Surah Al-Ma'idah • Ayah 11

Reminding the Believers of the Bounty of the Message and IslamAllah reminds His believing servants of His bounty by legislating this glorious religion and sending them this honorable Messenger. He also reminds them of the covenant and pledges that He took from them to follow the Messenger , support and aid him, implement his Law and convey it on his behalf, while accepting it themselves. Allah said,وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَـقَهُ الَّذِى وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا(And remember Allah's favor upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, "We hear and we obey.") This is the pledge that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when they embraced Islam. They used to say, "We gave our pledge of obedience to the Messenger of Allah to hear and obey, in times when we are active and otherwise, even if we were passed on for rights, and not to dispute leadership with its rightful people." Allah also said,وَمَا لَكُمْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَـقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ(And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord; and He has indeed taken your covenant, if you are real believers.) It was also said that this Ayah (5:7) reminds the Jews of the pledges and promises Allah took from them to follow Muhammad and adhere to his Law, as `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas stated. Allah then said,وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ(And have Taqwa of Allah.) in all times and situations. Allah says that He knows the secrets and thoughts that the hearts conceal,إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ(Verily, Allah is All-Knower of the secrets of (your) breasts.)The Necessity of Observing JusticeAllah said,يَـأَيُّهَآ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ للَّهِ(O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah...) meaning, in truth for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of people or for fame,شُهَدَآءَ بِالْقِسْطِ(as just witnesses) observing justice and not transgression. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that An-Nu`man bin Bashir said, "My father gave me a gift, but `Amrah bint Rawahah, my mother, said that she would not agree to it unless he made Allah's Messenger ﷺ as a witness to it. So, my father went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ to ask him to be a witness to his giving me the gift. Allah's Messenger ﷺ asked,«أكل ولدك نحلت مثله؟»(`Have you given the like of it to everyone of your offspring') He replied in the negative. Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,«اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَاعْدِلُوا فِي أَوْلَادِكُم»(Have Taqwa of Allah and treat your children equally.) And said;«إِنِّي لَا أَشْهَدُ عَلى جَوْر»(I shall not be witness to injustice.) My father then returned and took back his gift." Allah said;وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ(and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. ) The Ayah commands: Do not be carried away by your hatred for some people to avoid observing justice with them. Rather, be just with every one, whether a friend or an enemy. This is why Allah said,اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى(Be just: that is nearer to Taqwa) this is better than if you abandon justice in this case. Although Allah said that observing justice is `nearer to Taqwa', there is not any other course of action to take, therefore `nearer' here means `is'. Allah said in another Ayah,أَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَيْرٌ مُّسْتَقَرّاً وَأَحْسَنُ مَقِيلاً(The dwellers of Paradise will, on that Day, have the best abode, and have the fairer of places for repose.) Some of the female Companions said to `Umar, "You are more rough and crude than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ," meaning, you are rough, not that the Prophet is rough at all. Allah said next,وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ(and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is WellAcquainted