The Holy Qor-aan 005:107
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا شَهَادَةُ بَيۡنِكُمۡ اِذَا حَضَراَحَدَكُمُ الۡمَوۡتُ حِيۡنَ الۡوَصِيَّةِ اثۡـنٰنِ ذَوَا عَدۡلٍ مِّنۡكُمۡ اَوۡ اٰخَرَانِ مِنۡ غَيۡـرِكُمۡ اِنۡ اَنۡـتُمۡ ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ فَاَصَابَتۡكُمۡ مُّصِيۡبَةُ الۡمَوۡتِ ؕ تَحۡبِسُوۡنَهُمَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ الصَّلٰوةِ فَيُقۡسِمٰنِ بِاللّٰهِ اِنِ ارۡتَبۡتُمۡ لَا نَشۡتَرِىۡ بِهٖ ثَمَنًا وَّلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبٰى ۙ وَلَا نَـكۡتُمُ شَهَادَةَ ۙ اللّٰهِ اِنَّاۤ اِذًا لَّمِنَ الۡاٰثِمِيۡنَ
Yaa-auy-yo-hul-la-zee-na-aa-ma-noo Sha-haa-da-to-bai-na-koom Ezaa-ha-za-ra-aa-ha-da-ko-mool-mao-to-he-nul-wa-see-ya Tith-naa-nay-za-waa-ud-lin-min-koom Auo-aa-kha-raa-nay-min-ghai-ray-koom In-un-toom-za-rub-toom-fil-ur-dzay Fa-aa-saa-ba-koom-mo-se-ba-tool-mao-tay
Tah-bay-soo-na-ho-maa-min-bau-dis-sa-laa-tay Fa-yooq-say-maa-nay-bil-laa-hay-aiy-nir-tub-toom Laa-nush-ta-re-bay-he-tha-ma-nun Wa-lao-kaa-na-zaa-qoor-ba Wa-laa-nuk-to-mo-sha-haa-da-tul-laa-hay In-naa-aiy-zul-la-may-nul-aa-thay-mee-n
Listen, you all who believed! The evidence between you When death came to one of you at the time of a sub-judice will Is two just persons among you Or two others not from among you If you had travelled in the world When the misfortune of death struck you.
You hold them both after the prayer Then both swearing by Allah — if you doubted — “We do not sell this (our evidence) for price Even if he had been of close relationship And we do not hide evidence we got with the will of Allah For then we will be among the sinners.”
The Holy Qor-aan has used the Phrase Yaa-auy-yo-hul-la-zee-na-aa-ma-noo many times
- يٰۤ — Yaa — Listen (= Be attentive; hearken; pay attention; O!)
- اَيُّهَا — Auy-yo-ha(ul) — You all (= All addressees; entire audience; whole lot of listeners)
- ٱلَّذِينَ — Ul-la-zee-na — Those who (= pl., m, 3rd person. Those articles, things or persons
- اٰمَنُوۡۤ — Aa-ma-noo — They Believed (= v., past., pl., 3rd person. Believed in the Holy Qor-aan; became Moslems. Accepted, acknowledged, admitted or witnessed their entry in Iss-laam. See Commentaries like Islam – 101, Phrase Aa-ma-noo-wa-aa-may-loos … and Believe and Disbelieve that floodlight other aspects how the Holy Qor-aan has used this word. A/t/a, ‘Believers’ and ‘O you who believe’)
- شَهَادَةً — Sha-haa-dah — Evidence (= n., An eye-witness account; anything that proves a fact; attestation; corroboration; evidence; observation; proof testimony. Any means that makes another person see a past event so clearly visible today as if he had seen it himself. A/t/a, ‘the best way of providing proof … is that the witnesses should be,’ ‘the right evidence and ‘the right guidance.’ But ‘let there be witnesses,’ ‘call to witness,’ ‘(take) the testimony,’ ‘(take) witnesses,’ ‘take witnesses,’ ‘let there be present’ and ‘let … act as witnesses’ are verbs and no translation of what the Holy Qor-aan has described by a noun)
- بَيۡنَ — Bai-na — Between (= Among; betwixt)
- كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., 2nd person. You all men. The Holy Qor-aan has addressed men and women jointly this way. A/t/a, ‘yourselves’)
- اِذَا — Ezaa — When (= At the time or event)
