There are two Arabic words that refer to justice, and these are Qist (قسط) and Adl (عدل). From the word Qist comes Allah’s name Al-Muqsit (المقسط) and from the word Adl comes Allah’s name Al-Adl (العدل). Both names Al-Muqsit (المقسط) and Al-Adl refer to the authority of ruling with justice.   But since Al-Muqsit (المقسط) goes far beyond ruling with justice to include having the authority and the power to implement the just ruling, many scholars consider Al-Muqsit (المقسط) as one of Allah’s names, but Al-Adl (العدل) is not one of the names because it is already covered under the name Al-Muqsit (المقسط).

The translators translate Adl as justice and fairness, and they translate Qist as equity or as maintenance of justice.  However, most translators translate Qist as equity and thus translate Allah’s name Al-Muqsit (المقسط) as ‘The Equitable One”.

The command for both Adl and Qist came in in the following Ayat in Surat Al-Hujurat:

وَإِن طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِن بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ فَإِن فَاءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ (سورة الحجرات).

“If two parties among the Believers fight each other, seek reconciliation between them.  If one of them commits aggression against the other, fight the transgressor until it complies with the command of Allah. If it complies, make reconciliation between them with justice, and be equitable: for Allah loves those who are equitable.” (Al-Hujerat 49:9)

The use of Adl and Qist in the same Ayat emphasizes that Qist requires enforcement to apply the just rules.

Allah commands mankind to stand for Qist and this requires them to possess power which is implied by emphasizing the importance of iron which is the essential metal element in all industries.  Allah says:

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ ٢٥

“We have indeed sent Our Messengers with clear proofs and sent down with them the book and the Balance (justice), so that mankind may keep up Qist (equity). And We send down iron in which there is mighty power as well as many benefits for mankind.” (Al-Hadid 57:25)

Inference to Allah’s name Al-Muqsit is derived from the actions of Allah that refers to His ruling with Qist (قسط) and this came in five Ayat:

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ قَآٮِٕمَۢا بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ

“Allah testifies that there is no god but He, and (so do) the angels and those who have knowledge, standing for Qist “justice”.” (Al-Imran 3:18)

 وَنَضَعُ ٱلۡمَوَٲزِينَ ٱلۡقِسۡطَ لِيَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ فَلَا تُظۡلَمُ نَفۡسٌ۬ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۖ وَإِن ڪَانَ مِثۡقَالَ حَبَّةٍ۬ مِّنۡ خَرۡدَلٍ أَتَيۡنَا بِہَا‌ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَـٰسِبِينَ (٤٧)الأنبياء(.

“And We set the Qist “just” scales for the Day of Judgment so that no soul is wronged in the least. Even if it (a deed) is a measure of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And We are enough to take an account.” (Al-Anbiya 21:47)

 إِنَّهُ ۥ يَبۡدَؤُاْ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۥ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ  [يونس: 4]

“Surely, He begins the creation, and repeats it, so that He may reward with Qist “justice” those who believe and do righteous deeds.” (Yunus 10:4)

 وَلِڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولٌ۬‌ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمۡ قُضِىَ بَيۡنَهُم بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ [يونس: 47]

“For every people (there is a messenger: when their messenger comes, they will be judged (in the hereafter) with Qist “justice” and they will not be wronged”. (Yunus 10:47)

وَلَوۡ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ نَفۡسٍ۬ ظَلَمَتۡ مَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَٱفۡتَدَتۡ بِهِۦ‌ۗ وَأَسَرُّواْ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ‌ۖ وَقُضِىَ بَيۡنَهُم بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ [يونس: 54]

“If anyone who committed injustice possesses all that on the earth, he would want to ransom himself with it.  They will conceal their regrets when they see the punishment: but the judgment between them will be with Qist “justice”, and they will not be wronged.” (Yunus 10:54)

Allah’s name Al-Muqsit (المقسط) infers five authorities:

1. Instituting the rules of justice.
2. Demanding Justice from those who are designated as judges.
3. Ruling with Justice.
4. Ensuring equity for both the wronged and the wrongdoer by considering the conditions and circumstances for both.
5. Enforcing the just judgements.

Allah’s name Al-Muqsit is manifested in Allah’s actions in many ways including:

1. All the rules that Allah instructed people to follow are intended to ensure universal justice.
2. A promise of great rewards to those who ensure that justice prevails on earth.
3. A grave warning to those who commit injustice on earth.
4. He created people with the innate nature to love justice and hate injustice.
5. The greatest injustice people can commit is kufr and even here Allah does not punish those people unless they receive from Him a clear message.
6. The declaration of Allah’s love to all those who always judge with Qist and Allah’s love means that He will place for them the love in the heart of all who are in heavens and earth.

Allah commands that people must judge with Qist and this obligation came in ten Ayat such as:

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ (سورة النساء(

“O you who believe, stand firm, all the time for Qist “justice” bearing true witness for the sake of Allah.” (Al-Nisa 4:135)

 “وأقيموا الوزن بالقسط ولا تخسروا الميزان” (الآية 9 سورة الرحمن)،

“So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.” (Al-Rahman 55:9)

لَّا يَنۡهَٮٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمۡ يُخۡرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمۡ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمۡ وَتُقۡسِطُوٓاْ إِلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ) الممتحنة (

“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who did not fight against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them. Indeed, Allah loves those who are just” (Al-Mumtahina 60:8)

Establishing Qist is not limited to a legal setting, it includes treatment within a family and in business, Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عبدالله بن عمرو   قال رسول الله صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم” إن المقسطين عند الله ِعلى منابر من نور, عن يمينِ الرحمن عزَّ وجل , وكلتا يديه يمين , الذين يعدلون في حكمِهم وأهليهم , وما ولوا “. )  صحيح مسلم)

“The equitable people (Al-Muqsiteen) will be with Allah on pulpits of light.  They are those who are just in their judgment with their families and those of whom they oversee”. (Related by Muslim)

While people are commanded to judge with Qist but judgment by man can never reach the level of Qist of Allah for possible two reason:

1/ The proper justice of people is to be blind, meaning that it is unbiased, and the same law applies to everyone. But with Allah, many things that are unique to every individual  such as socioeconomic will be considered in His rulings to ensure that the punishment commensurate with the exact wrong the person committed.

2/ In human justice, when a crime is committed, punishment must be imposed.  But how does a blind justice account for repentance to satisfy the person against whom the crime is committed. Only Allah can link the satisfaction of the one wronged to the satisfaction of the wrongdoer who repented or committed his wrong under special circumstances that only Allah can properly assess its relevance.   Linking the satisfaction of the one wronged to the satisfaction of the one who committed the wrong is achieved by Allah compensating the one being wronged until he forgives the one who wronged him.  Khalifa Omar narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

  قال رسول الله صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم: رجُلانِ من أمَّتي جَثَيا بين يدي ربِّ العزَّة يوم القيامة فقال أحدهما : يا ربيّ خذ مظلمتي من هذا – يوم القيامة –  فقال الله عزَّ وجلَّ للظالم : رُدَّ على أخيك مظلمته . فقال : يا ربِّ لم يبقَ من حسناتي شيء . فقال عزَّ وجلَّ للمظلوم : كيف تصنع بأخيك ولم يبقَ من حسناته شيء ؟ قال: يا ربِّي ليحمل عني من أوزاري .. فالمظلوم أخذ كلَّ حسنات الظالم ، ولم تفِ بحقِّه ، فقال المظلوم : ليحمل عني أوزاري .. قال : ففاضت عينا رسول الله صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم بالبكاء وقال: إنَّ ذلك ليومٍ عظيم ، يوم يحتاج الناس أن يُحمل عنهم من أوزارهم قال عليه الصلاة والسلام : فيقول الله عزَّ وجلَّ للمتظلِّم ارفع بصرك فانظر في الجِنان . فقال يا ربِّي أرى مدائن من فضَّة وقصوراً من ذهبٍ مكلّلَةً باللؤلؤ لأيِّ نبيٍ هذا القصر !؟ أو لأيِّ صدِّيقٍ هذا القصر!!؟ أو لأيِّ شهيدٍ هذا !!!؟ قال الله عزَّ وجلَّ : لمن دفع الثمن . فقال المظلوم : يا ربّ ومن يملك ذلك الثمن !؟ فقال : تملكه أنت . قال: بماذا يا ربِّي !!؟ قال : بعفوك عن أخيك . إذا عفوت عنه دفعت ثمن هذا القصر . فقال : يا ربِّ لقد عفوت عنه . يقول الله عزَّ وجلَّ : خذ بيد أخيك فأدخله الجنَّة .. ثم قال عليه الصلاة والسلام : اتَّقوا الله وأصلحوا ذات بينكم ، فإنَّ الله يعدل بين المؤمنين يوم القيامة .

‘Two men from my community fell on their knees before the Lord of Power (ربِّ العزَّة) on the Day of Judgment, and one of them said: “O Lord, let this one make restitution to me for the way he has wronged me.”  Allah said: “Make restitution to your brother for the wrong you did to him.” The man said: “O Lord, I have no good deeds left.”

