ʿadl and qisṭ: paired terms of justice
بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوٓا۟
bi-l-ʿadl wa-aqsiṭū — with justice, and be strictly just
The Qur'an repeatedly uses ʿadl and qisṭ in the same verse, distributing them across distinct roles: in 4:135, 5:8 and 6:152 qisṭ names the standard one stands by and ʿadl the act of dealing justly, while 2:282 and 49:9 reverse the roles and 4:3 pairs two verbs; the two are set side by side rather than used as synonyms.
Six verses contain both roots, and in each the two words do different work rather than merely repeating one another. In (2:282) the writer is told to write bi-l-ʿadl, "with equity", and the guardian to dictate bi-l-ʿadl, while writing down the debt itself is called aqsaṭ, "more just", before Allah — the act of recording is measured against qisṭ as the higher standard. In (4:3) the pair appears in a parallel construction: fear of not acting with equity (tuqsiṭū) toward orphans leads to one ruling, and fear of not being just (taʿdilū) leads to a second, more restrictive one. In (4:135) believers are to be qawwāmīn bi-l-qisṭ, standing constantly for equity as witnesses, while the warning against following desire is aimed at taʿdilū, that they be just — qisṭ is the standing posture, ʿadl the outcome to protect. (5:8) mirrors this: witnesses bi-l-qisṭ, then the command iʿdilū, "act justly", as what is nearer to mindfulness. In (6:152) measures and balances are fulfilled bi-l-qisṭ, while speech is governed by fa-ʿdilū, "be just", even against close kin. (49:9) joins them directly: reconciliation between the two groups is done bi-l-ʿadl, and then aqsiṭū is added as a further command, with Allah loving the muqsiṭīn. In 4:135, 5:8 and 6:152 qisṭ is the standing norm and ʿadl the concrete act; 2:282 and 49:9 reverse the roles, and 4:3 pairs two verbs — the Qur'an keeps both roots in play within single contexts.
Where it occurs
- 2:282 The writer is told to write bi-l-ʿadl and the guardian to dictate bi-l-ʿadl, and recording the debt is called aqsaṭ, more just, in Allah's sight.
- 4:3 Fear of not acting with equity (tuqsiṭū) toward orphans and fear of not being just (taʿdilū) toward wives are set in a parallel pair of conditions.
- 4:135 Believers are commanded to stand constantly for equity (bi-l-qisṭ) as witnesses, and warned not to follow desire so that they be just (taʿdilū).
- 5:8 Witnesses are to be with equity (bi-l-qisṭ), and hatred of a people must not prevent them from acting justly (taʿdilū); iʿdilū is nearer to mindfulness.
- 6:152 Measure and balance are fulfilled bi-l-qisṭ, and speech is commanded to be just (fa-ʿdilū) even toward close kin.
- 49:9 Reconciliation between the two fighting groups is done bi-l-ʿadl, and aqsiṭū follows as an added command, with Allah loving the muqsiṭīn.
All Qur'anic expressions