'Adl - Justice
The commitment to fairness and giving each their due right, even against one's own interests.
'Adl (العدل) is justice—giving everyone their due right. The Quran commands: 'Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.' Justice must be maintained even toward enemies or when it disadvantages oneself or loved ones. The Prophet (PBUH) said that if his own daughter Fatimah stole, he would apply the law. 'Adl includes fairness in treatment, judgment, and distribution. Islamic governance is built on 'adl—rulers are judged by their justice. Umar ibn al-Khattab's justice became legendary, holding himself to account before others. Without 'adl, society collapses into oppression.
O you who believe, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives.
Umar ibn al-Khattab said: 'Learn the knowledge of your religion and be just among yourselves, for justice is the foundation of civilized society.'
Quran
Written about in
- What Islam says about justice
The command is to stand firm in justice even when the verdict goes against yourself, your parents or your relatives. Kinship is named directly, because it is the loyalty most likely to bend a judgement.