‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir (May Allaah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allaah (salla llaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Do you not know that last night certain Ayat were revealed the like of which there is no precedence. They are: ‘Say: I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Rabb of the daybreak’ (Surah 113), and ‘Say: I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Rabb of mankind’ (Surah 114).”
[Muslim].
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said:
Jaabir [radiyallaahu-anhu] said: The Messenger of Allaah [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] said, when one of you finishes his prayer in his masjid, then let him give his house a share of his prayer [i.e. pray the optional prayers at home], for indeed Allaah will place something good in his house due to his prayer.” [Muslim 778]
The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said: ‘’Do not make your houses [similar] to graveyards [i.e. because it is prohibited to perform salah in graveyards], for indeed shaytaan flees from a house in which Soorah al-Baqarah is recited.” [Muslim 780]
This shows that recitation of the Quraan and performing [optional] prayers in the houses is a means of getting close to Allaah, and it is something that Allaah loves. It is a means of receiving blessings in the houses and it prevents shaytaan from being present a lot. That is because shaytaan flees when he hears remembrance of Allaah. He hates to hear good and loves to hear evil. Therefore, whenever the people of a household recite the Qur’aan a lot, mention the Ahaadeeth a lot, perform a lot of dhikr by uttering Subhaanallaah and Laa ilaaha illal laah, they are more safeguarded from Shayaateen and distanced from him. And whenever the household is preoccupied with heedlessness, music, idle pursuits and gossiping, they are brought closer to the presence of the shayaateen who urges them towards falsehood.
Al-Fawaa’id Al-Ilmiyyah’ 1/123-124. Abridged & slightly paraphrased
In this Khutba Ustaadh Rayaan mentions briefly the meaning of each verse of the greatest Surah in the book of Allah.
Reciting Surah al-Faatiha as we all know, is an essential part of our daily prayers. It was narrated by Ubada bin As-Samit that Allaah’s Messenger (salla llaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, ” Whoever does not recite Surat Al-Faatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid”. This motivates every Muslim to understand the deep meanings behind the words of this Surah. Consequently, this helps us in keeping Khushoo’ while standing in front of Allaah in our prayers.
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:
The first command in the Mus’haf is the statement of Allaah [The Most High]:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِرَشً۬ا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً۬ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَخۡرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ رِزۡقً۬ا لَّكُمۡۖ فَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ أَندَادً۬ا وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious) – Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped). [Surah Al-Baqarah’ Aayaat 21-22]
The statement ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah’ necessitates ‘negation’ and ‘affirmation’. Negating every other thing worshipped besides Allaah because they are not worthy of worship, and affirming that Allaah alone is the true deity worthy of worship. The religion of Tawheed is founded upon these two foundations, just as Allaah stated that Ibraaheem [alayhis salaam] said to his people:
وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦۤ إِنَّنِى بَرَآءٌ۬ مِّمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى فَإِنَّهُ ۥ سَيَہۡدِينِ
And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am innocent of what you worship; Except Him (i.e. I worship none but Allah Alone) Who did create me, and verily, He will guide me.”
[Surah Az-Zukhruf’ Aayaat 26-27]
This was the path of every Messenger sent by Allaah [to the people]. Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِى ڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولاً أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَۖ
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).” [Surah An-Nahl’ Aayah 36]
Allaah [The Most High] said:
فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ
Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break.
[Surah Al-Baqarah’ Aayah 256]
Whoever says that ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah’ has indeed declared his freedom from every other thing worshipped besides Allaah and obligated on himself [or herself] to worship Allaah [alone]. This is a covenant obligated by a person on himself [or herself]. [Allaah (The Most High) said]:
فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَنۡ أَوۡفَىٰ بِمَا عَـٰهَدَ عَلَيۡهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤۡتِيهِ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا
Then whosoever breaks his pledge, breaks only to his own harm, and whosoever fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah, He will bestow on him a great reward.
[Surah Al-Fath’ Aayah 10]
Source; Muhaadaraat Fil Aqeedah Wad-Da’wah’ pages 15-16. Abridged and slightly paraphrased
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:
الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد خاتم الرسل، ومن تمسك بسنته وسار على نهجه الى يوم الدين
To proceed:
Indeed, [sound] Aqeedah is the foundation of the [upright] deeds and status of the of nations. The rectification of every nation and its [upright] ascendancy is tied to the soundness of its Aqeedah and Afkaar [Creed and Thoughts]; therefore, due to this reason, the Message of the Prophets [alayhimus salaatu was-salaam] came to rectify the Aqeedah [of the people]. So, the first thing every Messenger said to his people [was]:
ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ
Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. (La ilaha ill-Allah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah).
[Surah Al-A’raaf’ Aayah 59]
[Allaah (The Most High) said]:
وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِى ڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولاً أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَۖ
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).”
