Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

O you who heed warning: stand firm with equity, witnesses to God, though it be against yourselves, or parents, or relatives; whether he be rich or poor, God is closer to both. So follow not vain desire lest you be unjust; and if you distort or evade, God is aware of what you do.

يَٓا اَيُّهَا الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّام۪ينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَٓاءَ لِلّٰهِ وَلَوْ عَلٰٓى اَنْفُسِكُمْ اَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْاَقْرَب۪ينَۚ اِنْ يَكُنْ غَنِياًّ اَوْ فَق۪يراً فَاللّٰهُ اَوْلٰى بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوٰٓى اَنْ تَعْدِلُواۚ وَاِنْ تَلْـوُٓ۫ا اَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَب۪يراً
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanookoonoo qawwameena bilqisti shuhadaalillahi walaw AAala anfusikum awi alwalidayniwal-aqrabeena in yakun ghaniyyan aw faqeeran fallahuawla bihima fala tattabiAAoo alhawaan taAAdiloo wa-in talwoo aw tuAAridoo fa-inna Allahakana bima taAAmaloona khabeera
#wordmeaningroot
1yāayyuhāO you
2alladhīnawho
3āmanūbelieve[d]امن
4kūnūBeكون
5qawwāmīnacustodiansقوم
6bil-qis'ṭiof justiceقسط
7shuhadāa(as) witnessesشهد
8lillahito Allah
9walaweven if
10ʿalā(it is) against
11anfusikumyourselvesنفس
12awior
13l-wālidaynithe parentsولد
14wal-aqrabīnaand the relativesقرب
15inif
16yakunhe beكون
17ghaniyyanrichغني
18awor
19faqīranpoorفقر
20fal-lahufor Allah
21awlā(is) nearerولي
22bihimāto both of them
23falāSo (do) not
24tattabiʿūfollowتبع
25l-hawāthe desireهوي
26anlest
27taʿdilūyou deviateعدل
28wa-inAnd if
29talwūyou distortلوي
30awor
31tuʿ'riḍūrefrainعرض
32fa-innathen indeed
33l-lahaAllah
34kānaisكون
35bimāof what
36taʿmalūnayou doعمل
37khabīranAll-Awareخبر
  • Aisha Bewley

    You who have iman! be upholders of justice, bearing witness for Allah alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or poor, Allah is well able to look after them. Do not follow your own desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist or turn away, Allah is aware of what you do.

  • Progressive Muslims

    O you who believe, stand with justice as witnesses to God, even if against yourselves, or the parents or the relatives. Even if he be rich or poor, God is more worthy of them, so do not follow your desires from being just. And if you twist or turn away, then God is Expert over what you do.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Stand out firmly for justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it is against yourselves, your parents and your relatives, and whether the case is of a rich person or a poor person. Allah is nearer to them than you are; His Law comes first. Follow not your emotions lest you fall short of justice. If you distort your testimony or turn away from this Command, Allah is Aware of all your actions.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    O you who heed warning: stand firm with equity, witnesses to God, though it be against yourselves, or parents, or relatives; whether he be rich or poor, God is closer to both. So follow not vain desire lest you be unjust; and if you distort or evade, God is aware of what you do.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    O you who believe, stand with justice as witnesses to God, even if against yourselves, or the parents or the relatives. Even if he be rich or poor, God is more worthy of them, so do not follow desire into being unjust. And if you twist or turn away, then God is Expert over what you do.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    O you who acknowledge, stand with justice as witnesses to God, even if it is against yourselves, or the parents or the relatives, rich or poor, God is more worthy of them, so do not follow your desires from being just. If you twist or turn away, then God is Ever-aware of what you do.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe GOD, when you serve as witnesses, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives. Whether the accused is rich or poor, GOD takes care of both. Therefore, do not be biased by your personal wishes. If you deviate or disregard (this commandment), then GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    O you who believe, be custodians of justice (and) witnesses for God, even though against yourselves or your parents or your relatives. Whether a man be rich or poor, God is his greater well-wisher than you. So follow not the behests of lust lest you swerve from justice; and if you prevaricate or avoid (giving evidence), God is cognisant of all that you do.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort or refuse , then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.

