4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ ...
4: 135. O ye who believe!
... كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاء لِلّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ...
stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin,
C644. Justice is Allah's attribute, and stand firm for justice is to be a witness to Allah, even if it is detrimental to our own interests (as we conceive them) or the interests of those who are near and dear to us.
According to the Latin saying, "Let justice be done though heaven should fall."
But Islamic justice is something higher than the formal justice of Roman Law or any other human law. It is even more penetrative than the subtler justice in the speculations of the Greek philosophers. It searches out the innermost motives, because we are to act as in the presence of Allah, to whom all things, acts, and motives are known.
إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقَيرًا ...
and whether it be (against) rich or poor:
C645. Some people may he inclined to favour the rich, because they expect something from them. Some people may be inclined to favour the poor because they are generally helpless.
Partiality in either case is wrong. Be just, without fear of favour.
Both the rich and the poor are under Allah's protection as far as their legitimate interests are concerned, but they cannot expect to be favoured at the expense of others. And He can protect their interests far better than any man.
... فَاللّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا...
for Allah can best protect both.
... فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ...
Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve,
... وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا ﴿١٣٥﴾
and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
Other versions:
4: 135 [an-Nisaa, Medina 92 ]
Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah even as against yourselves or your parents or your kin and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest ye swerve and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (than ye are). So follow not passion lest ye lapse (from truth) and if ye lapse or fall away, then lo! Allah is ever Informed of what ye do.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ a_minu_ billa_hi wa rasu_lihi wal kita_bil lazi nazzala 'ala_ rasu_lihi wal kita_bil lazi anzala min qabl(u), wa may yakfur billa_hi wa mala_'ikatihi wa kutubihi wa rusulihi wal yaumil a_khiri faqad dalla dala_lam ba'ida_(n).
5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ
قَوَّامِينَ
لِلّهِ شُهَدَاء
بِالْقِسْطِ
...
5: 8. O ye who believe!
stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing,
C706. Cf. 4:135.
... وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ...
and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice.
C707. To do justice and act righteously in a favourable or neutral atmosphere is meritorious enough, but the real test comes when you have to do justice to people who hate you or to whom you have an aversion. But no less is required of you by the higher moral law.
... اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ ...
Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah,
... إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨﴾
for Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
Other versions:
5: 8
Asad O you who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of anyone [note 19] lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is closest to being God-conscious. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do.
Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealing and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah for Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ ku_nu_ qawwa_mina lilla_hi syuhada_'a bil qist(i), wa la_ yajrimannakum syna'a_nu qaumin 'ala_ alla_ta'dilu_, i'dilu_, huwa aqrabu lit taqwa_, wattaqulla_h(a), innalla_ha khabirum bima_ta'malu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 705 There is a particular and a general meaning. The particular meaning refers to the solemn Pledge and Covenant taken by two groups of people at 'Aqaba, a valley near Mina, the first about fourteen months before the Hijra, and the second a little later. These were Pledges of fealty to the Messenger of Allah, comparable to the Covenant under Mount Sinai taken in the time of Moses (See 0. ii. 63 and n. 78). The general meaning has been explained in n. 682 to v. 1: man is under a spiritual obligation under an implied Covenant with Allah: Allah has given man reason, judgment, the higher faculties of the soul, and even the position of vicegerent on earth (ii. 30), and man is bound to serve Allah faithfully-and obey His Will. That obedience begins with cleanliness in bodily functions, food, etc. It goes on to cleanliness of mind and thought, and culminates in purity of motives in the inmost recesses of his heart and soul. (5.7)
706 Cf. iv. 135. (5.8)
707 To do justice and act righteously in a favorable or neutral atmosphere is meritorious enough, but the real test comes when you have to do justice to people who hate you or to whom you have an aversion. But no less is required of you by the higher moral law. (5.8) ]]