Justice through Taqwa, and in particular, justice between children and wives

Question:
The questioner asks about the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): “And let not hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” He says (may Allah reward you): Do you speak about the connection between justice and Taqwa, and in particular, justice between children and wives?

Answer:
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. First, the verse is the saying of the Exalted: “O you who believe! Stand out for justice as witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. If one of them be rich or poor, Allah is better entitled to both. Follow not the lusts lest you swerve. And if you swerve or turn away, then no duty on you to be witnesses. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. And let not hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” And at the beginning of the Surah, it says: “And let not the hatred of a people who have stopped you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgression. And cooperate in righteousness and Taqwa, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.” Allah commanded justice and forbade injustice and oppression, even with enemies, even with disbelievers. Even if they have wronged us, we must treat them with justice and not oppress them or be unjust to them, even if we hate them. This contains evidence that it is obligatory for Muslims to hate disbelievers, but this hatred is in matters of 'Aqeedah (creed) because of their disbelief. This hatred for disbelief and creed does not lead Muslims to oppress them or be unjust in their rights. Justice is required with everyone, even with the enemy, even with the friend, even with the Muslim, and even with the disbeliever. This is the religion of Islam, the religion of justice and equity. “And let not hatred of a people prevent you from being just” means hating them. This contains evidence for the permissibility of hating disbelievers, and it contains evidence that this hatred leads to injustice and oppression. Rather, we are to be just with them even if we hate them. “And let not hatred of a people prevent you from being just.” Then He said: “Be just.” This is a command from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). “That is nearer to Taqwa.” Its connection to Taqwa is that it is a type of Taqwa. Taqwa is a general term for all virtues and all righteous deeds, and justice among people is included in it. “That is nearer to Taqwa.” So justice is one of the types of Taqwa, and it is nearer to Taqwa than other things like injustice. Injustice is incompatible with Taqwa, and oppression is incompatible with Taqwa. As for justice, it is part of Taqwa, it brings one closer to Taqwa, it calls to Taqwa, and it is a means to Taqwa. So this contains encouragement of justice and prohibition of oppression and injustice, even with enemies, even if we hate them for their religion, and even if they have wronged us. “Who have stopped you from al-Masjid al-Haram.” We do not transgress against them, but we treat them with justice. If this is the case with disbelievers, how much more so with Muslims? So justice and equity are required of the Muslim, individually and collectively, because this is the core of their religion. Justice is general in everything where justice is required. Justice between wives is in equalizing between them in their obligatory rights, such as food, clothing, meaning maintenance, clothing, housing, and spending the night with them. These four matters are obligatory for the husband to fulfill, and he must not be unjust to some of them in these benefits or to some of them. Likewise, regarding children, he must not give to some and deprive others. This is forbidden. The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Fear Allah and be just among your children.” When a Companion came to him and had given one of his children a slave girl, meaning a female slave, he said to him: “Did you give all your children like this?” He said: “No.” He said: “Then bear witness to this as a wrong, for I do not bear witness to injustice. Fear Allah and be just among your children.” And in another narration: “Would it please you that they should be equal to you in kindness?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “Then do not do it,” meaning do not single out some of them with a gift.