Allah said to the one who was wronged: “How will you manage with your brother since he has no good deeds left?” The man said: “O Lord, let him relieve me of some of my burden of sin.”

Then the prophet (PBUH) said: ‘What a mighty day that will be, when people will need others to relieve them of their burdens (إنَّ ذلك ليومٍ عظيم ، يوم يحتاج الناس أن يُحمل عنهم من أوزارهم).

The Prophet (PBUH) continued and said: ‘So Allah, great and glorious الله عزَّ وجلَّ, said to the one who had been wronged: “Lift your eyes and look at Paradise.

The man said: I see cities of silver and palaces of gold decorated with pearls. To whom do they belong, my Lord?”  Allah said: they belong to whoever pays the price.

The man would say: But who can come with that price?  Allah said: You have the price?  The man said: But with what, O Lord.  Allah said: By forgiving your brother, if you forgive him, you would have paid the price.   The man said: O Lord, I have already forgiven him.

Allah said: Take your brother’s hand and lead him to Paradise.

The Prophet (PBUH) them said: Fear Allah and make peace among yourselves, for Allah treats His servants equitably” (اتَّقوا الله وأصلحوا ذات بينكم ، فإنَّ الله يعدل بين المؤمنين يوم القيامة).

It is important to know that while the word Al-Muqsit (المقسط) and its plural is Al-Muqsiteen (المقسطين), refer to those who are just and equitable, the word Al-Qasit (القاسط) and its plural is Al-Qasetoon (الْقَاسِطُونَ) refer to those who are unjust and transgressors. Al-Muqsit (المقسط) is derived from the verb Aqsat (أقسط) that means to establish justice, but Al-Qasit (القاسط) is derived from the verb Qasat (قسط) “that means to act unjustly.

The negative name Al-Qasetoon (الْقَاسِطُونَ) is used in the following Ayat in Surat Al-Jinn:

وَأَنَّا مِنَّا ٱلۡمُسۡلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا ٱلۡقَـٰسِطُونَ‌ۖ فَمَنۡ أَسۡلَمَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ تَحَرَّوۡاْ رَشَدً۬ا  وَأَمَّا ٱلۡقَـٰسِطُونَ فَكَانُواْ لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَبً۬ا

And there are among us (the Jinn) some who are Muslims and there are among us some who are Al-Qasetoon (ٱلۡقَـٰسِطُونَ‌) “the unjust”. As to those who have submitted to Allah, they have taken the right path.  And as for Al-Qasetoon (ٱلۡقَـٰسِطُونَ) “the unjust”, they shall be the firewood for hell.  [Al-Jinn 72:14-15]

Regarding the confusion from these two terms, even those who speak Arabic can fall into it.   A man was brought to the council of Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, the famous governor of Iraq because he was accused of criticizing Al-Hajjaj.

Al-Hajjaj asked the man, who am I? (من أنا ؟)  The man replied: (أنت قاسطٌ عادل) “You are Qasit Adel “   Al-Hajjaj ordered his guards to chop the head of the man.

The people sitting with Al-Hajjaj were shocked and said: why are you killing him, he just gave you a complement, he is saying you are equitable and just.

Al-Hajjaj said” You don’t understand what he said is (أنت ظالمٌ كافر) “you are unjust and disbeliever”.   They asked: How can this be (كيف؟).   He said: When he described me as (قاسط) he was referring to what Allah said: as for Al-Qasetoon (ٱلۡقَـٰسِطُونَ) “the unjust”, they shall be the firewood for hell (وَأَمَّا ٱلۡقَـٰسِطُونَ فَكَانُواْ لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَبً۬ا).    And when he described me as (عادل), he was referring to what Allah said: ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَ‌ۖ ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ يَعۡدِلُونَ ) الأنعام (

“Praise be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and made the darkness and the light. Yet those who disbelieve Ya’adiloon (يَعۡدِلُونَ) (hold others as equal to Allah).” (Al-An’am 6:1)

Elements to Adopt in our Character.

1. Refrain from committing injustice against anyone because you will be held accountable. If you ever do, repent because only then Allah Al-Muqsit will compensate your victim on your behalf.
2. If you are in position of authority to create rules, ensure that they are fair and reasonable and apply to them with equity (Qist).
3. Strive to bring justice to all those who are oppressed and force the unjust to give restitution.
4. Do not always insist on taking revenge against anyone who commits injustice against you, focus on forgiveness and seek Allah’s restitution for your suffering in the day of judgment. This is particularly important with family members and friends.