  • Muhammad Asad

    O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God's claim takes precedence over either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort , behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (them ye are). So follow not passion lest ye lapse (from truth) and if ye lapse or fall away, then lo! Allah is ever Informed of what ye do.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Believers! Be upholders of justice, and bearers of witness to truth for the sake of Allah, even though it may either be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the rich or the poor: for Allah is more concerned with their well-being than you are. Do not, then, follow your own desires lest you keep away from justice. If you twist or turn away from (the truth), know that Allah is well aware of all that you do.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    O you who have conformed to Islam: "Charge yourselves with equity and recourse to the principles of justice and exercise your authority and power in maintenance of right, though it may be against yourselves, your parents, or your kindred, and do not be inclined to favour the rich for a gain nor the poor for sympathy. Rich or poor as they may be, Allah is He who is more capable of guarding their interests. Therefore, do not be influenced by emotion nor let the ruling passion conquer reason and sway you from justice. And if you should swerve from this course of action or turn a deaf ear, you must realize that Allah has always been ever Khabirun of all that you do."

  • Bijan Moeinian

    You, as a believer, should stand out firmly for justice. Therefore, if you testify, please God by saying the truth; even if it is against yourself, your parents and your dearest ones. It does not matter if the truth hurt the rich person or the poor person involved as seeking God’s pleasure has the priority Do not follow your sentiments in the matter of justice and know that God is fully aware of what you do.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allâh, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allâh is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allâh is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate ˹from justice˺. If you distort the testimony or refuse to give it, then ˹know that˺ Allah is certainly All-Aware of what you do.

  • Taqi Usmani

    O you who believe, be upholders of justice - witnesses for Allah, even though against (the interest of) your selves or the parents, and the kinsmen. One may be rich or poor, Allah is better caretaker of both. So do not follow desires, lest you should swerve. If you twist or avoid (the evidence), then, Allah is all-aware of what you do.

  • Abdul Haleem

    You who believe, uphold justice and bear witness to God, even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or your close relatives. Whether the person is rich or poor, God can best take care of both. Refrain from following your own desire, so that you can act justly- if you distort or neglect justice, God is fully aware of what you do.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    O believers, be you securers of justice, witnesses for God, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents and kinsmen, whether the man be rich or poor; God stands closest to either. Then follow not caprice, so as to swerve; for if you twist or turn, God is aware of the things you do.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    O ye who believe! be ye steadfast in justice, witnessing before God though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, be it rich or poor, for God is nearer akin than either. Follow not, then, lusts, so as to act partially; but if ye swerve or turn aside, God of what ye do is well aware.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    O you who believe! Be you steadfast in justice, witnesses for Allah, though it is against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, be it rich or poor, for Allah is nearer both than either. Follow not, then, lusts (prejudices, superstitions, passions), so as to act unjustly (or with bias); but if you swerve or turn aside, Allah is well Aware of what you do.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    O you who have believed, be constantly upright with equity (with others), witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or (your) parents and nearest kin. In case (the person) is rich or poor, then Allah is the Best Patron for both. So do not ever follow prejudice, so as to do justice; and in case you twist or veer away, then surely Allah has been Ever-Cognizant of whatever you do.

  • George Sale

    O true believers, observe justice when ye bear witness before God, although it be against your selves, or your parents, or relations; whether the party be rich, or whether he be poor; for God is more worthy than them both: Therefore follow not your own lust in bearing testimony, so that ye swerve from justice. And whether ye wrest your evidence, or decline giving it, God is well acquainted with that which ye do.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witness to Allah, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: Allah protects you both (much) better. So follow not the desires (of your hearts), because you may swerve, and if you distort justice, or decline to do justice; Surely, Allah is Well Acquainted (Khabeer) with all that you do.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    O you who believe! be strict observers of justice, bearers of true evidence for the sake of Allâh, even though it be against yourselves or (against your) parents or near of kin; (let neither of the parties) whether (the one against whom or the one in favour of whom you bear evidence) be rich or poor (weigh with yourself). (Bear in mind) Allâh is more regardful of them both (than you are), therefore, do not follow your low desires in order to be able to do justice. And if you distort or evade (true evidence) remember Allâh is Well-Aware of what you do.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    O you who have faith! Be maintainers of justice and witnesses for the sake of Allah, even if it should be against yourselves or parents and near relatives, and whether it be rich or poor, for Allah has a greater right over them. So do not follow desires, lest you should be unfair, and if you distort or disregard , Allah is indeed well aware of what you do.