[Surah An-Nahl’ Aayah 36]
And that is because Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all Imperfections] created the Khalq [i.e. Jinn and Mankind] to worship Him alone and not to associate anything as a partner with Him, just as [Allaah (The Most High)] said:
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ
And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone)
[Surah Adh-Dhaariyaat’ Aayah 56]
Source: Muhaadaraat Fil Aqeedah Wad-Da’wah’ vol 1′ pg 7. abridged and slightly paraphrased
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said that Shu’aib [alayhis-salaam] said to his people:
[وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَـٰحِهَاۚ – And do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order] – Meaning: Do not commit acts of disobedience [in the earth] after Allaah has already set it in order through His command that justice be established and by sending Messengers [i.e. Messengers who came to convey Tawheed and all virtuous deeds; forbid Shirk and all evil deed].
[Source: Zaadul Maseer ‘by Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah)’ abridged and slightly paraphrased. Page 506. Publisher: Daar Ibn Hazm’ 1st Edition 1423AH (2002)]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism] to be affected by Allah’s Reminder [this Qur’an], and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taura (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before, and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiqun [rebellious, disobedient to Allah].
[Soorah Al-Hadeed: Ayah: 16]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said:
And when it is the case that Eemaan necessitates humility and calls for it, therefore they were called [to move up] from the station of Imaan to the station of Ihsaan; Meaning, ‘’Has the time not come for them to reach Ihsaan through Imaan and actualize that through their submission to Allaah’s Reminder [The Qur’aan], which Allaah sent down to them. Ibn Mas’ood [radiyallaahu-anhu] said, ‘’There was only four years between our [embracing] Islaam and [the revelation of this] admonition to us. [Ref 1]
And regarding the statement of Allaah:
وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
Lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before, and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened?’’
Imaam as-Saa’di [rahimahullaah] said:
That is: Do not become like those to whom Allaah revealed the book, which obligates humility and complete submission on the hearts; but they [i.e. those who received the scripture] neither preserved [the scripture] nor were they firm [in holding unto it]; rather the term was prolonged for them whilst they continued upon heedlessness, so their Eemaan dwindled and their certainty ceased. So, the hearts are always in need of a reminder regarding that which Allaah has revealed and the wisdom behind it. It is not permissible to be heedless of that, for indeed that is a cause for the hardening of the hearts. [Ref 2]
[Ref 1: Source: Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim’ page 129. Vol 3. Publisher: Daar Ibn Al-Jawziyyah 2nd ed 1431AH. Abridged & slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’. Publisher: Daar Ibn Hazm 1st ed 1424AH (Year 2003). Abridged & slightly paraphrased]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَانٍ مَرِيدٍ
And among mankind is he who disputes concerning Allah, without knowledge, and follows every rebellious [disobedient to Allah] Shaitan [devil] [devoid of each and every kind of good]. [22:3]
There is a party and a group amongst mankind who follow the path of misguidance. They argue based on falsehood and portray it as the truth. They wish to certify falsehood as truth and falsify the truth. The truth regarding them is that they are upon extreme ignorance and do not possess any knowledge, and the most they have is blameworthy blind following of their misguided figureheads among the rebellious devils- rebels against Allaah and His Messengers. Indeed, they oppose Allaah and His Messenger [Muhammad (sallal-laahyu-alayhi-wasallam)] and thus became from those figureheads who call to the hell fire.
Allaah [The Most High] said:
مَا يُجَادِلُ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَلا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِي الْبِلادِ
None disputes in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah but those who disbelieve. So, let not their ability of going about here and there through the land (for their purposes) deceive you. [Surah 40:4]
Allaah informed us that [مَا يُجَادِلُ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا – None disputes in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah but those who disbelieve]
The intended meaning behind the word ‘disputes’ here [i.e. in this aayah] is disputation to reject Allaah’s Aayaat [i.e. proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc] and oppose them with falsehood. This is a deed of the disbelievers, but as for the believers, they humble themselves to Allaah [The Most High], for indeed Allaah makes a statement of truth to invalidate falsehood.
It is not permissible for a person to be deceived by his worldly [affairs] and thinks that the favours Allaah has bestowed on him in this worldly life proves that Allaah loves him and he is upon the truth. And for this reason, Allaah He [Allaah (The Most High)] said: [فَلا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِي الْبِلاد -So let not their ability of going about here and there through the land (for their purposes) deceive you]- Meaning: going back and forth in pursuit of various affairs of trade and earnings; rather what is obligated on a servant [i.e. an obedient slave of Allaah] is that he utters the truth to the people, examines the state of affairs based on the legislated divine [commands and prohibitions ordained by Allaah] and passes judgement on the [affairs, circumstances etc] of the people through them. He does not weigh up the truth [solely based on the desires, views, likes or dislikes of] the people, just as what the one who neither has knowledge nor [sound] intellect is upon.
