Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:90

"Indeed, Allah orders justice..."

Justice is the obligatory, for Allah—Exalted is He—is just toward His servants; He has made what He imposed upon them fall within their capacity.

"And benevolence (al-iḥsān)" is the recommended (al-nadb). He linked the command for both together because the obligatory (farḍ) inevitably involves some negligence, which the recommended (nadb) compensates for.

Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to the man whom he taught the obligatory duties, and who replied: "By Allah, I will neither add to them nor subtract from them": "He has succeeded if he is truthful." He conditioned success upon truthfulness and safety from negligence.

The Prophet (ﷺ) also said: "Be upright, though you will not be able to encompass everything." Thus, one should not abandon the supererogatory acts (nawāfil) that mend the fracture of negligence.

"And immorality (al-faḥshāʾ)" is that which exceeds the limits of Allah.

"And the reprehensible (al-munkar)" is that which sound minds reject.

"And transgression (al-baghy)" is seeking to overreach through oppression.

When the cursing of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), was removed from the sermons, this verse was established in its place. By my life, that [cursing] was indeed an immorality, a reprehensible act, and a transgression. May Allah double the wrath, punishment, and disgrace upon the one who instituted it, in answer to the supplication of His Prophet: "And be an enemy to those who are his enemies." It was also the cause of the conversion of Uthman ibn Maẓʿūn.

"And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken a pledge, and do not break oaths after their confirmation while you have made Allah, over you, a witness. Indeed, Allah knows what you do. And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong, [breaking it] into fibers. You take your oaths as a deceit between you because one nation is more numerous than another. Allah only tests you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ."