And When You Speak, Be Just - Shaikh Rabī'

وَإِذَا قُلۡتُمۡ فَٱعۡدِلُوا۟

"And when you speak, be just."

[Al-An'ām: 152]

Shaikh Rabī, may Allāh have mercy upon him, said:

Pay Attention! The previous verse was about action, and this one is about speech. Whether informing, testifying, or engaging in criticism and commendation, one must speak with justice. This is a divine command for justice, upon which the heavens and the earth are established. Allah says:

يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّ مِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَنَ لِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا

"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both."

[Al-Nisa: 135]

Justice is required in every situation: with the near and the distant, in speech and in every circumstance, with both friend and foe, Muslim and non-Muslim. Justice is obligatory at all times, for everyone, and in every situation. Compassion for a relative or bias toward them must not lead one to deviate from justice, nor should intense enmity cause one to go beyond the bounds of justice. If you oppress a disbeliever, thinking it permissible due to their crimes, you are accountable, for Allah is the Just. He does not accept oppression against anyone, regardless of their status. One must bear witness against a relative, even if it is one's father, and bear witness for an enemy if he has a right. If you know the enemy is owed something and he asks for your testimony, you must provide it with justice, even if it is against your own father.

Oppression of people concerning their wealth and honour is a matter that is never overlooked. There is a sin that is never forgiven, which is shirk, and a sin that is never left unaccounted for, which is the oppression of people against one another. Even if the believers successfully cross the Sirat (the bridge over Hell), they will be halted at a bridge between Paradise and Hell so that justice may be served among them. Allah does not overlook this. A person may come on the Day of Judgment with good deeds as great as mountains, yet he will be bankrupt, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called him the bankrupt one.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Do you know who the bankrupt person is?" They said, "A bankrupt person among us is one who has neither dirham nor goods." The Prophet said, "The bankrupt person from my nation is the one who comes on the Day of Judgment with prayers, fasting, and zakah, but he had insulted this person, slandered that person, unlawfully consumed the wealth of this person, shed the blood of that person, and struck this person. So, this person will be given from his good deeds, and that person will be given from his good deeds. If his good deeds are exhausted before justice is served, then their sins will be taken and cast upon him, and he will be thrown into the Fire."

This is the true bankrupt person.

-Explanation of Ten Advices From Sūrah Al-An'ām of Shaikh Rabī'

Translated by Abu Eesa Akmal