Surah An-Nisa — Verse 105

Key Words and Their Meanings:

• Al-Kitab (الْكِتَابَ): The Book, i.e., the Qur'an.
• Bil-Haqq (بِالْحَقِّ): With the truth — meaning it is entirely based on truth in its reports, commands, and rulings.
• Bima Arāka Allah (بِمَا أَرَاكَ اللَّهُ): By what Allah has shown you — i.e., through His divine revelation and inspiration, not through personal opinion or desire.
• Al-Khā'inīn (الْخَائِنِينَ): The treacherous ones — those who betray trusts, conceal the truth, or commit wrongdoing secretly.
• Khasīm (خَصِيمًا): An advocate, a pleader, or a defender on someone's behalf in a dispute.

The Tafsir (Explanation):

O Messenger of Allah, Allah addresses you with a profound honor and a weighty responsibility: "Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book with the truth." This means that the Qur'an — in its beliefs, acts of worship, laws, and moral guidance — is absolute truth from your Lord. It was revealed for a noble purpose: "so that you may judge between people by what Allah has shown you." You are not left to your own whims, desires, or personal reasoning in matters of dispute; rather, you are guided by divine revelation and the light of Allah's wisdom. Your judgment must be based solely on what Allah has taught you and inspired you with — nothing more, nothing less.

Then comes a critical warning: "And do not be an advocate for the treacherous." This verse was revealed in a specific incident: a man from the Ansar named Tu'mah ibn Ubayriq stole a suit of armor and hid it with a Jewish man named Zayd ibn al-Samin. When the armor was discovered, Tu'mah swore he was innocent, and the matter was brought before the Prophet ﷺ. It seemed that the evidence pointed toward the Jewish man, and the Prophet ﷺ was inclined to rule accordingly. But Allah revealed the truth: Tu'mah was the real thief, and the Jewish man was innocent. Allah warned His Messenger not to defend those who betray their own souls by concealing the truth and deceiving others.

This verse carries a timeless lesson for all believers: justice must prevail over all considerations — be it tribal loyalty, personal sympathy, or outward appearances. A judge, a leader, or anyone in a position of authority must never side with a wrongdoer, even if that wrongdoer presents a convincing facade or claims innocence with oaths. The truth is what Allah has revealed, and the believer's duty is to uphold it, even if it goes against their own interests or the interests of their community.

A Da'wah Reflection:

How beautiful is this divine instruction! Allah did not merely tell the Prophet ﷺ to judge fairly — He equipped him with the ultimate source of truth, the Qur'an, and promised to guide his vision. This is a mercy for all of humanity: we are not left to the chaos of human opinions and conflicting desires. We have a clear criterion — the Book of Allah — and a perfect example — the Prophet ﷺ — to show us how to apply it.

And notice the tenderness of Allah's address: He says, "We have sent down to you," reminding the Prophet ﷺ — and through him, all of us — that this mission is divinely supported. When you carry the truth, you are never alone. When you stand for justice, Allah stands with you. So let every believer take heart: the path of truth may be difficult, but it is the path of Allah, and its reward is with Him. And let us all strive to be people of justice, never advocates for the treacherous, and always defenders of what is right — for that is the character of the believers Allah loves.