Allah commands in surah al-Ma'idah:

 Allah commands in surah al-Ma'idah:

*يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ*

*O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, bearing witness with justice. And don't let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, that is closer to taqwa. And have taqwa of Allah. Allah is intimately acquainted with what you do. [8]*

Commenting on this, ibn Kathir wrote:

Do not let hatred of a people lead you to be unjust towards them. Rather, employ justice with everyone, whether they are friend or foe. 

And Allah's statement, *"that is closer to taqwa"* is an example of using an adjective of preference in a place when there is no other viable option, similar to His statement:

*أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَيْرٌ مُّسْتَقَرًّا وَأَحْسَنُ مَقِيلًا*

*"On that Day, the people of Jannah will be in a better position and a better resting place." [al-Furqan ayah 24]*

[Tafsir ibn Kathir 3/63]