Al-'Adl (The Just) — Meaning, Qur'an & Reflection | 99 Names of Allah

A Name to Know Allah By

Al-Adl means the Utterly Just — Justice itself, in the most absolute and perfect sense. The root *'-d-l* means justice, fairness, equilibrium, and placing each thing in its rightful place. To call Allah Al-Adl is to affirm that He is perfectly just in every decree, every command, and every act; that He never oppresses, never favours unfairly, and never lets a right go unfulfilled. His justice is not measured against any external standard — He *is* the standard of justice, and all true fairness derives from Him.

Justice Without the Weight of an Atom

The Qur'an makes the perfection of Allah's justice strikingly concrete: *"Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, even as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward"* (Qur'an 4:40). Not the smallest right is overlooked, and not the slightest wrong is committed by Him. And the scales of the Day of Judgement reflect this: *"And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is even the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth"* (Qur'an 21:47).

Justice He Commands and Forbids Violating

Because Allah is Al-Adl, He commands justice and forbids its opposite. *"Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct..."* (Qur'an 16:90) — a verse so comprehensive it is recited in every Friday sermon. And in a sacred tradition (*hadith qudsi*), Allah declares: *"O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and made it forbidden among you, so do not wrong one another"* (Sahih Muslim 2577). Allah's own freedom from injustice is the foundation for His prohibition of injustice among people.

What This Name Plants in the Heart

Al-Adl offers the wronged a guarantee no court can match: ultimate, perfect justice is certain. No oppressor escapes, no victim is forgotten, no good deed is lost, and no wrong is misjudged. This frees the believer from despair and from the temptation to seek unjust revenge. At the same time, the name imposes a duty: the servant of Al-Adl must *embody* justice — in their dealings, testimony, judgements, and even their words — being fair to family, stranger, friend, and foe alike, *"even if it be against yourselves"* (Qur'an 4:135).

Living by Al-Adl

- Be just, always. Uphold fairness in your words, transactions, and judgements, even when it is hard or costs you.
- Entrust your grievances to Him. Rest assured that Al-Adl will deliver the justice that this world sometimes denies.
- Fear committing injustice. Since Allah forbade oppression upon Himself and upon us, guard against wronging anyone.

A Supplication

*"O Allah, Al-Adl, who never wrongs anyone by an atom's weight, deal with me by Your mercy rather than only Your justice, make me just in all my dealings, and grant the oppressed the justice they were denied."*