(90) “Indeed, Allah commands justice, benevolence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids obscenity, wrongdoing, and transgression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.”
The justice that Allah commands encompasses justice regarding His rights and the rights of His servants. Justice in these matters means rendering every right fully and completely: the servant must fulfill the financial and physical duties Allah has imposed upon him, as well as those combining both, whether they concern Allah’s rights or the rights of His servants. He must deal with people in perfect justice, and everyone vested with authority must fulfill his obligations toward those under his authority. This applies equally to the supreme leadership, the judiciary, the deputies of the caliph, and the deputies of the judge.
Justice is what Allah has prescribed for them in His Book and through the words of His Messenger, and what He has commanded them to follow. Justice in dealings includes treating people fairly in contracts of sale and purchase and in all other reciprocal transactions, by rendering everything you owe in full. You must neither deprive them of any right, cheat or deceive them, nor wrong them. Justice is obligatory, while benevolence is a recommended virtue. This includes benefiting people through one’s wealth, physical effort, knowledge, and every other form of benefit. It even includes showing kindness to animals, whether they are lawful for consumption or otherwise.
Allah specifically mentions giving to relatives—even though it is included in the general command—to emphasize their rights, the particular obligation to maintain ties with them and treat them well, and the importance of being diligent in doing so. This includes all relatives, near and distant, though the closer the relative, the greater his claim to kind treatment.
His statement, “and He forbids obscenity,” refers to every grave sin that revealed laws and sound natural dispositions deem heinous, such as associating partners with Allah, killing without right, fornication, theft, conceit, arrogance, contempt for others, and other obscenities.
“Wrongdoing” includes every sin and act of disobedience pertaining to the rights of Allah, while “transgression” includes every act of aggression against people’s lives, property, and honor.
Thus, this verse encompasses every command and prohibition, leaving nothing outside its scope. It is a governing principle to which all particular matters are referred. Every matter involving justice, benevolence, or giving to relatives is among the things Allah has commanded. Every matter involving obscenity, wrongdoing, or transgression is among the things He has forbidden. Through this verse, the excellence of what Allah has commanded and the ugliness of what He has forbidden become known. By it, people’s statements are assessed, and every circumstance is referred back to it. Blessed, then, is He who has placed in His words guidance, healing, light, and the criterion by which all things are distinguished.
Hence He says, “He admonishes you” through it—that is, through what He has explained to you in His Book, commanding you to do what will bring you the utmost well-being and forbidding you from what will cause you harm.
“So that you may take heed” of what He admonishes you with, understand it, and comprehend it. For when you remember and comprehend it, you will act according to its requirements and attain a happiness untouched by misery.