Allah Commands Justice and Excellence and Giving to Relatives
tadabbur
Level: basic
akhlaq
td-209
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَٱلۡإِحۡسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ
— النحل 90
Verse: "Indeed Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives — and forbids indecency, wrongdoing, and transgression." (16:90)
Ibn Masud said: This is the most comprehensive verse in the Quran for good and evil. Read in Friday sermons across the world every week.
Graduated good — triple: Justice (minimum obligation) → excellence (beyond obligation) → giving to relatives (strengthening kinship).
Graduated evil — triple: Indecency (extreme shameful acts) → wrongdoing (what sound nature rejects) → transgression (injustice and aggression).
Source: Ibn Kathir (4/592); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (10/167)
Question: What is the order between justice and excellence, and which is a higher degree?
Answer: Justice is lower (giving what is due without more). Excellence is higher (giving more and taking less). Excellence surpasses and exceeds justice.