Akhlaq
Even against yourself
Even if it were his own daughter, he said, the law would apply.
3 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
In a tribal society, loyalty to your clan came before right and wrong. The Qur'an says: stand firm for justice as witnesses for God, even against yourselves, your parents or relatives, rich or poor. Justice does not bend to family loyalty.
Qur'an 4:135
۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرࣱا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِهِمَاۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُۥٓاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرࣱا ١٣٥
135 O you who believe, stand up for justice as witnesses for Allah, even against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah takes the best care of both. So do not let your desires cause you to swerve from justice. If you distort your testimony or refuse to give it, then Allah is indeed All-Aware of what you do.
A long ayah: scroll within the card.
Lesson
In the Qur'an, justice comes before family loyalty.
Part 2 of 3
Family is one test of fairness. Hatred is another. The Qur'an says: do not let hatred of a people lead you to be unjust. Be just: that is nearer to God-consciousness. Fairness is owed to people you dislike.
Qur'an 5:8
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْۚ ٱعۡدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ ٨
8 O you who believe, stand firm for Allah by bearing true testimony, and do not let the hatred of a people lead you away from justice. Be just; that is closer to righteousness. And fear Allah, for Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Lesson
In this teaching, fairness is owed even to people you dislike.
Part 3 of 3
A noblewoman was convicted of theft, and powerful people asked the Prophet to excuse her from punishment. He refused: earlier nations were ruined because they punished the weak and excused the strong.
Lesson
In this ruling, no one was above the law because of family or status.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Even if it were his own daughter, he said, the law would apply.