سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 108
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 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.
[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.
