Al-Adl (الْعَدْلُ) means The Just. It is name 29 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-ʿAdl is perfectly just. He never wrongs anyone by the weight of an atom, and He has made injustice forbidden for Himself and for us.
The root and its meaning
Al-Adl comes from the Arabic root ع د ل (ʿ-d-l), which carries the sense of justice and balance.
Where it is in the Quran
The exact name is not in the Quran. It is in the Tirmidhi list, and its meaning is in many verses.
Surah An-Nahl 16:90
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Innal laaha yaamaru bil 'adli wal ihsaani wa eetaaa'i zil qurbaa wa yanhaa 'anil fahshaaa'i wal munkari walbagh-i' ya'izukum la'allakum tazakkkaroon
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
Quran 16:90. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah An-Nisaa 4:40
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍۢ ۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةًۭ يُضَٰعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا
Innal laaha laa yazlimu misqaala zarratinw wa in taku hasanatany yudaa'ifhaa wa yu'ti mil ladunhu ajran 'azeemaa
Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
Quran 4:40. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Calling on Allah by this Name
Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا عَدْلُ (Yā ʿAdl) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "O Allah, You are just, so make me just with my family and with people."
Allah says: "O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself, and made it forbidden among you, so do not wrong one another."
Sahih Muslim 2577
- Quran 16:90, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 4:40, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih Muslim 2577.
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