Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ma'idah Verse 8

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O you who believe, be steadfast for (obeying the commands of) Allah, (and) witnesses for justice. Malice against a people should not prompt you to avoid doing justice. Do justice. That is nearer to Taqwā. Fear Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O you who believe, stand firm for Allah by bearing true testimony, and do not let the hatred of a people lead you away from justice. Be just; that is closer to righteousness. And fear Allah, for Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

A. J. Arberry

O believers, be you securers of justice, witnesses for God. Let not detestation for a people move you not to be equitable; be equitable -- that is nearer to godfearing. And fear God; surely God is aware of the things you do.

Abdul Haleem

You who believe, be steadfast in your devotion to God and bear witness impartially: do not let hatred of others lead you away from justice, but adhere to justice, for that is closer to awareness of God. Be mindful of God: God is well aware of all that you do.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O ye who believe! be maintainers of your pact with Allah and witnesses in equity, and let not the hatred of a people incite you not to act fairly; act fairly; that is highest unto piety. And fear Allah; verily Allah is Aware of that which ye work.

Abdullah 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.

Abul Ala Maududi

Believers! Be upright bearers of witness for Allah, and do not let the enmity of any people move you to deviate from justice. Act justly, that is nearer to God-fearing. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is well aware of what you do.

Ahmed Ali

O you who believe, stand up as witnesses for God in all fairness, and do not let the hatred of a people deviate you from justice. Be just: This is closest to piety; and beware of God. Surely God is aware of all you do.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O People who Believe! Firmly establish the commands of Allah, giving testimony with justice – and do not let the enmity of anyone tempt you not to do justice; be just; that is nearer to piety – and fear Allah; indeed Allah is Well Aware of your deeds.

Ali Quli Qarai

O you who have faith! Be maintainers, as witnesses for the sake of Allah, of justice, and ill feeling for a people should never lead you to be unfair. Be fair; that is nearer to Godwariness, and be wary of Allah. Allah is indeed well aware of what you do.

Ali Ünal

O you who believe! Be upholders and standard-bearers of right for God’s sake, being witnesses for (the establishment of) absolute justice. And by no means let your detestation for a people (or their detestation for you) move you to (commit the sin of) deviating from justice. Be just: this is nearer and more suited to righteousness and piety. Seek righteousness and piety and always act in reverence for God. Surely God is fully aware of all that you do.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O you who believe! be steadfast, upholders of the right for the cause of Allâh, bearers of true witness in equity, and do not let the enmity of a people move you at all to act otherwise than equitably. Be equitable (always); that is nearer to being secure against evil, and take Allâh as a shield. Surely, Allâh is Well-Aware of what you do.

English Literal

You, you those who believed, be just/upright to God, witnessing/testifying with the just/equitable, and (let) not a nation`s hatred and animosity make you commit a crime/sin , on (because) that you not be just/equitable, be just/equitable it is nearer/closer to the fear and obedience (of God), and fear and obey God, that God is expert/experienced with what you make/do.

Faridul Haque

O People who Believe! Firmly establish the commands of Allah, giving testimony with justice - and do not let the enmity of anyone tempt you not to do justice; be just; that is nearer to piety - and fear Allah; indeed Allah is Well Aware of your deeds.

Hamid S. Aziz

Allah has promised to those who believe and work righteousness, that for them is forgiveness and a mighty reward.

Hilali & Khan

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And remember Allah’s favour on you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said: We have heard and we obey. And keep your duty to Allah. Surely Allah knows what is in the breasts.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and he careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do.

Mohammed Marmaduke William 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.

Muhammad Sarwar

Believers, be steadfast for the cause of God and just in bearing witness. Let not a group's hostility to you cause you to deviate from justice. Be just, for it is closer to piety. Have fear of God; God is Well Aware of what you do.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Believers, be dutiful to Allah and bearers of just witness. Do not allow your hatred for other people to turn you away from justice. Deal justly; it is nearer to piety. Have fear of Allah; Allah is Aware of what you do.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just, that is nearer to Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

Wahiduddin Khan

Believers, be steadfast in the cause of God and bear witness with justice. Do not let your enmity for others turn you away from justice. Deal justly; that is nearer to being God-fearing. Fear God. God is aware of all that you do.

Talal Itani

O you who believe! Be upright to God, witnessing with justice; and let not the hatred of a certain people prevent you from acting justly. Adhere to justice, for that is nearer to piety; and fear God. God is informed of what you do.

Tafsir jalalayn

O you who believe, be upright before God, in [fulfilling] what is His due, witnesses in equity, in justice. Let not hatred of a people, namely, the disbelievers, cause you not to be just, and to harm them on account of their enmity; be just, towards both friend and foe, that, justice, is nearer to God-fearing. And fear God; surely God is aware of what you do, and will requite you for it.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ لِلّهِ

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,

شُهَدَاء 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 as a witness to it. So, my father went to Allah's Messenger to ask him to be a witness to his giving me the gift. Allah's Messenger 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 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;

وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَأنُ 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,

أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَيِذٍ خَيْرٌ مُّسْتَقَرًّا وَأَحْسَنُ مَقِيلً


The dwellers of Paradise will, on that Day, have the best abode, and have the fairer of places for repose. (25;24)

Some of the female Companions said to Umar, "You are more rough and crude than the Messenger of Allah," meaning, you are rough, not that the Prophet is rough at all.

Allah said next,

وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ



and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Well Acquainted 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