with what you do.) and consequently, He will reward or punish you according to your actions, whether good or evil. Hence Allah's statement afterwards,وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ(Allah has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness) for their sins,وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ(and a great reward.) which is Paradise, that is part of Allah's mercy for His servants. They will not earn Paradise on account of their good actions, but rather on account of His mercy and favor, even though they will qualify to earn this mercy on account of their good actions. Allah has made these actions the cause and path that lead to His mercy, favor, pardon and acceptance. Therefore, all this is from Allah Alone and all thanks are due to Him. Allah said next,وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَآ أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَحِيمِ(And they who disbelieve and deny our Ayat are those who will be the dwellers of the Hell-fire.) This only demonstrates Allah's perfect justice, wisdom and judgment, He is never wrong, for He is the Most Wise, Most Just and Most Able.Among Allah's Favors is that He Prevented the Disbelievers from Fighting the MuslimsAllah said,يَـأَيُّهَآ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ هَمَّ قَوْمٌ أَن يَبْسُطُواْ إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَكَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ(O you who believe! Remember the favor of Allah unto you when some people desired (made a plan) to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) withheld their hands from you.) `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Jabir said, "The Prophet once stayed at an area and the people spread out seeking shade under various trees. The Prophet hung his weapon on a tree, and a bedouin man came and took possession of the Prophet's weapon and held it aloft. He came towards the Prophet and said, `Who can protect you from me' He replied, `Allah, the Exalted, Most Honored.' The bedouin man repeated his question twice or thrice, each time the Prophet answering him by saying, `Allah.' The bedouin man then lowered the sword, and the Prophet called his Companions and told them what had happened while the bedouin was sitting next to him, for the Prophet did not punish him.' Ma`mar said that Qatadah used to mention that some Arabs wanted to have the Prophet killed, so they sent that bedouin. Qatadah would then mention this Ayah,اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ هَمَّ قَوْمٌ أَن يَبْسُطُواْ إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ(Remember the favor of Allah unto you when some people desired (made a plan) to stretch out their hands against you...) The story of this bedouin man, whose name is Ghawrath bin Al-Harith, is mentioned in the Sahih. Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar, Mujahid and `Ikrimah said that this Ayah was revealed about Bani An-Nadir, who plotted to drop a stone on the head of the Messenger when he came to them for help to pay the blood money of two persons whom Muslims killed. The Jews left the execution of this plot to `Amr bin Jihash bin Ka`b and ordered him to throw a stone on the Prophet from above, when he came to them and sat under the wall. Allah told His Prophet about their plot, and he went back to Al-Madinah and his Companions followed him later on. Allah sent down this Ayah concerning this matter. Allah's statement,وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ(And in Allah let the believers put their trust.) and those who do so, then Allah shall suffice for them and shall protect them from the evil plots of the people. Thereafter, Allah commanded His Messenger to expel Bani An-Nadir, and he laid siege to their area and forced them to evacuate Al-Madinah.

