[1021] Here, the theme of upholding justice absolutely, no matter what the odds might be, is reiterated. This reinforces the main principles on which the Believing community is built: justice to all which is akin to Mindfulness (underlined in the previous group of Ayas 131-134).
[1022] Giving testimony should only be meant to please God alone; not to show off or brag. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[1023] When testifying, the rich should not be favoured for his wealth nor the poor in consideration of his condition. A Believer needs only to give his upright testimony and leave the rest to God, the Creator and Dispenser of affairs. He knows best. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[1024] “You who Believe, stand firm for Allah and uphold just testimony. Do not let ˹your˺ enmity for ˹some other˺ people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to Mindfulness. And be Mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is well aware of what you do.” (5: 8)
[1025] Distorting facts while testifying. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[1026] The most significant testimony is the one held towards God, i.e., the declaration of Faith. The uprightness of all other testimonies springs from this fountainhead of true, unshakeable Belief (al-Rāzī, al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar, Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[1027] The Qur’an. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[1028] Kitāb (sing.) here is a generic noun which entails all the Holy Scriptures that were revealed by God prior to the Qur’an. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[1029] God will not overlook or forgive their misdeeds because of their ardent Denial, which represents the most insurmountable block to His Godly leniency. Denial in itself is a punishment which will not be lifted until the doomed meets his death without being given the chance to repent (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī). They willingly chose the path of loss, so God left them to it (cf. 4:115 above).
[1030] In what follows (Ayas 138-147) the hypocrites are further exposed for what they are. They are told to make a final stand and align themselves unequivocally with the Believing community.
[1031] Cf. note on Aya 2: 28.
[1032] al-ʿIzzah is a state of being shielded against defeat and standing aloof from humiliation. (Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah; al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt)
[1033] Dignity and honour can only be found with God, the All-Powerful, Supreme Ruler over all His creation. “Whoever desires honour, then all honour is Allah’s own” (35: 10); “They ