But if it be found that they have laid claim in sin, then two others shall stand in their place — the two foremost from those that lay claim — and let them swear by God: “Our witness is worthier than their witness; and we have not transgressed: then would we be among the wrongdoers.”
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | fa-in | Then if | |
| 2 | ʿuthira | it is discovered | عثر |
| 3 | ʿalā | (on) | |
| 4 | annahumā | that the two | |
| 5 | is'taḥaqqā | (were) guilty | حقق |
| 6 | ith'man | (of) sin | اثم |
| 7 | faākharāni | then (let) two others | اخر |
| 8 | yaqūmāni | stand | قوم |
| 9 | maqāmahumā | (in) their place | قوم |
| 10 | mina | from | |
| 11 | alladhīna | those who | |
| 12 | is'taḥaqqa | have a lawful right | حقق |
| 13 | ʿalayhimu | over them | |
| 14 | l-awlayāni | the former two | ولي |
| 15 | fayuq'simāni | and let them both swear | قسم |
| 16 | bil-lahi | by Allah | |
| 17 | lashahādatunā | Surely our testimony | شهد |
| 18 | aḥaqqu | (is) truer | حقق |
| 19 | min | than | |
| 20 | shahādatihimā | testimony of the other two | شهد |
| 21 | wamā | and not | |
| 22 | iʿ'tadaynā | we have transgressed | عدو |
| 23 | innā | Indeed, we | |
| 24 | idhan | then | |
| 25 | lamina | (will be) of | |
| 26 | l-ẓālimīna | the wrongdoers | ظلم |
If it then comes to light that the two of them have merited the allegation of wrongdoing, two others who have the most right to do so should take their place and swear by Allah: ‘Our testimony is truer than their testimony. We have not committed perjury. If we had we would indeed be wrongdoers.’
If it is then found out that they had lied, then two others will take their place from those who were present, and they will swear by God: "Our testimony is more truthful than their testimony, and if we aggress, then we are of the wicked. "
If the witnesses commit this very violation, then let two others from among the nearest in kin take their place and swear by God, "Our testimony (that we have heard from the deceased before) is truer than these two, and we have not transgressed the bounds of right, or else, may we indeed be counted among the transgressors. "
But if it be found that they have laid claim in sin, then two others shall stand in their place — the two foremost from those that lay claim — and let them swear by God: “Our witness is worthier than their witness; and we have not transgressed: then would we be among the wrongdoers.”
If it is then found that they had indeed incurred the sin, then two others, from those who have been named as beneficiaries, will take their place; and they will swear by God: "Our testimony is more truthful than their testimony, and if we aggress, then we are of the wicked."
In case it is noticed that they were biased, then two others belonging to the discriminated party shall take their place. They should swear by God, "Our testimony is more truthful than their testimony, and if we transgress, then we are of the wicked."
If the witnesses are found to be guilty of bias, then two others shall be asked to take their places. Choose two persons who were victimized by the first witnesses, and let them swear by GOD: "Our testimony is more truthful than theirs; we will not be biased. Otherwise, we will be transgressors."
If it transpires they have concealed the truth, two of those who are immediately concerned should take their place and swear by God: "Our testimony is truer than theirs. We have stated no more (than the truth), or else we shall be unjust"
But if it is found that those two were guilty of perjury, let two others stand in their place foremost from those who have a lawful right. And let them swear by Allah, "Our testimony is truer than their testimony, and we have not transgressed. Indeed, we would then be of the wrongdoers."
But if afterwards it should come to light that the two have become guilty of sin, then two others - from among those whom the two former have deprived of their right - shall take their place and shall swear by God, "Our testimony is indeed truer than the testimony of these two, and we have not transgressed the bounds of what is right - or else, may we indeed be counted among the evildoers!"
But then, if it is afterwards ascertained that both of them merit (the suspicion of) sin, let two others take their place of those nearly concerned, and let them swear by Allah, (saying): Verily our testimony is truer than their testimony and we have not transgressed (the bounds of duty), for them indeed we should be of the evil-doers.
Then if it is discovered later that the two are guilty of such sin, then two others shall stand in their place from among those against whom the two had sinfully deposed, and swear by Allah: 'Our testimony is truer than the testimony of the other two, and we have not transgressed in our statement; for then indeed we would become wrong-doers.'
However, if it is found out, that they have willfully uttered false evidence while on oath, they are replaced by others who claim lawful right to the deceased estate. They are sworn that their evidence is more consistent with fact than that given by the other two men, "whom", they say, "we do not falsely accuse of perjury nor do we give false evidence lest we would be wrongful of actions".
If the witnesses are found to be guilty of this same sin, then choose two witnesses among those who were the victims to their false testimony. The latter should say: "By Lord our testimony is the whole truth and, if we lie, we will be among the unjust people in the sight of God."
If then it gets known that these two had been guilty of sin, let two others stand forth in their places, nearest in kin from among those who claim a lawful right. Let them swear by Allâh (saying): "We affirm that our testimony is truer than that of both of them, and that we have not trespassed (the truth), for then indeed we should be of the wrong-doers."
But if it gets known that these two were guilty of the sin (of perjury), let two others stand forth in their places,- nearest in kin from among those who claim a lawful right: let them swear by Allah: "We affirm that our witness is truer than that of those two, and that we have not trespassed (beyond the truth): if we did, behold! the wrong be upon us!"
If they are found guilty ˹of false testimony˺, let the deceased’s two closest heirs affected by the bequest replace the witnesses and testify under oath ˹saying˺, "By Allah! Our testimony is truer than theirs. We have not transgressed. Otherwise, we would surely be wrongdoers."
Then, if it is discovered that the two had rendered themselves liable to a sin, then, in their place shall stand two others, closest of those whose right has been taken away, and they shall swear by Allah, "Our evidence is more truthful than their evidence, and we have not transgressed; otherwise we should be among the unjust."
If it is discovered that these two are guilty , two of those whose rights have been usurped have a better right to bear witness in their place. Let them swear by God, ‘Our testimony is truer than theirs. We have said nothing but the truth, for that would make us wrongdoers’:
But if it be discovered that both of them have merited the accusation of any sin, then two others shall stand in their place, these being the nearest of those most concerned, and they shall swear by God, 'Our testimony is truer than their testimony, and we have not transgressed, for then we would assuredly be among the evildoers. '
But if it shall be lit upon that they too have deserved the imputation of sin, then let two others stand up in their place with those who think them deserving of the imputation, the nearest two in kin, and they shall both swear by God, 'Indeed, our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two, and we have not transgressed, for then we should surely be of the unjust:'
But if it later found that they too have deserved the imputation of sin, then let two others stand up in their place with those who think them deserving of the imputation, the nearest two in kin, and they shall both swear by Allah, "Indeed, our testimony is truer than the testimony of those other two, and we have not transgressed, for then we should surely be of the unjust. "
Yet, in case it be discovered that both of them have truly merited (the accusation of) vice, then two others shall rise up in place (Literally: in both their stations) of the ones nearest of the most concerned, (Literally: truly merit the right to witness, or near kinship, or who claim a lawful right) then they both shall swear by Allah, "Indeed our testimony is truer than their testimony, and in no way have we transgressed, (for), surely in that case we are indeed of the unjust (people). "
But if it be discovered that the two witnesses are guilty of sin, then two others shall take their place from amongst those against whom the former two witnesses -- who were in a better position to give true evidence -- had deposed, and the two latter witnesses shall swear by Allah, saying, 'Surely our testimony is truer than the testimony of the former two, and we have not been unfair in any way; for then, indeed, we should be of the unjust. '
But if it gets known that these two were guilty of the sin (of lying after their promise), let two others stand forth in their places— Nearest of kin from among those, who claim a lawful right: Let them swear by Allah: "We affirm that our witness is truer than that of those two, and that we have not altered (the truth) or gone beyond (the bounds of duty) if we did, then look! The wrong (will) be upon us!"
But if it be discovered that these two have become guilty of sin, then let two others stand in their place from among those (heirs) against whom the (former) two (witnesses) who were in a better position (to give true evidence) are sinfully deposed, and the two (latter witnesses) swear by Allâh (saying), `Surely, our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two and we have not exceeded the bounds of justice (in bearing the evidence) for, in that case, we shall certainly be of the wrongdoers. '
But if it is found that both of them were guilty of a sin, then two others shall stand up in their place from among those nearest in kinship to the claimants and swear by Allah: ‘Our testimony is surely truer than their testimony, and we have not transgressed, for then we would indeed be among the wrongdoers. ’