Allaah [The Most High] said:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ الْجَوَارِ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْأَعْلَامِ
And among His Signs are the ships, in the sea, like mountains.
إِن يَشَأْ يُسْكِنِ الرِّيحَ فَيَظْلَلْنَ رَوَاكِدَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ
If He wills, He causes the wind to cease, then they would become motionless on the back (of the sea). Verily, in this are signs for everyone patient and grateful.
أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ
Or He may destroy them (by drowning) because of that which their (people) have earned. And He pardons much.
وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ
And those who dispute as regards Our Ayat may know that there is no place of refuge for them. [42:35]
وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا – And those who dispute as regards Our Ayat’ –Meaning: In order to (declare) them untrue with their falsehood [i.e. those who seek to declare Allaah’s Aayat to be untrue by way of their false claims and arguments] مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ –there is no place of refuge for them- Meaning: There is no place of escape for them to stop the punishment from [reaching] them.
Allaah [The Most High] stated:
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَالْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ ۖ وَجَادَلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ
The people of Nuh (Noah) and the confederates after them denied (their Messengers) before these, and every (disbelieving) nation plotted against their Messenger to seize him, and disputed by means of falsehood to refute therewith the truth. So, I seized them (with punishment), and how (terrible) was My punishment! Thus, has the Word of your Lord been justified against those who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers of the Fire. [40:5-6]
Allaah [The Most High] mentioned -in this Aayah- those who argue against His Aayaat to nullify them [i.e. they argued against Allaah’s Aayaat to declare them false], just as the previous nations before them did, such as the people of Nooh, Aad and those confederates who formed an illegal partisanship and gathered against the truth, and to aid falsehood.
Then they reached this [evil, which is]: [وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ -And every (disbelieving) nation plotted against their Messenger to kill him]. This is the [most dangerous state] the Messengers can find themselves- the ones [i.e. the Messengers of Allaah] who are the [only perfect] leaders of the righteous people and possessors of pure truth about which there is neither any doubt nor ambiguity; however, they [i.e. their disbelieving peoples] plotted to kill them.
Is there any [act] of rebellion, misguidance and wretchedness that [can be severer] than this, so for this reason [the plotters deserved] a great punishment which they cannot escape. Allaah [The Most High] mentioned the punishment they [received] in this worldly life and what they will [receive] in the afterlife: [فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ -So I seized them]-Meaning: due to their act of wilful denial [i.e. their wilful denial of Allaah’s Aayaat by way of arguing with falsehood and plotting to kill Allaah’s Messengers] and their illegal partisanship. [فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ- And how (terrible) was My punishment!] [وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ -Thus has the Word of your Lord been justified against those who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers of the Fire].
[Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah). paraphrased and abridged]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Allaah [The Most High] said:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَاۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah; even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.
[Surah An-Nisaa’ Ayah 135]
Few Reminders From Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah]
Allaah [Glorified be He and Free is He From all Imperfections] command His [servants] to stand out firmly for justice on behalf of everyone – whether an enemy or an ally. And the affair that is most worthy of being established with justice -by a person- are the [sound and upright] statements, views and methodology related to the commands of Allaah and everything else Allaah has informed [His slaves in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah]. Therefore, to establish these affairs based on desires and disobedience is something contrary to the command of Allaah and a negation [i.e. either intentionally or unintentionally] of what Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was sent with [i.e. the Qur’aan and the Sunnah].
The establishment of justice [based on what Allaah and His Messenger have commanded] is the responsibility of those entrusted with the task to convey Islaam after the death of the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam], and this task cannot become a reality unless when one establishes it based on pure justice and sincerity to Allaah; [sincerity] to Allaah’s Book; [sincerity] to Allaah’s Messenger and out of sincere advice to Allaah’s servants. These [people] are the true inheritors [of the knowledge left behind by the Prophets].
[A true inheritor of the Prophet [i.e. a righteous scholar or teacher] is not that one who merely makes his companions, sect and school of thought the determinants of truth and the distinction between [truth and falsehood] -by showing enmity towards the one who opposes him and allies with the one who agrees with him, merely based on being opposed or agreed with, [without sound proofs based on the Book and the Sunnah]- for where is that [application of the] command to stand out firmly for justice on behalf of everyone [in the actions of that person who merely opposes or agrees with others based on other than the sound proofs found in the Qu’aan and the authentic Sunnah], even though standing out firmly for justice [based on the sound proofs in the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah] is the greatest command and obligation?!