- حَضَرَ — Ha-dza-ra — Came to (= v., past., pl., 3rd person. Appeared; attended; arrived; presented; visited. A/t/a, ‘approaches,’ ‘draws nigh,’ ‘draweth nigh,’ ‘presents itself,’ ‘is approaching’ or ‘comes’ in the present tense are no translations of what the Holy Qor-aan has stated in the past tense)
- اَحَدَ — Aa-ha-da — One (= n., Individual; single. A/t/a, ‘any’ and ‘unto one of’)
- كُمُ — Ko-mo … (ol) — You (= pro., pl., 2nd person. You all men. See كُمۡ above. A/t/a, ‘of you’ and ‘you (and you wish to make your will)’
- الۡمَوۡتُ — Mao-to — Death (= n., After life has ended; downfall; end of life on earth; extinction; stupor)
- حِيۡنَ — He-nul — At the time of (= While. A/t/a, ‘while’)
- الۡوَصِيَّةِ — Wa-see-ya-tay — The Will (= n., s., f gender. Action to bequeath; bequest; binding injunction regarding the decedent’s assets; direction by the decedent to take effect after his death; testamentary disposition. A/t/a, ‘making bequests,’ ‘making the will,’ ‘making a will,’ ‘making your will,’ ‘making a bequest,’ ‘you make your testaments’ , ‘you make a bequest’ and ‘bequest.’ This verse covers both the making of a new and changing an existing Will that is sub-judice for being effectuated or contested)
- اثۡـنٰنِ — Ith-naa-nay — Two (= Two; the cardinal number that equals the sum of 1 + 1. A/t/a, ‘‘two witnesses’ and ‘they should be two’)
- ذَوَا — Za-waa — Of (= s., Belonging to; owning; with)
- عَدۡلٍ — Ud-lin … (m) — Just (= n., Balanced; full of equity and fairness; proper. A/t/a, ‘just men,’ ‘just persons’ and ‘honest men)
- مِّنۡ — Min — From among (= Among, from or out of the class or category of several articles, counts, kind, things, persons or phenomenon)
- كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., 2nd person. You all men. See كُمۡ above A/t/a, ‘your own (brotherhood)’ and ‘your own folk’)
- اَوۡ — Auo — Or (= Alternatively; in substitution. A/t/a, ‘but … witnesses from among you should not be available’)
- اٰخَرَانِ — Aa-kha-raa-nay — Two others (= n., 2pl., Of another group not mentioned before)
- مِنۡ — Min — From among (= Among, from the category of several. See مِّنۡ above)
- غَيۡـرِ — Ghai-ray — Other than (= Besides; out of. A/t/a, ‘not from among you,’ ‘the outsiders,’ ‘another tribe,’ ‘another people’ and ‘outside’)
- كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., 2nd person. You all men. See كُمۡ above
- اِنۡ — In — If (= In case; under the circumstances; when; whenever. A/t/a, ‘while’ and ‘whilst’)
- اَنۡـتُمۡ — Un-toom — You (= pro., pl., 2nd person. This is a combination of اِنۡ (Un) that means absolutely, clearly, really, surely, truly or verily and تُمۡ (toom) that means the same as كُمۡ above)
- ضَرَبۡتُمۡ — Dza-rub-toom — You travelled (= v., past., s., 2nd person. Literally beat, hit or went out. If followed by the phrase فِى الۡاَرۡضِ (fil-ur-dzay) the word means you travelled as stated in Note 003:157. A/t/a, ‘should be on a journey.’ But ‘journeying,’ ‘campaigning,’ ‘on a journey’ and ‘travelling’ in the present tense is no translation of what is stated in the Holy Qor-aan in the past tense)
- فِىۡ — Fee — In (= Amidst. Among. Contained or inside a duration, event, place, period, person, phenomenon, situation or thing. See Note 002:028. A/t/a, ‘through’)
- الۡاَرۡضِ — Ul-ur-dzay — The world (= Area; country; earth; ground; land; territories)
