Among the many remarkable verses of the Qur’an is one that generations of Muslim scholars have described as one of its most comprehensive summaries of ethical teaching. Found in Sūrah al-Naḥl, it is recited at the conclusion of countless Friday sermons throughout the Muslim world.
Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression. He instructs you so that you may take heed. (Qur'an 16:90)
A Verse Praised by the Early Muslims
The Companion ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd famously said:
“This is the most comprehensive verse in the Qur’an regarding good and evil.”
For this reason, many scholars have referred to it as the Comprehensive Verse (Āyat al-Jāmiʿah), because of the breadth of principles it contains despite its brevity.
Three Commands and Three Prohibitions
In a single sentence, the verse presents six foundational principles.
Allah commands:
- Justice (al-ʿadl) — giving everyone their due.
- Excellence (al-iḥsān) — going beyond justice through kindness and moral beauty.
- Giving to relatives — strengthening family and social responsibility.
He then forbids:
- Indecency (al-faḥshāʾ) — acts of immorality and obscenity.
- Wrongdoing (al-munkar) — conduct that is recognised as evil and unacceptable.
- Oppression (al-baghy) — transgression, injustice, and tyranny.
A Framework for Society
It is remarkable how much this single verse encompasses.
The first three principles establish the foundations upon which healthy individuals, families, and societies are built: justice, excellence of character, and care for others.
The final three warn against the very qualities that destroy communities: immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression.
Rather than listing countless rules, the Qur’an presents broad moral principles that guide human conduct across every generation.
A Reflection
In one concise statement, the Qur’an lays down a moral framework that addresses our relationship with others, our personal character, our family responsibilities, and the dangers that threaten every society.
It is little wonder that scholars throughout Islamic history regarded this as one of the Qur’an’s most comprehensive ethical verses, and that it continues to conclude Friday sermons across the Muslim world as a timeless reminder of the values that build individuals and civilizations alike.