سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 135
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَٱللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُۥٓا۟ أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا ﴿135﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allâh, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allâh is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allâh is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe[d]
كُونُوا۟
kūnū
Be
قَوَّٰمِينَ
qawwāmīna
custodians
بِٱلْقِسْطِ
bil-qis'ṭi
of justice
شُهَدَآءَ
shuhadāa
(as) witnesses
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
to Allah
وَلَوْ
walaw
even if
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
(it is) against
أَنفُسِكُمْ
anfusikum
yourselves
أَوِ
awi
or
ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ
l-wālidayni
the parents
وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ
wal-aqrabīna
and the relatives
إِن
in
if
يَكُنْ
yakun
he be
غَنِيًّا
ghaniyyan
rich
أَوْ
aw
or
فَقِيرًۭا
faqīran
poor
فَٱللَّهُ
fal-lahu
for Allah
أَوْلَىٰ
awlā
(is) nearer
بِهِمَا ۖ
bihimā
to both of them
فَلَا
falā
So (do) not
تَتَّبِعُوا۟
tattabiʿū
follow
ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ
l-hawā
the desire
أَن
an
lest
تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ
taʿdilū
you deviate
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تَلْوُۥٓا۟
talwū
you distort
أَوْ
aw
or
تُعْرِضُوا۟
tuʿ'riḍū
refrain
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرًۭا
khabīran
All-Aware
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.
(Ayah 135) ➊ {كُوْنُوْا قَوّٰمِيْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ … :} That is, bear witness for Allah by standing firmly for justice, even if it is against yourselves, or parents, or relatives, and even if it brings you personal loss. (Ibn Kathir)
➋ This verse proves that the testimony of children against their parents will be accepted, and this is not contrary to {”بِرٌّ“} (i.e., kindness) towards them. The testimony of parents and siblings is also accepted according to the predecessors, but only if they are just and not under suspicion. Due to this suspicion, some Imams have allowed the testimony of husband and wife in favor of each other, while others have rejected it. (Qurtubi)
➌ { اِنْ يَّكُنْ غَنِيًّا اَوْ فَقِيْرًا … : } That is, whether the one against whom your testimony is being given is wealthy or poor, you cannot be more well-wishing for him than Allah and His Shariah. Therefore, do not support or oppose the wealthy unjustly because of his wealth, nor show undue leniency to the poor out of pity, but in every case, give true testimony according to Allah’s command. It should not happen that the poverty of the poor inclines you to support him unjustly; you cannot be more well-wishing or have more right over Allah’s servants, whether they are rich or poor, than Allah Himself.
➍ {وَ اِنْ تَلْوٗۤا …:} “{لَوَي يَلْوِيْ لَيًّا } (ض)” means to twist, that is, if you twist your tongue and present the matter in such a way that the one against whom testimony should be given is saved, or {’’ تُعْرِضُوْا ‘‘} that is, you avoid giving testimony altogether, or even conceal it, then surely Allah has always been fully aware of whatever you do, and you will receive its full punishment from Allah. Do not think that by not telling an outright lie, you will be saved from the sin of false testimony.
➋ This verse proves that the testimony of children against their parents will be accepted, and this is not contrary to {”بِرٌّ“} (i.e., kindness) towards them. The testimony of parents and siblings is also accepted according to the predecessors, but only if they are just and not under suspicion. Due to this suspicion, some Imams have allowed the testimony of husband and wife in favor of each other, while others have rejected it. (Qurtubi)
➌ { اِنْ يَّكُنْ غَنِيًّا اَوْ فَقِيْرًا … : } That is, whether the one against whom your testimony is being given is wealthy or poor, you cannot be more well-wishing for him than Allah and His Shariah. Therefore, do not support or oppose the wealthy unjustly because of his wealth, nor show undue leniency to the poor out of pity, but in every case, give true testimony according to Allah’s command. It should not happen that the poverty of the poor inclines you to support him unjustly; you cannot be more well-wishing or have more right over Allah’s servants, whether they are rich or poor, than Allah Himself.
➍ {وَ اِنْ تَلْوٗۤا …:} “{لَوَي يَلْوِيْ لَيًّا } (ض)” means to twist, that is, if you twist your tongue and present the matter in such a way that the one against whom testimony should be given is saved, or {’’ تُعْرِضُوْا ‘‘} that is, you avoid giving testimony altogether, or even conceal it, then surely Allah has always been fully aware of whatever you do, and you will receive its full punishment from Allah. Do not think that by not telling an outright lie, you will be saved from the sin of false testimony.