”اسلام“ زبان سے عہد اور ”ایمان“ عمل سے اطاعت اس عہد کا اظہار ٭٭اس دین عظیم اور اس رسول اللہ کو بھیج کر جو احسان اللہ تعالیٰ نے اس امت پر کیا ہے، اسے یاد دلا رہا ہے اور اس عہدے پر مضبوط رہنے کی ہدایت کر رہا ہے جو مسلمانوں نے اللہ کے پیغمبر صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی تابعداری اور امداد کرنے، دین پر قائم رہنے، اسے قبول کر لینے، اسے دوسروں تک پہنچانے کیلئے کیا ہے۔ اسلام لاتے وقت انہی چیزوں کا ہر مومن اپنی بیعت میں اقرار کرتا تھا، چنانچہ صحابہ رضی اللہ عنہم کے الفاظ ہیں کہ ہم نے رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے بیعت کی کہ ”ہم سنتے رہیں گے اور مانتے چلے جائیں گے، خواہ جی چاہے خواہ نہ چاہے، خواہ دوسروں کو ہم پر ترجیح دی جائے اور کسی لائق شخص سے ہم کسی کام کو نہیں چھینیں گے ۔ [صحیح بخاری:7056] ‏صفحہ نمبر2217باری تعالیٰ عزوجل کا ارشاد ہے کہ ” تم کیوں ایمان نہیں لاتے؟ حالانکہ رسول صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم تمہیں رب پر ایمان لانے کی دعوت دے رہے ہیں، اگر تمہیں یقین ہو اور اس نے تم سے عہد بھی لے لیا ہے “۔ یہ بھی کہا گیا ہے کہ اس آیت میں یہودیوں کو یاد دلایا جا رہا ہے کہ تم سے نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی تابعداری کے قول قرار ہو چکے ہیں، پھر تمہاری نافرمانی کے کیا معنی؟ یہ بھی کہا گیا ہے کہ حضرت آدم علیہ السلام کی پیٹھ سے نکال کر جو عہد اللہ رب العزت نے بنو آدم سے لیا تھا، اسے یاد دلایا جا رہا ہے جس میں فرمایا تھا کہ ” کیا میں تمہارا رب نہیں ہوں؟ “ سب نے اقرار کیا کہ ہاں ہم اس پر گواہ ہیں، لیکن پہلا قول زیادہ ظاہر ہے۔ سدی رحمة الله اور سیدنا ابن عباس رضی اللہ عنہ سے وہی مروی ہے اور امام ابن جریر رحمہ اللہ نے بھی اسی کو مختار بتایا ہے۔ ہر حال میں ہر حال میں انسان کو اللہ کا خوف رکھنا چاہیئے۔ دلوں اور سینوں کے بھید سے وہ واقف ہے۔ ایمان والو لوگوں کو دکھانے کو نہیں بلکہ اللہ کی وجہ سے حق پر قائم ہو جاؤ اور عدل کے ساتھ صحیح گواہ بن جاؤ۔صفحہ نمبر2218بخاری و مسلم میں سیدنا نعمان بن بشیر رضی اللہ عنہ سے روایت ہے کہ میرے باپ نے مجھے ایک عطیہ دے رکھا تھا، میری ماں عمرہ بنت رواحہ نے کہا کہ میں تو اس وقت تک مطمئن نہیں ہونے لگی جب تک کہ تم اس پر رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو گواہ نہ بنا لو، میرے باپ نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی خدمت میں حاضر ہوئے واقعہ بیان کیا تو آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے دریافت فرمایا کیا اپنی دوسری اولاد کو بھی ایسا ہی عطیہ دیا ہے؟ جواب دیا کہ نہیں، تو آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فرمایا: اللہ سے ڈرو، اپنی اولاد میں عدل کیا کرو، جاؤ میں کسی ظلم پر گواہ نہیں بنتا ۔ چنانچہ میرے باپ نے وہ صدقہ لوٹا لیا ۔ [صحیح بخاری:2586] ‏ پھر فرمایا ” دیکھو کسی کی عداوت اور ضد میں آ کر عدل سے نہ ہٹ جانا۔ دوست ہو یا دشمن ہو، تمہیں عدل و انصاف کا ساتھ دینا چاہیئے، تقوے سے زیادہ قریب یہی ہے “۔ «هُوَ» کی ضمیر کے مرجع پر دلالت فعل نے کر دی ہے جیسے کہ اس کی نظریں قرآن میں اور بھی ہے اور کلام عرب میں بھی، جیسے اور جگہ ہے «وَإِن قِيلَ لَكُمُ ارْجِعُوا فَارْجِعُوا هُوَ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَاللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ» ‏ [24-النور:28] ‏ یعنی ” اگر تم کسی مکان میں جانے کی اجازت مانگو اور نہ ملے بلکہ کہا جائے کہ واپس جاؤ تو تم واپس چلے جاؤ یہی تمہارے لیے زیادہ پاکیزگی کا باعث ہے “۔ پس یہاں «هُوَ» کی ضمیر کا مرجع مذکور نہیں، لیکن فعل کی دلالت موجود ہے یعنی لوٹ جانا۔ اسی طرح مندرجہ آیت میں یعنی عدل کرنا۔صفحہ نمبر2219یہ بھی یاد رہے کہ یہاں پر «هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى» «أَفْعَلِ التَّفْضِيلِ» کا صیغہ ایسے موقعہ پر ہے کہ دوسری جانب اور کوئی چیز نہیں، جیسے اس آیت میں ہے، «اَصْحٰبُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَىِٕذٍ خَيْرٌ مُّسْتَــقَرًّا وَّاَحْسَنُ مَقِيْلًا» [25-الفرقان:24] ‏۔ اور جیسے کہ کسی صحابیہ رضی اللہ عنہا کا عمر رضی اللہ عنہ سے کہنا کہ «‏اَنْتَ اَفَظُّ وَاَغْلَظُ مِنْ رَّسُوْلِ الّلهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ» ‏۔ [صحیح بخاری:3294] ‏ ” اللہ سے ڈرو! وہ تمہارے عملوں سے باخبر ہے، ہر خیر و شر کا پورا پورا بدلہ دے گا “۔ وہ ایمان والوں، نیک کاروں سے ان کے گناہوں کی بخشش کا اور انہیں اجر عظیم یعنی جنت دینے کا وعدہ کر چکا ہے۔ گو دراصل وہ اس رحمت کو صرف فعل الٰہی سے حاصل کرینگے لیکن رحمت کی توجہ کا سبب ان کے نیک اعمال بنے۔ پس حقیقتاً ہر طرح قابل تعریف و ستائش اللہ ہی ہے اور یہ سب کچھ اس کا فضل و رحم ہے۔ حکمت و عدل کا تقاضا یہی تھا کہ ایمانداروں اور نیک کاروں کو جنت دی جائے اور کافروں اور جھٹلانے والوں کو جہنم واصل کیا جائے چنانچہ یونہی ہوگا۔ پھر اپنی ایک اور نعمت یاد دلاتا ہے، جس کی تفصیل یہ ہے، سیدنا جابر رضی اللہ عنہ فرماتے ہیں کہ نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ایک منزل میں اترے، لوگ ادھر ادھر سایہ دار درختوں کی تلاش میں لگ گئے۔ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے ہتھیار اتار کر ایک درخت پر لٹکا دئے۔ ایک اعرابی نے آ کر آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی تلوار اپنے ہاتھ میں لے لی اور اسے کھینچ کر نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے پاس کھڑا ہو گیا اور کہنے لگا اب بتا کہ مجھ سے تجھے کون بچا سکتا ہے؟ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فوراً بعد جواب دیا کہ اللہ عزوجل ، اس نے پھر یہی سوال کیا اور آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے پھر یہی جواب دیا، تیسری مرتبہ کے جواب کے ساتھ ہی اس کے ہاتھ سے تلوار گر پڑی۔ اب آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے صحابہ رضی اللہ عنہم کو آواز دی اور جب وہ آ گئے تو ان سے سارا واقعہ کہہ دیا۔ اعرابی اس وقت بھی موجود تھا، لیکن آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے اس سے کوئی بدلہ نہ لیا ۔ [صحیح بخاری:4135] ‏صفحہ نمبر2220قتادہ رحمة الله فرماتے ہیں کہ ”کچھ لوگوں نے دھوکے سے نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو قتل کرنا چاہا تھا اور انہوں نے اس اعرابی کو آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی گھات میں بھیجا تھا لیکن اللہ نے اسے ناکام اور نامراد رکھا «فالْحَمْدُ لِلَّـه» ۔ اس اعرابی کا نام صحیح احادیث میں غوث بن حارث آیا ہے۔ سیدنا ابن عباس رضی اللہ عنہ سے مروی ہے کہ یہودیوں نے آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو اور آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے صحابہ رضی اللہ عنہم کو قتل کرنے کے ارادہ سے زہر ملا کر کھانا پکا کر دعوت کردی، لیکن اللہ نے آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو آگاہ کر دیا اور آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم بچ رہے، یہ بھی کہا گیا ہے کہ کعب بن اشرف اور اس کے یہودی ساتھیوں نے اپنے گھر میں بلا کر آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو صدمہ پہنچانا چاہا تھا ۔ ابن اسحاق رحمة الله وغیرہ کہتے ہیں کہ اس سے مراد بنو نضیر کے وہ لوگ ہیں جنہوں نے چکی کا پاٹ قلعہ کے اوپر سے آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے سر پر گرانا چاہتا تھا جبکہ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم عامری لوگوں کی دیت کے لینے کیلئے ان کے پاس گئے تھے تو ان شریروں نے عمرو بن حجاش بن کعب کو اس بات پر آمادہ کیا تھا کہ ہم نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو نیچے کھڑا کر کے باتوں میں مشغول کر لیں گے تو اوپر سے یہ پھینک کر آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا کام تمام کر دینا لیکن راستے میں ہی اللہ تعالیٰ نے اپنے پیغمبر صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو ان کی شرارت و خباثت سے آگاہ کر دیا آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم مع اپنے صحابہ رضی اللہ عنہم کے وہیں سے پلٹ گئے۔ اسی کا ذکر اس آیت میں ہے، ” مومنوں کو اللہ تعالیٰ ہی پر بھروسہ کرنا چاہیئے جو کفایت کرنے والا، حفاظت کرنے والا ہے “۔ اس کے بعد نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم اللہ کے حکم سے بنو نضیر کی طرف مع لشکر گئے، محاصرہ کیا، وہ ہارے اور انہیں جلا وطن کر دیا۔ [تفسیر ابن جریر الطبری:11560] ‏صفحہ نمبر2221

آیت 11 یٰٓاَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اذْکُرُوْا نِعْمَتَ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْکُمْ اِذْ ہَمَّ قَوْمٌ اَنْ یَّبْسُطُوْٓا اِلَیْکُمْ اَیْدِیَہُمْ فَکَفَّ اَیْدِیھُمْ عَنْکُمْ ج یہ غزوۂ احزاب کے بعد کے حالات پر تبصرہ ہے۔ اس غزوہ کے بعد ابھی کفارّ میں سے بہت سے لوگ پیچ و تاب کھا رہے تھے اور بعید نہیں تھا کہ وہ دو بار مہم جوئی کرتے ‘ لیکن اللہ تعالیٰ نے ایسے حالات پیدا کردیے اور ان کے دلوں میں ایسا رعب ڈال دیا کہ وہ دوبارہ لشکر کشی کی جرأت نہ کرسکے۔ اس صورت حال کا ذکر اللہ تعالیٰ یہاں پر اپنے انعام کے طور پر کر رہے ہیں کہ جب کفار نے ارادہ کیا تھا کہ تم پر دست درازی کریں ‘ تمہارے اوپر زیادتی کرنے کے لیے ‘ تم پر فوج کشی کے لیے اقدام کریں۔اس میں خاص طور پر اشارہ صلح حدیبیہ کی طرف ہے۔ اس وقت بھی قریش لڑائی کے لیے بیتاب ہو رہے تھے ‘ ان کے نوجوانوں کا خون کھول رہا تھا ‘ لیکن بالآخر انہیں اس حقیقت کا ادراک ہوگیا کہ اب ہم مسلمانوں کا مقابلہ نہیں کرسکتے۔ گویا اللہ تعالیٰ نے ان کے دلوں میں رعب ڈال دیا اور ان کے ہاتھوں کو مسلمانوں کے خلاف اٹھنے سے روک دیا۔

