Surah Al-Ma'idah (المائدة) • The Table Spread

Quran 5:108

5:108

ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهَآ أَوْ يَخَافُوٓا۟ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيْمَـٰنٌۢ بَعْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ

dhālika adnā an yatū bil-shahādati ʿalā wajhihā aw yakhāfū an turadda aymānun baʿda aymānihim wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-is'maʿū wal-lahu lā yahdī l-qawma l-fāsiqīna

That is more likely that they will give testimony according to its [true] objective, or [at least] they would fear that [other] oaths might be taken after their oaths. And fear Allāh and listen [i.e., obey Him]; and Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.

— Saheeh International

that will make it more likely they will give true and proper testimony, or fear that their oaths might be refuted by others afterwards. Be mindful of God and listen; God does not guide those who break His laws.

— M. A. S. Abdel Haleem

That should make it closer (to the fact) that their testimony would be in its true shape (and thus accepted), or else they would fear that (other) oaths would be admitted after their oaths. And fear Allâh and listen (with obedience to Him). And Allâh guides not the people who are Al-Fâsiqûn (the rebellious and disobedient).

— Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

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Word by Word

ذَٰلِكَdhālikaThat
أَدْنَىٰٓadnā(is) closer
أَنanthat
يَأْتُوا۟yatūthey will give
بِٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِbil-shahādatithe testimony
عَلَىٰʿalāin
وَجْهِهَآwajhihāits (true) form
أَوْawor
يَخَافُوٓا۟yakhāfūthey would fear
أَنanthat
تُرَدَّturaddawill be refuted
أَيْمَـٰنٌۢaymānuntheir oaths
بَعْدَbaʿdaafter
أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْۗaymānihimtheir (others) oaths
وَٱتَّقُوا۟wa-ittaqūAnd fear
ٱللَّهَl-lahaAllah
وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ۗwa-is'maʿūand listen
وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuand Allah
لَاlā(does) not
يَهْدِىyahdīguide
ٱلْقَوْمَl-qawmathe people
ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَl-fāsiqīnathe defiantly disobedient