- فَ — Fa — Then (= After all this; at the end; consequently; finally; hence; so; thereafter; therefore; thus)
- اَصَابَتۡ Aa-sa-but — Struck (= v., past., f., 3rd person, Affected; afflicted; arrived; befell; came to; got hold of; landed upon; overtook; reached; smote; smut; struck. A/t/a, ‘befalls,’ ‘befall’ and ‘overtakes’ in the present tense is not a translation of what the Holy Qor-aan has stated in the past tense)
- كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., 2nd person. You all men. See كُمۡ above)
- مُّصِيۡبَةُ — Mo-se-ba-to (ol) — Misfortune (= n., s., Adversity; affliction; bad luck; calamity; catastrophe; difficult situation; disaster; hardship; loss; inconvenience; misfortune; severe problem; tribulation; trouble. A/t/a, ‘chance’ and ‘calamity’)
- الۡمَوۡتِ — Mao-tay — Death (= n., After life has ended; downfall. See الۡمَوۡتُ above)
- تَحۡبِسُوۡنَ — Tah-bay-soo-na — Hold (= v., pres., 2pl, 3rd person. Confine; imprison; limit; pin down. A/t/a, ‘detain,’ ‘You shall detain … for giving evidence,’ ‘you shall detain,’ ‘you should detain them’ and ‘you shall empanel them’)
- هُمَا — Ho-maa — Them both (= pro., pl., m., 3rd person. Refers to foresaid two persons. A/t/a, ‘both,’ ‘them’ and ‘both (the witnesses)’
- مِنۡ — Min — From among (= Among, from the category of several. See مِّنۡ above)
- بَعۡدِ — Bau-d … (iss) — After (= Afterwards; subsequent to; succeeding)
- الصَّلٰوةِ — Sa-laa-tay — The prayer (= n., Invoking blessings of Allah in a solemn prayer. A/t/a, ‘Al-Salat (the prayer)’
- فَ — Fa — Then (= After this; hence; so; thereafter. See فَ above)
- يُقۡسِمٰنِ — Yooq-say-maa-nay — Both swearing (= v., pres., 2pl., 3rd person. Taking oath. A/t/a, ‘let them both swear,’ ‘let them both swear … and bear witness),’ ‘let them both swear … (saying),’ ‘they shall swear … (saying),’ ‘they shall both sear,’ ‘they shall both swear … and affirm,’ ‘they shall be made to swear,’ ‘they should’ and ‘ask them to swear’)
- بِ — Bay — With (= Literally the word بِ means with. A/t/a, ‘by’)
- اللّٰهِ — Laa-hay –Allah (= The One and the Only One Almighty God)
- اِنۡ — In — If (= In case; under the circumstances; when. See اِنۡ above. A/t/a, ‘(then) if’ and ‘should’)
- ارۡتَبۡ — Ur-tub — Doubted (= v., past., s., 3rd person. Doubted or suspected the honesty; integrity and testimony. A/t/a, ‘doubt’ (their truth),’ ‘doubt (them),’ ‘doubt,’ ‘doubt’ their testimony,’ ‘doubt their honesty,’ ‘have doubt concerning their evidence,’ ‘doubt (their honesty in giving evidence)’and ‘you are in doubt (about their truthfulness)’
- تُمُ –Toom — You (= pro., pl., 2nd person. You all men. See كُمۡ above A/t/a, ‘ye’)
- لَا — Laa — Not (= Naught; neither; never; none; nor; not at all; absolute denial and total negation without exception)
- نَشۡتَرِىۡ — Nush-ta-re — We sell (= v., pres., s., 3rd person. Barter; exchange; trade. A/t/a, ‘We take,’ ‘We wish,’ ‘we will … take,’ ‘we shall have,’ ‘we will accept,’ ‘(saying: we will … take,’ ‘we will not sell’ and ‘we do not desire’)
- بِ — Bay — With (= Literally the word بِ means with. A/t/a, ‘in,’ ‘in exchange,’ ‘by’ and ‘for’)
- هٖ — He — this (= pro., s., m., 3rd person. Refers to the testimony. A/t/a, ‘our testimony’)