CommentaryThe subject of the first of the three verses given above has appeared earlier in Surah al-Nis-a' in almost the same words. The only difference is that the arrangement of words there (4:135) was: كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّـهِ while, here (5:8), it has been said: كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّـهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ (be steadfast for Allah as witnesses for justice). A delicate reason for the alternation in words appearing earlier and later in these two verses has been given by Abu Ha-an in his Tafsir Al-Bahr al-Muhit a gist of which is given below.There are usually two causes which hold people back from doing justice and then make them do the unjust and the oppressive. The first one is taking the side of your own self, or that of your friends and relatives. Enmity with someone is the other cause. The verse in Su-rah al-Nis-a' is addressing itself to the first subject while this verse of Surah al-Ma'idah is oriented to the other.Therefore, the words which follow this sentence in Surah Al-Nisa' وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَ‌بِي that is, 'even though against yourselves or the parents, and the kinsfolk ...' After the sentence of Surah al-Ma'idah cited above, the words which follow in this verse are: وَلَا يَجْرِ‌مَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا that is, And malice against a people should not bid you to not doing justice ...' So, the essential message of this verse of Surah al-Nisa' is: When it comes to doing justice, let nothing affect you, neither your own self, nor your parents, nor your relatives. If the demand of justice happens to be against them, stay with nothing but justice. The essence of this verse from Surah al-Ma'idah is that hostility against an enemy should not affect your sense of justice to the limit that you start working against the demands of justice to harm your enemy.This is the reason why, by placing 'al-qist' (justice) first in the verse of the Surah al-Nisa', it was said: كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّـهِ... be upholders of justice, witnesses for Allah ... ) and, by placing 'lillah' (for Allah) first in the verse of Surah al-Ma'idah, it was said: كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّـهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ... be steadfast for Allah as witnesses for justice ) - though, both these modes serve the same purpose end-wise. It is obvious that a person who stands for justice will stand for none but Allah, and one who stands for none but Allah will do nothing but justice. But, when it comes to protecting personal interest or favouring friends and relatives, one may be tempted to justify the thought that the act of caring for relationships here is also for Allah. Therefore, by bringing in the word, 'al-qist' (justice) first at that point, the message given was that the concession which is contrary to justice cannot be for Allah. And in Surah al-Ma'idah, where the purpose was to enjoin justice with enemies, the word 'lillah' (for Allah) was brought in first, which took away the chances of sentimental attachments overpowering human nature. The point is, when you stand for Allah, the inevitable outcome should be an equal justice with enemies as well.In short, both these verses of Surah Al-Nisa' and Surah al-Ma'idah carry two elements of guidance. The first commands full adherence to justice whether dealing with friends or foes. No weakness should be shown on account of any relationship, friendly or hostile. The second instruction given in these two verses is that no one should avoid recording true evidence and stating what is the truth in honesty with Allah, so that the decision makers face no difficulty in arriving at the true, sound and just decision.The Holy Qur'an has stressed upon this subject in several verses with various angles telling people not to drag their feet and be tardy in appearing as true witnesses. Verse 2:283 from Surah Al-Baqarah carries a very clear command: وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ ۚ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ (And do not conceal the testimony. And whoever conceals it, his heart is, surely, a sinner) which proves that to give a true evidence is an obligation and its concealment, a grave sin.But, the Holy Qur'an has also kept in sight the impediments to the fulfillment of such duty. The