100 Page Notes

04 Surah An-Nisa (continued)

Page 100 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

4:135

4:136

4:137

4:138

4:139

4:140

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 100 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 100 of the Quran contains the final verses of the fifth juz' (Section), specifically Surah An-Nisa (4:135–140). These verses outline major ethical, legal, and theological instructions in Islam, particularly concerning absolute justice, steadfastness in faith, and how to navigate the company of those who mock religion.

The Prophetic Sunnah and classical commentaries (Tafsir) tie specific authentic Hadiths to these precise verses to contextualize their revelation and practical applications.

1. Absolute Justice and Bearing Witness (Verse 135)

"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..." (4:135)

This foundational verse demands absolute legal and social equity, establishing that truth must never be compromised for personal bias, family loyalty, or socioeconomic status (Widagdo, 2025).

• Hadith on Equity Before the Law: The Prophet ﷺ fiercely rejected nepotism or lowering legal standards for the wealthy or noble. When a noble woman from the Makhzum tribe committed a theft, some companions tried to intercede so she would avoid punishment. The Prophet ﷺ grew deeply upset and delivered a sermon, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari:

"The nations before you were destroyed because if a noble person among them committed a theft, they would pass no punishment on him; but if a weak person among them stole, they would inflict the legal punishment upon him. By Allah, if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, stole, I would cut off her hand." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6788; see also al-Sheha).

• Hadith on Perjury and False Testimony: Because the verse commands being "witnesses for Allah," the Prophet ﷺ heavily condemned giving false testimony (Shahadat al-Zur). In a well-known narration, he asked his companions:

"Shall I inform you of the greatest of the major sins?" They said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Associating partners with Allah, and disrespecting parents." The Prophet ﷺ was reclining, but he then sat up and said with emphasis: "And legal perjury! And false testimony!" He kept repeating it until the companions wished he would stop out of concern for his exhaustion. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2654).

2. Fluctuations in Faith and Hypocrisy (Verses 137–138)

"Indeed, those who have believed, then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way. Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment." (4:137–138)

These verses address the psychological state of vacillating faith and hypocrites (Munafiqin) who flip-flop between the Muslim community and its adversaries depending on who holds the worldly advantage.

• Hadith on the Parable of the Hypocrite: The Prophet ﷺ perfectly captured this behavior through a vivid analogy recorded by Imam Muslim:

"The parable of a hypocrite is that of a ewe vacillating between two flocks of sheep. She moves toward one sometimes, and toward the other at other times, unsure of which one to follow." (Sahih Muslim 2784).

3. Seeking Honor from Non-Believers (Verse 139)

"Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely." (4:139)

This verse warns Muslims against compromising their religious values or leaving the alliance of the believing community to curry favor or seek prestige ('Izzah) from those who oppose Islam.

• Sunnah of the Companions (Umar ibn al-Khattab): While this is a Mawquf narration (a saying of a companion rather than the Prophet himself), classical commentators like Ibn Kathir frequently cite the historic declaration of Umar ibn al-Khattab when entering Jerusalem. When Abu Ubaidah suggested Umar change his dusty clothes so the locals wouldn't look down on him, Umar replied:

"We were the most humiliated people, and Allah gave us honor through Islam. If we ever seek honor through anything else other than what Allah honored us with, Allah will humiliate us again." (Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim 207).

4. Sitting in Assemblies where Religion is Mocked (Verse 140)

"And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them..." (4:140)

This verse explicitly commands Muslims to walk away from any gathering, conversation, or platform where Islamic beliefs, symbols, or revelations are being ridiculed or blasphemed.

• The Connection to Surah Al-An'am: The phrase "it has already come down to you in the Book" refers directly back to an earlier Makkan revelation in Surah Al-An'am: "And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversion" (Quran 6:68).

• Hadith on Fleeing Trials and Protecting the Mind: Scholars connect this layout of boundaries to general Prophetic warnings about avoiding toxic environments or intellectual spaces meant to destroy faith. The Prophet ﷺ noted:

"He who hears of the Dajjal (the Antichrist/Great Deceiver) should distance himself from him. By Allah, a man will come to him thinking he is a strong believer, only to end up following him because of the doubts and confusion he throws at him." (Sunan Abi Dawud 4319).

The Sunnah establishes that voluntarily staying in a gathering where the truth is actively assaulted eventually desensitizes the heart, causing a person to eventually become "just like them," as Verse 140 warns.

References

• Al-Hakim, M. (n.d.). Al-Mustadrak 'ala al-Sahihayn.

• Al-Sheha, A. R. (n.d.). Human Rights in Islam and Common Misconceptions. Islamic International Rating Agency.

• Al-Sijistani, Abu Dawud. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud.

• Al-Bukhari, Muhammad. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari.

• Al-Naysaburi, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim.

• Widagdo, H. H. (2025). Understanding the concept of justice in the Quran. International Journal of Social and Education (INJOSEDU), 2(2), 652-665.