- ثَمَنًا — Tha-ma-nun — Price (= n., Consideration paid and accepted in an exchange for an article bought or sold; end; gain; profit; sum; value. A/t/a, ‘price,’ ‘a price,’ ‘any price,’ ‘a bribe,’ ‘personal interest to serve’ and ‘worldly gain’)
- وَّ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet)
- لَوۡ — Lao — If (= In case; under the circumstances; wish; would. A/t/a, ‘even though,’ ‘though,’ ‘(we will bear true evidence) even though,’ ‘even if’ and ‘even to’)
- كَانَ — Kaa-na — He has been (= v., past., s., m., 3rd person., Continued doing; used to. A/t/a, ‘the (beneficiary) Be,’ ‘he be,’ ‘there be,’ ‘the (beneficiary) is,’ ‘the person affected be,’ ‘the person affected thereby be,’ ‘he (in whose favor or against we bear evidence) be’ and ‘it were (on behalf of)’
- ذَا — Zaa — One of (= s., Belonging to; master, of, owner; possessor; with. A/t/a, ‘a near’ and ‘near of’)
- قُرۡبٰى — Qoor-ba — Close relationship (= n., Near; near kin; kindred; kinsfolk; kinsman; kith and kin; relation; relative. The combination of this and the prior word refers to close relatives. A/t/a, ‘our near relation,’ ‘our near relative,’ ‘kin,’ ‘relation,’ ‘relative,’ ‘a near kinsman’ and ‘a kinsman’)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَّ above)
- لَا — Laa — Not (= Naught; neither; never; none; nor. See لَا above. A/t/a, ‘nor’)
- نَـكۡتُمُ — Nuk-to-mo — We hide (= v., pres., s., 3rd person. Conceal; keep secret; omit to produce before those who have the right to know the truth. A/t/a, ’we hide,’ ‘shall hide,’ ‘will we hide,’ ‘conceal,’ ‘we shall … conceal,’ ‘we will … hide’ and ‘We shall … hide’)
- شَهَادَةً — Sha-haa-dah — Evidence (= n., Attestation; Corroboration. See شَهَادَةً above. A/t/a, ‘the evidence before,’ ‘testimony,’ ‘testimony enjoined by,’ ‘testimony (enjoined to be borne uprightly) and ‘our testimony before’)
- اللّٰهِ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The One and the Only One Almighty God)
- اِنَّا — In-naa — Surely we (= This combines two words. The first word اِنۡ (in) means absolutely, certainly, positively, surely or verily; the second word نَآ (naa) means we, us or our; and together the word اِنَّا (in-naa) combines both meanings. A/t/a, ‘If we do … be upon us,’ ‘we shall be,’ ‘we should be,’ ‘we shall certainly be’ and ‘we would’)
- اِ ذً ا — Aiy-zun — Then (= At the time, event, occasion or opportunity of. See اِذَا above. A/t/a, ‘then behold,’ ‘for,’ ‘in that case,’ ‘for if,’ ‘for … then’ and ‘for then’)
- لَ — La — Certainly (= Absolutely; assuredly; categorically; clearly, definitely; doubtlessly; earnestly; indeed; positively; surely; really; truly; verily)
- مِنَ — May-n … (ul) — From among (= Among, from the category of several. See مِّنۡ above. A/t/a, ‘of the’)
- الۡاٰثِمِيۡنَ — Aa-thay-mee-n — The sinners (= n., pl., Blame-worthy; confirmed guilty; convicts; criminals; wrongdoers. A/t/a, ‘sinners,’ ‘sinner,’ ‘the sinful,’ ‘the sin be upon us,’ ‘be guilty of sin’ and evil-doers’)
** Note 005:107. The directions detaining both and swearing by Allah if you doubt have been translated differently in applying to the witnesses whether of you, or of others, or both.
Some translations erred because the author failed to notice a particular punctuation and its effect. The Note 002:003 and Commentaries Punctuations and Vowels and The Holy Qor-aan and Different Translations can help to comprehend the text accurately.
