Skip to content

Al-Ma'idah 108

Ayah 108 of 120 · Medinan

ذَٰلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتُواْ بِٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهَآ أَوۡ يَخَافُوٓاْ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيۡمَٰنُۢ بَعۡدَ أَيۡمَٰنِهِمۡۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسۡمَعُواْۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ ١٠٨

That is more likely that they will give testimony according to its [true] objective, or [at least] they would fear that [other] oaths might be taken after their oaths. And fear Allāh and listen [i.e., obey Him]; and Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.

Translation: Saheeh International (English)

Word by word

Each word's meaning and sound

  1. ذَٰلِكَThatdhālika
  2. أَدۡنَىٰٓ(is) closeradnā
  3. أَنthatan
  4. يَأۡتُواْthey will giveyatū
  5. بِٱلشَّهَٰدَةِthe testimonybil-shahādati
  6. عَلَىٰinʿalā
  7. وَجۡهِهَآits (true) formwajhihā
  8. أَوۡoraw
  9. يَخَافُوٓاْthey would fearyakhāfū
  10. أَنthatan
  11. تُرَدَّwill be refutedturadda
  12. أَيۡمَٰنُۢtheir oathsaymānun
  13. بَعۡدَafterbaʿda
  14. أَيۡمَٰنِهِمۡۗtheir (others) oathsaymānihim
  15. وَٱتَّقُواْAnd fearwa-ittaqū
  16. ٱللَّهَAllahl-laha
  17. وَٱسۡمَعُواْۗand listenwa-is'maʿū
  18. وَٱللَّهُand Allahwal-lahu
  19. لَا(does) notlā
  20. يَهۡدِيguideyahdī
  21. ٱلۡقَوۡمَthe peoplel-qawma
  22. ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَthe defiantly disobedientl-fāsiqīna

Tafsir

These various oaths to be taken by the witnesses after the prayer (when you doubt their testimony) and the rejection of their testimony increases the likelihood that they will testify in the way required by the sacred law, without them distorting the facts deceitfully. Witnesses are more likely to give true testimony for fear that they will be disgraced if the heirs give conflicting testimony. Be mindful of Allah by not lying or being deceitful in your testimony and oath. Listen to what you are instructed to do and obey. Allah does not guide those who go against Him.

Al-Mukhtasar in interpreting the Noble Quran