central obstacle is that a witness is made to appear in the courts repeatedly where he is subjected to absurd cross-examinations aimed at breaking the witness and invalidating his testimony. The result is that anyone marked to be a witness is actually marked out for trouble. Kept away from what he does for living, he becomes a target of all sorts of inconveniences just for nothing. Therefore, when the Holy Qur'an says that the giving of true evidence is necessary (Wajib), it also says: وَلَا يُضَارَّ‌ كَاتِبٌ وَلَا شَهِيدٌ ( And neither scribe nor witness should be made to suffer - 2:282 ).A carefully investigated view of the courts and cases today will re-veal that spot witnesses and true witnesses are almost extinct. Any sensible person who happens to see something unusual taking place somewhere would instinctively run away from there lest he gets grabbed as a witness. The police fills out its case report with made-up witnesses the result of which could hardly be any different than what is being observed day in and day out. Not even five, or ten percent cases can be decided on the basis of truth and justice. Courts too can-not do anything about it. The kind of witnesses they receive are the only basis on which they have to arrive at their conclusions and decide cases.But, no one seems to notice the initial error being made in this matter. If witnesses are treated nicely and they are not harassed time and again, good people would not hesitate to come forward to register their testimony as required under the teachings of the Qur'an. But, what is happening here is that the first investigation of a case is handled by the police and it is, by itself, enough to drive a witness crazy by his repeated appearances at the station. Once a witness, he would never be a witness again, not even on his dead body. Then the case goes to the court, if it does. And if it does, there comes the problem of dates, one after the other, they keep coming, next and next. But, the witness becomes the victim who has to undergo the punishment of a crime he never committed when he comes to record his pres-ence on every such new date. This long-hauled rule of procedure, a sick vestige of the British colonist, has corrupted our courts and judicial departments. One naturally tends to compare it with the form of simple and speedy justice provided in modern-day Hijaz and elsewhere in which the number of pending cases cannot become so large, nor would they prolong so continuously, nor does it cause any harassment to witnesses while fulfilling their religious duty.To sum up, the blessings of an Islamic legal system can be seen even today by simply restructuring the law of evidence, and its attending rule of procedure, in accordance with the teachings of the Qur'an which require the knowers of truth to testify and which also command that they should not be put to any inconvenience and that they should be free to go within the shortest possible time after recording their testimony.Some forms of testimonyFinally, at this point, it is important to know that the sense of witness and testimony in current usage has become limited to testifying before a judge or Committee hearing suits and disputes. But, in the terminology of the Qur'an and Sunnah, the word 'Shahadah' (testimony) has a much broader sense. For instance, the medical certificate given to a sick person which states that he is unable to report on duty, or that he should be retired on medical grounds, is also a testimony. If the statement made in it was contrary to the actual condition of the sick person, it will turn into a false evidence and become a grave sin.Similarly, checking student papers and marking them out during tests and examinations is also an act of testifying. If any increase or decrease in the marks allotted in them was done knowingly or carelessly, that too shall be a false evidence, which is unlawful, and a grave sin.Certificates and testimonials awarded to successfully graduating students bear a witness that the awardee has the capability of doing what his or her documents say. But, should it be that the person concerned is, in fact, not so