۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ 90
Translations
Indeed, Allāh orders justice and good conduct and giving [help] to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
Transliteration
Inna Allaha ya'muru bil-'adli wa-al-ihsan wa-ita' dhi al-qurba wa-yanha 'an al-fahsha' wa-al-munkari wa-al-baghi ya'izukum la'allakum tatadhakkarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is considered a comprehensive summary of Islamic ethics and morality, commanding justice ('adl), excellence (ihsan), and kindness to relatives while forbidding immorality, wrongdoing, and transgression. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir highlight that this single verse encompasses the principles underlying all Islamic law and moral teaching, serving as a foundational principle for both individual conduct and social justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah An-Nahl and reflects the broader Quranic emphasis on ethical conduct during the early Islamic community's formation. It serves as a comprehensive moral imperative addressing all believers without specific historical occasion, making it universally applicable guidance that forms the spiritual and ethical foundation of Islamic teaching.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895). Also related is: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Muslim 45), reflecting the ihsan and 'adl principles.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah calls believers to build societies rooted in justice and compassion while rejecting exploitation and vice; for modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder that faith is measured not merely by ritual worship but by how fairly and excellently we treat others and uphold the rights of our communities and families.