4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّا
أَنزَلْنَا
إِلَيْكَ
الْكِتَابَ
بِالْحَقِّ
لِتَحْكُمَ
بَيْنَ
النَّاسِ
بِمَا
أَرَاكَ
اللّهُ
...
4: 105. We have sent down to thee the Book in truth, that thou mightest judge between men, as guided by Allah:
... وَلاَ تَكُن لِّلْخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمًا ﴿١٠٥﴾
so be not (used) as an advocate by those who betray their trust.
C621. The Commentators explain this passage with reference to the case of Taima ibn Ubairaq, who was nominally a Muslim but really a Hypocrite, and given to all sorts of wicked deeds.
He was suspected of having stolen a set of armour, and when the trial was hot, he planted the stolen property into the house of a Jew, where it was found. The Jew denied the charge and accused Taima, but the sympathies of the Muslim community were with Taima on account of his nominal profession of Islam.
The case was brought to the Prophet, who acquitted the Jew according to the strict principle of justice, as "guided by Allah."
Attempts were made to prejudice him and deceive him into using his authority to favour Taima. When Taima realized that his punishment was imminent he fled and turned apostate. (R).
The general lesson is that the righteous man is faced with all sorts of subtle wiles; the wicked will try to appeal to his highest sympathies and most honourable motives to deceive him and use him as an instrument for defeating justice. He should be careful and cautious, and seek the help of Allah for protection against deception and for firmness in dealing the strictest justice without fear or favour.
To do otherwise is to betray a sacred trust; the trustee must defeat all attempts made to mislead him.
وَاسْتَغْفِرِ
اللّهِ
إِنَّ
اللّهَ
كَانَ
غَفُورًا
رَّحِيمًا
﴿١٠٦﴾
4: 106. But seek the forgiveness of Allah; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
وَلاَ
تُجَادِلْ
عَنِ
الَّذِينَ
يَخْتَانُونَ
أَنفُسَهُمْ...
4: 107. Contend not on behalf of such as betray their own souls:
C622. Own souls are a sort of trust with us. We have to guard them against all temptation. Those who surrender to crime or evil, betray that trust.
We are warned against being deceived into taking their part, induced either by plausible appearances, or by such incentives to partiality as that they belong to our own people or that some link connects them with us, whereas when we are out to do justice, we must not allow any irrelevant considerations to sway us.
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا ﴿١٠٧﴾
for Allah loveth not one given to perfidy and crime.
يَسْتَخْفُونَ
مِنَ
النَّاسِ
وَلاَ
يَسْتَخْفُونَ
مِنَ
اللّهِ...
108. They may hide (their crimes) from men, but they cannot hide (them) from Allah,
... وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لاَ يَرْضَى مِنَ الْقَوْلِ...
seeing that He is in their midst when they plot by night, in words that He cannot approve:
... وَكَانَ اللّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا ﴿١٠٨﴾
and Allah doth compass round all that they do.
C623. The plots of sinners are known fully to Allah, and He can fully circumvent them if necessary, according to the fullness of His wisdom.
The word used is: Compass them round.- Muhit: not only does Allah know all about it, but He is all round it: if in His wisdom He allows it, it is not because He has not complete control over it, but because, having it as it were enclosed in a complete circle. He can use it to further His own Plan. Even out of evil He can bring good.
4: 105
Asad Behold, We have bestowed upon thee from on high this divine writ, setting forth the truth, so that you may judge between people in accordance with what God has taught you [note 133]. Hence, do not contend with those who are false to their trust,
Pickthall Lo! We reveal unto thee the Scripture with the truth, that thou mayst judge between mankind by that which Allah showeth thee. And be not thou a pleader for the treacherous;
Transliteration Inna_ anzalna_ ilaikal kita_ba bil haqqi litahkuma bainan na_si bima_ ara_kalla_h(u), wa laa_ takul lil kha_'inina khasima_(w),
4: 106
Asad but pray God to forgive [them] [note 134]: behold, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
Pickthall And seek forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.
Transliteration Wastagfirilla_h(a), innalla_ha ka_na gafu_rar rahima_(n).
[[Asad’s note 133 The “you” in this and the following two verses - ………refers, on the face of it, to the Prophet; by implication, however, it is addressed to everyone who has accepted the guidance of the Quran: this is evident from the plural “you” in verse 109…………..
134 – This is obviously refers to the hypocrites as well as to the half-hearted followers of the Quran spoken of earlier in this surah:………..]]
[[ Ali’s note - 621 The Commentators explain this passage with reference to the case of Taima ibn Ubairaq, who was nominally a Muslim but really a Hypocrite, and given to all sorts of wicked deeds. He was suspected of having stolen a set of armor, and when the trial was hot, he planted the stolen property into the house of a Jew, where it was found. The Jew denied the charge and accused Taima, but the sympathies of the Muslim community were with Taima on account of his nominal profession of Islam. The case was brought to the Prophet, who acquitted the Jew according to the strict principle of justice, as "guided by Allah." Attempts were made to prejudice him and deceive him into using his authority to favour Taima. When Taima realized that his punishment was imminent he fled and turned apostate. ………(4.105) ]]
4: 107
Asad Yet do not argue in behalf of those who are false to their own selves [note 135]: verily, God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful ways.
Yusuf Ali Contend not on behalf of such as betray their own souls: for Allah loveth not one given to perfidy and crime.
Pickthall And plead not on behalf of (people) who deceive themselves. Lo! Allah loveth not one who is treacherous and sinful.
Transliteration Wa la_ tuja_dil 'anil lazina yakhta_nu_na anfusahum, innalla_ha la_ yuhibbu man ka_na khawwa_nan asima_(y),
[[Ali’s note:
622 Our souls are a sort of trust with us. We have to guard them against all temptation. Those who surrender to crime or evil, betray that trust. We are warned against being deceived into taking their part, induced either by plausible appearances, or by such incentives to partiality as that they belong to our own people or that some link connects them with us, whereas when we are out to do justice, we must not allow any irrelevant considerations to sway us. (4.107)]]
4: 108
Asad They would conceal their doings from men; but from God they cannot conceal them – for He is with them whenever they devise, in the dark of night, all manner of beliefs [note 136] which He does not approve. And God indeed encompasses [with his knowledge] whatever they do.
Pickthall They seek to hide from men and seek not to hide from Allah. He is with them when by night they hold discourse displeasing unto Him. Allah ever surroundeth what they do.
Yastakhfu_na minan na_si wa la_ yastakhfu_na minalla_hi wa huwa ma'ahum iz yubayyitu_na ma_ la_ yarda_ minal qaul(i), wa ka_nalla_hu bima_ ya'malu_na muhita_(n).
[Asad’s note 135 – I.e., “you may ask God to forgive them, but do not try to find excuses for their behavior.” It is significant that the Quran characterizes a betrayal of trust, whether spiritual or social, as a wrong (zulm) as “one who sins against himself” or “wrongs himself” (zalim nafsahu) – since every deliberate act of sinning damages its author spiritually.
note 136 – Lit., “that of belief” (min al qawl). It is to be remembered that the noun “qawl” does not denote merely “ a saying” or “an utterance” ………….