Surah Nisa ayat 135 Tafsir Quran 4:135

﴿۞ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا﴾
[ النساء: 135]

4:135 O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.

O you who believe be upright in justice; witnesses of the truth for God even though it the witnessing be against yourselves so be witness against them your selves by affirming the truth and not concealing it; or against parents and kinsmen whether the person witnessed against be rich or poor; God is closer to the two than you and He has better knowledge of what is good for them. So do not follow any whim in your testimonies by being partial to the rich one seeking his pleasure or by being partial to the poor one out of compassion for him lest you swerve so that you do not incline away from the truth for if you twist a variant reading for talwūw has talū if you distort your testimony or refrain from giving it surely God is ever aware of what you do and will requite you accordingly.

O you who have conformed to Islam: Charge yourselves with equity and recourse to the principles of justice and exercise your authority and power in maintenance of right, though it may be against yourselves, your parents, or your kindred, and do not be inclined to favour the rich for a gain nor the poor for sympathy. Rich or poor as they may be, Allah is He who is more capable of guarding their interests. Therefore, do not be influenced by emotion nor let the ruling passion conquer reason and sway you from justice. And if you should swerve from this course of action or turn a deaf ear, you must realize that Allah has always been ever Khabirun of all that you do

Commanding Justice and Conveying the Witness for Allah Allah commands His believing servants to stand up for justice and fairness and not to deviate from it, right or left.
They should not fear the blame of anyone or allow anyone to prevent them from doing something for the sake of Allah.
They are also required to help, support and aid each other for Allah's sake.
Allah's statement, شُهَدَآءِ للَّهِ ( as witnesses to Allah ) is similar to His statement, وَأَقِيمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ لِلَّهِ ( And establish the testimony for Allah ).
Testimony should be delivered precisely, for the sake of Allah, thus making the testimony correct, truly just, and free of alterations, changes or deletions.
This is why Allah said, وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ ( even though it be against yourselves, ) meaning, give correct testimony, and say the truth when you are asked about it, even if harm will effect you as a consequence.
Indeed, Allah shall make a way out and give relief for those who obey Him in every matter.
Allah's statement, أَوِ الْوَلِدَيْنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبِينَ ( or your parents, or your kin, ) means, even if you have to testify against your parents and kin, do not compromise for their sake.
Rather, give the correct and just witness even if they are harmed in the process, for the truth presides above everyone and is preferred to everyone.
Allah's statement, إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيّاً أَوْ فَقَيراً فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا ( be he rich or poor, Allah is a better Protector to both. ) means, do not favor someone ( in your testimony ) because he is rich, or feel pity for him because he is poor, for Allah is their caretaker, a better Protector of them than you, and has better knowledge of what is good for them.
Allah's statement, فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ ( So follow not the lusts, lest you may avoid justice; ) means, let not desire, lust or the hatred you have against others, lure you into injustice in your affairs.
Rather, stand for justice in all situations.
Allah said; وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى ( And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice.
Be just: that is nearer to piety ) when the Prophet sent `Abdullah bin Rawahah to collect the tax on the fruits and produce of the Jews of Khaybar, they offered him a bribe so that he would go easy on them.
He said; "By Allah! I have come to you from the dearest of the creation to me ( Muhammad ), and you are more hated by me than an equivelent number of apes and swine.
However, my love for him ( the Prophet ) and hatred for you shall not prevent me from being just with you." On that, they said, "This ( justice ) is the basis which the heavens and earth were created.
" We will mention this Hadith later in Surat Al-Ma'idah ( chapter 5 ) Allah willing.
Allah's statement afterwards, وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ ( and if you Talwu or Tu`ridu ) means, "Distort your testimony and change it", according to Mujahid and several others among the Salaf.
Talwu, includes distortion and intentional lying.
For instance, Allah said, وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِالْكِتَـبِ ( And verily, among them is a party who Yalwuna (distort ) the Book with their tongues ( as they read )).
Tu`ridu, includes hiding and withholding the testimony.
Allah said, وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ ( Who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful ) The Prophet said,
«خَيْرُ الشُّهَدَاءِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بِشَهَادَتِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلَهَا»
( The best witness is he who discloses his testimony before being asked to do so. ) Allah then warned, فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً ( Verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. ) and will reward or punish you accordingly.

