The Quran asks for justice even when it hurts: "even against yourselves, or your parents and relatives" 4:135. Being fair to strangers is easy. Being fair against your own people is the test.
From the Quran
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ
From the Prophet ﷺ
«إِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ الَّذِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ، وَإِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفُ أَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ» … «لَوْ أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ ابْنَةَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَرَقَتْ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا»
Seen in the prophets
Allah made Dawud a ruler on the earth and told him: "Judge between people with truth, and do not follow your desires" 38:26.
Dawud and Sulayman judged a case about sheep that had grazed in someone's field at night. Allah gave the young Sulayman the better understanding of it, and says: "to each of them We gave judgement and knowledge" 21:78-79.
Shu'ayb's people cheated in trade. His call to them: "O my people, give full measure and weight in justice, and do not short people their things" 11:85. Justice lives on the scales at the market too.
What it is not
Justice is not only for people you like. "Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to be unjust. Be just: that is nearer to taqwa" 5:8.
Today, in practice
Hear both sides before you take one, especially in your own family.
Give each of your children the same Bukhari 2587.
At work, give honest credit, even to someone you don't like.
Small, practical steps. This is friendly advice, not a ruling.
Your manner for the week
العَدْل Justice
Choose one manner and carry it for seven days. It is saved on this device only, nobody else sees it.
Their moments
Sources on this page
Quran 4:135Quran 11:85Quran 21:78-79Quran 38:26Sahih al-Bukhari 3475
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.