Do Not Let Hatred of a People Cause You Not to Be Just — Justice Even Toward Enemies
tadabbur
Level: intermediate
social
td-231
وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْ
— المائدة 8
Verse: "Do not let hatred of a people cause you not to be just. Be just — it is nearer to taqwa." (5:8) — "Shana'an" = intense hatred. The verse establishes: deep hatred does not justify injustice in judgment. Justice toward enemies is the hardest justice — hence the double emphasis. "Be just" — a direct command after the prohibition. The judge who hates the accused has no right to unjust ruling. Lesson: do not let political or ethnic positions cause injustice in judgment.
Source: Ibn Kathir (3/55); Al-Sadi
Question: Why does the Quran say justice toward enemies is "nearer to taqwa"?
Answer: Because justice toward those you love is easy — justice toward those you hate is the real test of taqwa.