(4:135) Believers! Be upholders of justice, *164 and bearers of witness to truth for the sake of Allah, *165 even though it may either be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the rich or the poor: for Allah is more concerned with their well-being than you are. Do not, then, follow your own desires lest you keep away from justice. If you twist or turn away from (the truth), know that Allah is well aware of all that you do.

O you who have believed, be persistently meaning

*164).
It is not enough for believers to uphold justice themselves: they are expected to be its standard-bearers.
They are supposed not merely to practise justice in their own dealings but to strive for its triumph.
They have to do all within their power to ensure that injustice is eradicated and replaced by equity and justice.
A true believer is required to be the pillar supporting the establishment of right and justice.

*165).
The testimony of the believers should be solely for the sake of God.
Their testimony should not be biased in favour of any of the parties concerned, they should not use any opportunity for personal aggrandizement, and they should not seek to please anyone but God.

 

Commanding Justice and Conveying the Witness for Allah Allah commands His believing servants to stand up for justice and fairness and not to deviate from it, right or left.
They should not fear the blame of anyone or allow anyone to prevent them from doing something for the sake of Allah.
They are also required to help, support and aid each other for Allah's sake.
Allah's statement, شُهَدَآءِ للَّهِ ( as witnesses to Allah ) is similar to His statement, وَأَقِيمُواْ الشَّهَـدَةَ لِلَّهِ ( And establish the testimony for Allah ).
Testimony should be delivered precisely, for the sake of Allah, thus making the testimony correct, truly just, and free of alterations, changes or deletions.
This is why Allah said, وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ ( even though it be against yourselves, ) meaning, give correct testimony, and say the truth when you are asked about it, even if harm will effect you as a consequence.
Indeed, Allah shall make a way out and give relief for those who obey Him in every matter.
Allah's statement, أَوِ الْوَلِدَيْنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبِينَ ( or your parents, or your kin, ) means, even if you have to testify against your parents and kin, do not compromise for their sake.
Rather, give the correct and just witness even if they are harmed in the process, for the truth presides above everyone and is preferred to everyone.
Allah's statement, إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيّاً أَوْ فَقَيراً فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا ( be he rich or poor, Allah is a better Protector to both. ) means, do not favor someone ( in your testimony ) because he is rich, or feel pity for him because he is poor, for Allah is their caretaker, a better Protector of them than you, and has better knowledge of what is good for them.
Allah's statement, فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ ( So follow not the lusts, lest you may avoid justice; ) means, let not desire, lust or the hatred you have against others, lure you into injustice in your affairs.
Rather, stand for justice in all situations.
Allah said; وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى ( And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice.
Be just: that is nearer to piety ) when the Prophet sent `Abdullah bin Rawahah to collect the tax on the fruits and produce of the Jews of Khaybar, they offered him a bribe so that he would go easy on them.
He said; "By Allah! I have come to you from the dearest of the creation to me ( Muhammad ), and you are more hated by me than an equivelent number of apes and swine.
However, my love for him ( the Prophet ) and hatred for you shall not prevent me from being just with you." On that, they said, "This ( justice ) is the basis which the heavens and earth were created.
" We will mention this Hadith later in Surat Al-Ma'idah ( chapter 5 ) Allah willing.
Allah's statement afterwards, وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ ( and if you Talwu or Tu`ridu ) means, "Distort your testimony and change it", according to Mujahid and several others among the Salaf.
Talwu, includes distortion and intentional lying.
For instance, Allah said, وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِالْكِتَـبِ ( And verily, among them is a party who Yalwuna (distort ) the Book with their tongues ( as they read )).
Tu`ridu, includes hiding and withholding the testimony.
Allah said, وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ ( Who hides it, surely, his heart is sinful ) The Prophet said, «خَيْرُ الشُّهَدَاءِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بِشَهَادَتِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلَهَا» ( The best witness is he who discloses his testimony before being asked to do so. ) Allah then warned, فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً ( Verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. ) and will reward or punish you accordingly.

( O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your ) parents or ( your ) kindred, whether ( the case be of ) rich or poor) parents, ( for Allah is nearer unto both (than ye are )) Allah has better right to protect them than you do. ( So follow not passion lest ye lapse ) lest you are not just in testimony ( and if you lapse ) if you stammer ( or fall away ) or do not testify in front of judges, ( then lo! Allah is ever Informed of what ye do ) whether you testify or withhold your testimony. This verse was revealed regarding Miqyas Ibn Sababah who had something to testify against his father.

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.

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