سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ

Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 108

The Table · Medinan · Juz 7 · Page 125

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ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهَآ أَوْ يَخَافُوٓا۟ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيْمَـٰنٌۢ بَعْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ ﴿108﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

That should make it closer (to the fact) that their testimony would be in its true shape (and thus accepted), or else they would fear that (other) oaths would be admitted after their oaths. And fear Allâh and listen (with obedience to Him). And Allâh guides not the people who are Al-Fâsiqûn (the rebellious and disobedient).

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

ذَٰلِكَ dhālika That
أَدْنَىٰٓ adnā (is) closer
أَن an that
يَأْتُوا۟ yatū they will give
بِٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ bil-shahādati the testimony
عَلَىٰ ʿalā in
وَجْهِهَآ wajhihā its (true) form
أَوْ aw or
يَخَافُوٓا۟ yakhāfū they would fear
أَن an that
تُرَدَّ turadda will be refuted
أَيْمَـٰنٌۢ aymānun their oaths
بَعْدَ baʿda after
أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۗ aymānihim their (others) oaths
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ wa-ittaqū And fear
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ wa-is'maʿū and listen
وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu and Allah
لَا lā (does) not
يَهْدِى yahdī guide
ٱلْقَوْمَ l-qawma the people
ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ l-fāsiqīna the defiantly disobedient

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

18. 1. This mentions the benefit hidden in the command mentioned here, which is that by adopting this method, the executors will give authentic testimony because they will fear that if we commit betrayal, falsehood, or alteration, these actions could turn against us. In the context of the revelation of this incident, the story of Budail bin Abi Maryam is narrated: he went to Syria for trade, became ill there, and was near death. He had a silver cup with him, which he entrusted to two Christians, instructing them to deliver it to his relatives, and then he passed away. When these two executors returned, they sold the cup and divided the money between themselves, delivering the rest of the belongings to the heirs. Among the belongings was a note listing the items, according to which the silver cup was missing. When asked, they swore falsely, but later it was discovered that they had sold the cup to a certain money changer. Thus, the heirs swore oaths against these non-Muslims and recovered the value of the cup from them. This narration is weak in its chain. (Tirmidhi 359, as verified by Ahmad Shakir) However, in another chain, this is also briefly narrated from Ibn Abbas, which has been declared authentic by Al-Albani (Sahih Tirmidhi).

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

In this way [156], there is a greater hope that people will give true testimony, or they will fear that their oaths may be refuted by other oaths after theirs. And fear Allah and listen attentively to His commands, for Allah does not guide the disobedient people.

[156] There are a few points worth mentioning in these verses, which are as follows:
(1) Here, the first mention of "witnesses" has come in the sense of executors, meaning those people to whom the deceased entrusts his inheritance by making a will.
(2) Non-Muslims can only be made executors in the case when a Muslim executor is not available, as often happens during travel when such a need arises.
(3) For the future, this law has been established that if there is any doubt in the statements of the executors, then based on the testimony of more eligible witnesses, the testimony of the executors can be invalidated. Therefore, they should give testimony accurately so that they are not disgraced later.
(4) The more correct approach is that instead of speaking the truth out of fear of disgrace, if they give truthful testimony out of fear of Allah, then this is more appropriate.
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