4: 58 [an-Nisa, Medina 92]
Asad Behold, God bids you to deliver all that you have been entrusted with unto those who are entitled thereto, and whenever you judge between people, to judge with justice [note 75]. Verily, most excellent is what God exhorts you to do: verily, God is all-hearing, all-seeing!
Yusuf Ali Allah doth command you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between man and man that ye judge with justice: verily how excellent is the teaching which He give you! for Allah is He who hear and see all things.
Pickthall Lo! Allah command you that ye restore deposits to their owners, and, if ye judge between mankind, that ye judge justly. Lo! comely is this which Allah admonish you. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer.
Yuksel Elect/Appoint Qualified People and Observe Justice
4:58 God orders you to delegate the responsibilities to those who are qualified. If you judge between the people, then you shall judge with justice. It is always the best that God prescribes for you. God is Hearer, Seer.*
Transliteration Innalla_ha ya'murukum an tu'addul ama_na_ti ila_ ahliha_, wa iza_ hakamtum bainan na_si an tahkumu_ bil 'adl(i), innalla_ha ni'imma_ ya'izukum bih(i), innalla_ ka_na sami'am basira_(n).
4: 59
Asad O you who have attained to faith! Pay heed unto God, and pay heed unto the Apostle and unto those from among you [note 76] who have been entrusted with authority; and if you are at variance over any matter, refer it unto God and the Apostle [note 77], if you [truly] believe in God and the Last Day. This is the best [for you], and best in the end [note 78].
Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves refer it to Allah and His Apostle if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best and most suitable for final determination.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority; and if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end.
Yuksel 4:59 O you who acknowledge, obey God and obey the messenger and those entrusted amongst you. But if you dispute in any matter, then you shall refer it to God and His messenger, if you acknowledge God and the Last day. That is better and a more suitable solution.*
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ ati'ulla_ha wa ati'ur rasu_la wa ulil amri minkum, fa in tana_za'tum fi syai'in fa ruddu_hu ilalla_hi war rasu_li in kuntum tu'minu_na billa_hi wal yaumil a_khir(i), za_lika khairuw wa ahsanu ta'wila_(n).
[[ Ali’s note - 580 Ulu-l-amr = those charged with authority or responsibility or decision, or the settlement of affairs. All ultimate authority rests in Allah. Prophets of Allah derive their authority from Him. As Islam makes no sharp division between sacred and secular affairs, it expects governments to be imbued with righteousness. Likewise Islam expects Muslims to respect the authority of such government for otherwise there can be no order or discipline. (4.59)]]
[[ Asad’s note 77 – I.e., to the Quran and the sunnah ( the sayings and the practice) of the Prophet. See also verse 65 of this surah.
78 – Rear in conjunction with 3:26, which speaks of God as “the Lord of all dominion” – and therefore the ultimate source of all moral and political authority – the above passage lays down a fundamental rule of conduct for the individual believer as well as the conceptual basis for the conduct of the Islamic state. ………The stress, in this context, on “those from among you who have been entrusted with authority” makes it clear that the holders of authority (ulu ‘I-amr) in an Islamic state must be Muslims.]]
[[ Ruby’s note – I completely disagree with Asad that the meaning of “those from among you who have been entrusted with authority” means the leaders need to be Muslims.
This is a self-evident and unqualified statement which is timeless and very broad in meaning. However, at the time of this revelation in Median, the Prophet had established a constitution of Medina which treated the non-Muslims [Jews, Christians and the Pagans] on equal footing with Muslims in offering the rights and sharing the responsibilities of governance and affairs of the city-State of Medina. This is the context of this injunction. Therefore, the non-Muslims who were trusted with the decision making process are included in that time. For a later time, this contains even more general and universal application.]]
4: 105, 106..... Hence, do not contend with those who are false to their trust, but pray God to forgive [them]: behold, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
4: 107, 108 Yet do not argue in behalf of those who are false to their own selves: verily, God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful ways. 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 which He does not approve. And God indeed encompasses [with His knowledge] whatever they do. Asad
: 1 O you who believe! Fulfill (all) obligations. Ali
5:1 O you who have attained to faith! Be true to your covenants! Asad
[Note 1: The term ‘aqd’ (covenant) denotes a solemn undertaking or engagement involving more than one party. According to Raghib, the covenant referred to in this verse ‘are of three kinds: the covenants between God and man, between man and his soul, and between the individual and his fellow-men” – thus embracing the entire area of man’s moral and social responsibilities.]
4: 107, 108 Yet do not argue in behalf of those who are false to their own selves: verily, God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful ways. 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 which He does not approve. And God indeed encompasses [with His knowledge] whatever they do.
8: 26-27 O you who have attained to faith, do not be false t o God and the Apostle, and do not knowingly be false to the trust that has been reposed in you; and know that your worldly goods and your children are but a trial and a temptation, and that with God there is a tremendous reward. [see asad note 27 re: “amanah”]