capable, then, everyone who has signed on that certificate or testimonial stands charged with the crime of false attestation.Correspondingly, casting a vote in favour of a candidate seeking election to assemblies, councils and public bodies is also a testimony in which the voter bears witness that, in his or her knowledge and estimation, the particular candidate is worthy of becoming a representative or spokesperson of the country and its people, both in terms of his ability and merits and in terms of his honesty and trustworthiness as well.Now, figure out how many of our representatives are there about whom this 'evidence' would prove to be true and correct? But, there is little that can be said about our electorate which seems to take this exercise of voting as some game where one either wins or loses. That, to them, is all there is to it. Yet, the right of vote is sold for money, or cast under pressure, or thrown away for fickle friends and shady promises. Leave others alone, even educated and observing Muslims fail to realize while voting for undeserving people that they were inviting the curse and punishment of Allah by putting their false evidence on record.There is yet another way of looking at the casting of votes to elect representatives in accordance with the Holy Qur'an. This is called 'Shafa` ah' (recommendation or Sifarish). It means that the voter approves of the candidate of his choice and recommends that he should be elected as a representative. The injunction of the Holy Qur'an relevant to this situation has appeared earlier in the words given below:مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا ۖ وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَّهُ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَاWhoever makes a good recommendation, there shall be for him a share from it (in the Hereafter). And whoever makes a bad recommendation, there shall be for him a share from it - (4:85).It means that anyone who makes a good, true and justified recommendation, then, he too will get a share from the good deed of the per-son he has recommended. And a person who makes a bad recommendation, that is, favours someone undeserving and bad to succeed through his recommendation, then, he too shall get a share from the bad deeds of the person he has recommended. Thus, when a candidate like this will, during his tenure of office, go on doing what is wrong and impermissible, it is obvious that the curse of his evil doings will fall on the voter as well.The vote has a third status in the sight of the Shari` ah of Islam - that of advocacy (Wakalah). This is, as if, the voter makes the candidate his representative and agent on his or her behalf. But, had this agency been connected with one of his personal rights and the gain or loss from it would have affected his person alone, then, he would have been responsible for it personally. However, that situation does not prevail here, because this agency concerns rights which the entire nation shares with him. Therefore, should a person contribute to the success of an undeserving candidate by voting for him as his representative, then, the sin of bulldozing the rights of the entire nation rests on his shoulders.To recapitulate, our vote has a three-pronged status: Shahadah (evidence), Shafa` ah (Recommendation) and Wakalah (Advocacy or representation in common rights). Under all three conditions, voting for a good and deserving person brings great reward the fruits of which are bound to reach the voter. Similarly, voting for someone undeserving and uncouth is false evidence, unjustified recommendation and impermissible advocacy all in one, so, the evil fruits of his thoughtless voting shall stand recorded in the voter's log of deeds.Therefore, it is the duty of every Muslim, man and woman, that he or she must fully investigate into the background of the candidate being voted for well before the vote is cast. Let them make sure that the candidate is deserving, capable and honest - and not otherwise. Negligence, apathy and heedlessness are poor reasons to go about committing such grave crimes. If done for no reason, it is absurdity at its worst.