Sūrat an-Nisāʾ
Section 12 of 28 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
The Verses of Justice
Allah (swt) then continues with spending in the path of Allah, which recurs constantly, being again a very important aspect of Islam. Then Allah (swt) raises certain matters relating to the Banū Isrāʾīl, especially in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him): the deception they employed, and the untruths they would utter — the lies they would tell. That is treated there: be on guard against all of this. Then Allah (swt) says that Allah forgives everything — verse 48:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
“Surely, Allah does not forgive that a partner is ascribed to Him, and He forgives anything short of that for whomsoever He wills. Whoever ascribes a partner to Allah commits a terrible sin.” (4:48)
Allah forgives everything except shirk, the ascription of partners. There follow a number of warnings concerning one's enemies, and the non-Muslims of the time who caused much enmity and much opposition. It was a hard time, because there was a clear demarcation — you are of the other side — and no middle ground.
Islam is the religion of justice, fairness and equality. That is why Allah (swt) tells us, in verses 58 and 59, which are considered the verses of justice — though one of the greatest declarations of justice in the Qur'an is where Allah placed the scale: everything in the world is within a balance, and whoever upsets it is abusing it.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
“Surely, Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between people, judge with justice. Surely, excellent is the exhortation Allah gives you. Surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (4:58)
Allah (swt) has commanded you to fulfil your trusts. Whatever is entrusted to you, you must discharge rightly, whoever the party may be: the trust owed to your wife, to your husband, to your children, to your community, to humanity, to Allah, and to the Messenger (peace be upon him). And whenever you have to decide among people, whenever you have to judge between people — not that you sit as a judge, but in any situation in which you are made to judge between people — let neither family ties nor business relationships nor anything else stand in the way, but be just. Those who are just, whatever comes between, will always be remembered. This is a weighty matter on which Allah is counselling you. Allah is All-Hearing and All-Seeing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
“O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Then, if you quarrel about something, revert it back to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is good, and the best at the end.” (4:59)
The next verse, 59: O you who believe, obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and obey those in authority over you. An employer who holds authority; the head of a committee of which one is a member; the leader of one's locality or one's country — whoever holds authority over you is to be obeyed in anything in which he is not being abusive, at the least. Where he is, one protests and does what is right; but otherwise, wherever it is right, obedience is due. This is a rule for social consistency, for social harmony. It is not only that one worships, but one must also obey those set above one in certain positions. Allah has given them that position, and there is a reason for it: that the harmony must be maintained.