Surah Al-Furqaan (25) — Ayah 72

(Ayah 72) ➊ After mentioning the three fundamental qualities of the people of faith, now a few more qualities are mentioned, with which perfection in faith is attained. {’’شَهِدَ يَشْهَدُ‘‘ } comes in the meaning of being present, and its original meaning is just this, as He said: «{ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۸۵ ] “So whoever among you is present in this month, let him fast in it.” And it is also used for giving testimony about something in which one was present or knows about, as He said: «{ وَ اَشْهِدُوْا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِّنْكُمْ }» [ الطلاق : ۲ ] “And take two just men from among your own as witnesses.” And He said: «{ شَهِدَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ وَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ وَ اُولُوا الْعِلْمِ قَآىِٕمًۢا بِالْقِسْطِ }» [ آل عمران : ۱۸ ] “Allah bears witness that there is no deity except Him, and (so do) the angels and those of knowledge, maintaining justice.”
This verse can have two meanings: one is that they do not attend gatherings of falsehood, in which the polytheists are present. Whether those gatherings are of amusement, music, backbiting or immorality, or gatherings of oppression and excess, or planning of any sin, or the festivals of the disbelievers, their entertainments— in short, they avoid participating in every such gathering. In this case, the word {’’الزُّوْرَ ‘‘ ’’ لَا يَشْهَدُوْنَ ‘‘} will be its object. This is the same meaning mentioned in Surah Al-An’am, where He said: «{ وَ اِذَا رَاَيْتَ الَّذِيْنَ يَخُوْضُوْنَ فِيْۤ اٰيٰتِنَا فَاَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتّٰى يَخُوْضُوْا فِيْ حَدِيْثٍ غَيْرِهٖ وَ اِمَّا يُنْسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطٰنُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرٰى مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ }» [الأنعام : ۶۸ ] “And when you see those who engage in (vain) discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they engage in a different topic. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not sit after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.” And {’’يَشْهَدُوْنَ‘‘} can also mean testimony; in this case, {’’ لَا يَشْهَدُوْنَ الزُّوْرَ ‘‘} would mean {’’لَا يَشْهَدُوْنَ بِالزُّوْرِ‘‘} or {’’لَا يَشْهَدُوْنَ شَهَادَةَ الزُّوْرِ‘‘}, that they do not give false testimony. It is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about major sins, so he said: [ اَلْإِشْرَاكُ بِاللّٰهِ وَ عُقُوْقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ قَتْلُ النَّفْسِ وَ شَهَادَةُ الزُّوْرِ ] [ بخاري، الشھادات، باب ما قیل في شھادۃ الزور : ۲۶۵۳ ] “Associating partners with Allah, disobeying parents, killing a soul, and giving false testimony.” Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “From the context of the verses, it is more apparent that they do not participate in gatherings of falsehood and lies.”
➋ { وَ اِذَا مَرُّوْا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوْا كِرَامًا:’’ كِرَامًا ‘‘} The original meaning of 'Kareem' is that thing which is the best in its kind, as He said: «{فَاَنْۢبَتْنَا فِيْهَا مِنْ كُلِّ زَوْجٍ کَرِیْمٍ}» [ لقمان : ۱۰ ] “Then We produced therein every kind of beautiful growth.” “Laghw” means useless and futile things, that is, {’’كُلَّ مَا يَنْبَغِيْ أَنْ يُّلْغٰي وَ يُطْرَحُ ‘‘}, every such thing that is worthy of being wasted and thrown away. (Kashaf) This includes every sin, meaning the servants of the Most Merciful do not participate in vain gatherings, and if they happen to pass by such a gathering, instead of getting involved or fighting, they pass by in a very dignified and excellent manner. Elsewhere He said: «{ وَ ذَرِ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّخَذُوْا دِيْنَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَّ لَهْوًا }» [ الأنعام : ۷۰ ] “And leave those who have taken their religion as play and amusement.” And He said: «{ وَ اِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ اَعْرَضُوْا عَنْهُ وَ قَالُوْا لَنَاۤ اَعْمَالُنَا وَ لَكُمْ اَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجٰهِلِيْنَ }» [ القصص : ۵۵ ] “And when they hear vain talk, they turn away from it and say, ‘For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace be upon you; we do not seek (the company of) the ignorant.’”