From the root ‘a-d-l which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to act justly, fairly to be equitable, impartial to adjust properly, to make even to straighten, to rectify, to establish justice to balance, counterbalance, to make equal, uniform to turn one away from something, rightly direct to make comfortable with what is right.

The term ‘Adl is not used directly in The Quran. Yet there are verses regarding his justice.

ٱلْعَدْلُ (Al-ʿAdl), The Utterly Just or The Absolute Justice, is considered by many scholars to be among the Asma’ Allah al-Ḥusnā (the Most Beautiful Names of Allah).

Evidence and Scholarly Views:

• The Qur’an frequently describes Allah as just, fair, and never oppressive (e.g. “Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight” – Qur’an 4:40).

• While the specific word al-ʿAdl as a Name does not appear directly in the Qur’an, it is included in many classical enumerations of the 99 Names — such as those listed by al-Bayhaqi, al-Qurtubi, and in al-Ghazali’s writings.

• Some scholars emphasize that the authentic names are only those found explicitly in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Since the famous hadith of the 99 names in Sunan al-Tirmidhi has some weakness in its chain, not every listed name there is universally agreed upon.

• ✅ Sources that include Al-ʿAdl among the Names of Allah

  1. Al-Bayhaqī (d. 458H) – in al-Asmāʾ waṣ-Ṣifāt, he includes al-ʿAdl in his enumeration.

  2. Al-Qurṭubī (d. 671H) – in his Tafsīr, he lists al-ʿAdl among Allah’s Names.

  3. Al-Ghazālī (d. 505H) – in al-Maqṣad al-Asnā fī Sharḥ Asmāʾ Allāh al-Ḥusnā, he dedicates a section to al-ʿAdl.

  4. Ibn al-ʿArabī (d. 543H) – includes al-ʿAdl in his writings on the 99 Names.

  5. The common list of 99 Names circulated today (often derived from the hadith in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, even though the chain is weak) includes al-ʿAdl.

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  ❌ Sources that do not include Al-ʿAdl

  1. Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) – argued that only Names explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah should be affirmed. Since al-ʿAdl does not appear directly as a Name, he did not include it.

  2. Ibn ʿUthaymīn (d. 2001) – also emphasized that the authentic Names are those explicitly in revelation. He acknowledged Allah’s absolute justice, but did not count al-ʿAdl as a “Name” unless proven by clear text.

  3. Some modern scholars follow this stricter approach and say: while Allah is indeed al-ʿAdl in description, we should only use Names with textual proof.

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)

 إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ ۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَاعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ‎﴿٤٠﴾