Sūrat an-Nisāʾ
Section 20 of 28 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Do Not Be an Advocate for the Deceivers
Another story here is related further on from verse 100. The discussion is thereafter all about the munāfiqīn, until Allah (swt) says:
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِمَآ أَرَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمًا
“Surely, We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, so that you may judge between people according to what Allah has shown you. Do not be an advocate for those who breach trust.” (4:105)
The one read earlier, 105. Here there was another case between a Jewish man and a munāfiq — an outwardly Muslim man. This man and his family were very influential, and they came and sought to convince the Prophet (peace be upon him) that they were in the right, whereas the right lay with the other side. No waḥy had come to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and on the face of it he felt that they might have the stronger case, so he was going to incline in that direction. Allah (swt) corrects this, and reveals this verse; and the words deserve attention. We have revealed the Book to you with the truth, so that you may judge between people according to what Allah shows you. Never be an advocate for the deceivers, for those who do not keep their trust.
وَٱسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلْ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا
“Seek forgiveness from Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Forgiving, Very-Merciful. Do not argue on behalf of those who betray themselves. Surely, Allah does not like anyone who is a sinful betrayer.” (4:106–107)
Wa-staghfiri Allāh: Allah tells the Prophet (peace be upon him) to seek forgiveness for this. It has gone down in history, in the Qur'an, to show how important justice is. Even when the Prophet (peace be upon him), not knowing the situation, was about to go with that side — he felt he was going with it — Allah (swt) made the matter very clear. But Allah immediately adds inna Allāha kāna ghafūran raḥīmā: if a mistake is made, Allah is ever forgiving. Wa-lā tujādil ʿani alladhīna yakhtānūna anfusahum: and do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves as well, for Allah (swt) does not love those who are deceivers.
What is interesting is that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) then gave judgement for the Jewish man, against that so-called Muslim, the latter fled. It was now clear that he had caused the trouble, so he fled secretly to Makkah, and there he openly became an apostate. He openly became an apostate. And that is why Allah (swt) then says:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
“Surely, Allah does not forgive that a partner is ascribed to Him, and forgives anything short of that for whomsoever He wills. Whoever ascribes a partner to Allah has indeed gone far astray.” (4:116)
Inna Allāha lā yaghfiru an yushraka bih: Allah does not forgive that partners be ascribed to Him. Wa-yaghfiru mā dūna dhālika li-man yashāʾ: and He forgives everything else — this being said with reference to that man.