What Is Fairness (Al-Insaf) and Its Benefits?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

What is the meaning of fairness, and what are its benefits?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

Fairness (Al-Insaf)

Fairness means being just in dealings, not taking more benefits from others than one gives, and not causing more harm than one receives. Fairness in service means providing what is due in exchange for the benefit received.

Manawi said: “Fairness and justice are twins.” [Raghib, al-Mufradat, Manawi, al-Tawqif]

The Quran clarifies the concept of fairness in many verses; Allah (Most High) says:

“O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate (from justice). If you distort the testimony or refuse to give it, then (know that) Allah is certainly All-Aware of what you do.” [Quran, 4:135]

Allah (Most High) also says:

“O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Quran, 5:8]

The Sunna also emphasizes the meaning of fairness and encourages it. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“None of you (truly) believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Bukhari]

Ma‘rur reported: “I met Abu Dharr in Rabadha, and he was wearing a cloak, and his servant was also wearing a cloak. I asked him about that, and he said: ‘I insulted a man and criticized him for his mother, and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to me:

O Abu Dharr, did you insult him for his mother? You are a man in whom there is still ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your hand. Whoever has his brother under his hand should feed him from what he eats and clothe him from what he wears, and do not burden them with what overwhelms them. If you burden them, then help them.’” [Bukhari]

Types of Fairness

• Self-Fairness;
• Fairness to the Creator (Most High);
• Fairness to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace);
• Fairness to others.

1. Self-Fairness

One cannot be fair to others without being fair to oneself. A person must not claim for themselves what is not theirs, nor defile themselves with sins, nor belittle themselves through disobedience to Allah (Most High). Instead, they should nurture, honor, and elevate themselves through obedience to Allah and monotheism.

Being fair to oneself involves recognizing one’s Creator and His rights, understanding one’s purpose, not competing with the Creator for ownership and rights, and not prioritizing personal desires, such as temptations, over the will of the Creator. [Ibn Qayyim, al-Fawa’id, Zad al-Ma‘ad; Nadrat al-Na‘im fi Makarim Akhlaq al-Rasul al-Karim]

2. Fairness to the Creator (Most High)

It is inconceivable to be fair to creation without first being fair to the Creator (Most High).

Ibn Qayyim said, “Blessed is the one who is fair to his Lord by acknowledging his ignorance in his knowledge, the flaws in his deeds, the defects in himself, the negligence of his duties, and the injustice in his dealings. If Allah punishes him for his sins, he sees His justice; if He does not, he sees His grace…

Fairness in dealing with Allah (Most High) means fulfilling the rights of servitude, not competing with His divine attributes, not attributing thanks to others for His blessings, not using His blessings in disobedience, not praising anyone else, and not worshipping anyone but Him.”

3. Fairness to the Prophet (Allah Bless Him and Give Him Peace)

This involves fulfilling his rights by believing in him, loving him above all creation, obeying him, respecting and honoring him, and prioritizing his commands and words over others. It is a grave injustice to neglect any of the Prophet’s rights (Allah bless him and give him peace), who is more deserving of believers than their own selves and is more compassionate and caring towards them than anyone else. None has received any goodness except through him.

4. Fairness to Others

This means treating others with justice, even if they differ in opinion, religion, or sect. It entails ensuring fairness and equity in dealings with everyone, irrespective of personal affiliations. [Nadrat al-Na‘im fi Makarim Akhlaq al-Rasul al-Karim]

Benefits of Fairness

The benefits of fairness are numerous, as the universe is based on a balance of fairness. Allah (Most High) says,

“As for the sky, He raised it (high), and set the balance (of justice) so that you do not defraud the scales. Weigh with justice, and do not give short measure.” [Quran, 55:7-9]

Some benefits of fairness include:

• Love and Assurance: Fairness fosters love, assures everyone of their safety, and protects their property and honor.
• Restoration of Rights: Fairness ensures that rights return to their owners, spreading the spirit of fairness, and making people feel secure about their present and future.
• Selflessness: A person’s self-fairness indicates detachment from selfishness.
• Eliminates Hatred: Fairness removes hatred and malice from hearts.
• Security for the Vulnerable: Fairness assures the poor, weak, and orphans about their future without fear of oppression or injustice.

Lastly, the double standards prevalent in our world today have bred resentment and bitterness towards oppressors and tyrants who do not understand the meaning of fairness. Consequently, oppressed individuals react strongly against such tyrants, sometimes crossing boundaries. This is because the oppressed feel profound sorrow when they are wronged, robbed, or violated, and then accused of terrorism when they seek to reclaim some of their rights.

Restoring balance to the world requires the spread of fairness among people, nations, and governments. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“A nation that does not give the weak their rights without trouble cannot be sanctified.” [Ibn Abi Shayba]

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.