Then Allaah (The Most High) says: [شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ – As witnesses to Allah]: A witness is that one who presents information about something; therefore if he presents credible information, he is [considered to be] a just witness and his [statement] is accepted; but if he gives false information, he is [considered] a false witness. Allaah [The Most High] command [us] to stand out firmly as just witnesses for His sake, therefore it has to be carried out for the Sake of Allaah and not for other than Allaah.
And in [Surah Al-Maa’idah Ayah 8, Allaah (The Most High) said]: [كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُہَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ – Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses]: This Aayah establishes four affairs: [1] One should stand out firmly for justice and [2] does so for the sake of Allaah; [3]Witness to justice and [4] does so for the Sake of Allaah.
Then Allaah [The Most High) said: [وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَۚ – Even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin];
Allaah [Glorified Be He and Free is He from all imperfections] commands [us] to stand out firmly for justice and testify [for or against] everyone, even if it were [against] someone who is the most beloved to person to [us]. A person should stand out firmly for justice [whether it is for or against] himself, his two parents, his other close relatives and his best friend amongst the people. If the person’s love for himself, his parents and his relatives prevents him from standing out firmly for the truth against them, especially if the truth is with someone he hates and regards as an enemy due to them, then indeed none will stand out firmly for justice in such circumstances except one whose love for Allaah and His Messenger is more than their love for everyone else.
On the other hand, a person has to establish justice when dealing with his enemies and [even when dealing with] that one who deprives him of his rights; for indeed it not permissible that hatred for his enemies leads him to be unjust towards them, just as it is not permissible [to allow] love of himself, his parents and relatives to make him abandon standing firmly for justice against them. Therefore, hatred harboured against someone should not lead him to falsehood and love [of himself, parents and relatives] should not make him fall short in establishing truth, just as some of the Salaf said: ‘’The just person is that one who when angry, his anger does not lead him to falsehood, and when he is pleased, it does not remove him from truth.” The two verses of the Qur’aan [i.e. 4:135 & 5:8] convey two rulings and they are: Standing out firmly for justice and making a truthful testimony to it- on behalf of one’s allies and enemies.
Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَاۖ – Be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you)]- Meaning: Allaah is the Lord of both of them and Allaah is their Protector, and they are both His slaves. It may be that you become fearful of standing firmly for justice by testifying against a rich person or a poor person – either fearing that the rich person might lose his wealth or because the poor person has nothing, so your hearts become lackadaisical towards standing out firmly for the truth. Therefore, it should be said to them [i.e. the people]: Allah is a Better Protector to both the rich and poor person [than you]. Allaah knows the affair of the rich person more than you and He is more Merciful to the poor than you, so do not refrain from standing out firmly for the truth and from giving testimony [for or against] the rich or the poor.
Then Allaah said: [فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْۚ – So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice]-Meaning: Allaah forbids [His slaves] from following desires, which will lead them to abandon justice. Then Allaah [The Most High] said:
[وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا – and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do]- Meaning: Allaah [Glorified Be He and Free is He from all imperfections] mentions two reasons that will inevitably lead to concealment of truth, then He warned against them and threatened [the one who perpetrates this sin]. The first of them is distortion and the second is to turn away from giving truthful witness. That is because when a proof that supports the truth is manifested and the one who wants to repel it finds no way of doing so, he refrains from mentioning it and thus becomes a silent devil, and sometimes he distorts it. Distortion is of two types: Distorting words and distorting meanings. Distorting words is when one utters a word in a context in which it does not establish the truth – either adding to the word or omitting something from it, or substituting it with something else- to the extent that the listener is made to believe something, whilst something else is intended by it, just as the Yahood [i.e. those Yahood who disbelieved in the Prophet & hated him] used to distort words when giving Salaam to the Prophet [i.e. saying As-Saamu Alayka (death be upon you), instead of saying Assalaamu alaykum). This is one type of distortion.
The second type of distortion is related to meanings – distorting the wording; giving it an interpretation that is not intended by the one who uttered it and pretending not to know what is not its intended meaning, or dropping other meanings intended by it etc. Allaah [The Most High] said:
[وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا – and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do].
And when it is the case that a witness is required to bear witness based on what the affair should be [i.e. the complete truth], therefore neither should he hide nor change it. Turning away from the testimony is tantamount to concealment and distortion is tantamount to alteration and substitution. Therefore, contemplate on this ayah and the treasures of knowledge it contains. The Eemaan of a person cannot be complete, except by way of accepting the texts of the sharee’ah and calling the people to them – neither turning away from them at times nor distorting them at other times.
[Source: Badaa’i At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah). Vol 1. Page 300-303. Abridged & slightly paraphrased]
Please you must listen to Ustaadh Abu Hakeem’s [may Allaah preserve him] Doubt Around The Dawah’ Part 10. He – by the Tawfeeq of Allaah- unveils the distortions, ignorance, transgression, falsehood and lies of those who have desperately sought to label