Allah Most High commanded both justice and excellence. Justice is the cause of salvation only, and it is likened to capital in trade. Excellence, on the other hand, is the cause of success and felicity, and it is likened to profit in trade. Anyone who is satisfied with only his capital when trading in worldly affairs cannot be considered a sane person. The same applies to all dealings pertaining to the Hereafter. The religious person should not confine himself to justice and avoiding injustice, while shunning the doors of excellence. Allah said: …And do good as Allah has done good to you… (Qur’ān 28:77), Indeed, Allah orders justice and excellence… (Qur’ān 16:90), and He also said: …Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good (Qur’ān 7:56). And we mean by excellence, doing that which benefits the person one is dealing with, without this being obligatory on him, but rather out of courtesy, for that which is obligatory is addressed under the rubric of justice and abandoning injustice, and this has already been mentioned.

Justice in Islam is the cornerstone of every institution, including the family, the community and the state. It is a key factor in being accepted by Allah, Who commanded humanity to be just and to do charitable and beautiful good deeds (iḥsān). Prophets and messengers were sent to humanity, along with their revealed scriptures, so that justice prevails: We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice… (Qur’ān 57:25)

Justice, as Imām al-Ghazālī explains, is the capital that we have, and excellence is the profit. It is imperative to be just, to end existing injustice and to prevent it from taking place. Justice is dispensed on equal terms to Muslims and non-Muslims, to men and women, to friends and foes. One should guard against favouritism, which runs against justice. On the other hand, the Qur’ān warns Muslims against bias in case one suffers at the hands of a specific group: O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do. (Qur’ān 5:8)

But to soar high, one needs to do that which one does not have to do. There is a need here to explain iḥsān, which is usually rendered in English as ‘excellence’ but for which there is no English equivalent. In the ḥadīth of the archangel Gabriel, he asks the Prophet

several questions, beginning with Islām (the five pillars), ʿmān (the articles of faith), and then about Iḥsān, before moving on to issues pertaining to the End of Times. In explaining Iḥsān, the Prophet

, said: ‘It is to worship Allah as though you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He nevertheless sees you.’ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, no.50)

The etymology of Iḥsān, from the root (ḥ-s-n), refers to beautiful action done to a degree of excellence. All voluntary charitable work that goes beyond justice falls within Iḥsān.

10. Al-Ghazālī, Iḥyā’ ʿUlūm al-Dīn, edited by Sulaymān Dunyā, Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifah, vol. 2, p. 79.

10 Striving Beyond Justice

10. Al-Ghazālī, Iḥyā’ ʿUlūm al-Dīn, edited by Sulaymān Dunyā, Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifah, vol. 2, p. 79.