ﷺ is quoted to have said: “Shall I not inform you of the best of all deeds, the purest in the sight of your Lord, and the one that raises your ranks the most?... It is establishing justice.” (Tirmidhi)
- In legal matters:
- This verse is the basis for the objectivity of testimony in Islamic courts.
- A Muslim must speak truthfully in testimony, even if it implicates their family, tribe, or even themselves.
- There is no favoritism in truth — whether the person is rich or poor, friend or foe.
Relevance to Today
- In Personal Life:
- Don’t lie or hide truth to protect a friend or relative.
- Don’t exaggerate or slander someone else to defend your own.
- Be honest in disputes, even when it feels uncomfortable.
- In Society:
- Justice must be impartial, especially in law, politics, media, and business.
- Nepotism, favoritism, and tribal or ethnic bias — common in many societies — are condemned by this verse.
- A just society depends on truthful speech and moral courage, even when it costs us socially or emotionally.
In Testimony and Judgment:
- Islam obliges Muslims to speak the truth without distortion, even when testifying against a loved one or for someone disliked.
- This applies in courts, investigations, conflict resolution, and even public discourse.
Summary of the Message
- Speak truthfully: Always tell the truth, especially in important matters
- Be fair in judgment: Don’t let personal ties distort your moral compass
- Avoid bias and favoritism: Treat all people equally before the law and truth
- Uphold justice for Allah’s sake: Justice is not just a social duty, it’s a spiritual command
Final Thought:
This verse is a timeless moral compass. In a world filled with tribalism, corruption, and bias, Allah reminds us that real justice requires moral integrity, even when it hurts. Upholding justice, even against our own kin, is one of the highest forms of taqwa (God-consciousness).
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may refer to our exclusive reference page: Al-Qurʾān: Selected Verses from: Surah 6 Al-An'am (The Cattle) for more selected verses from this surah.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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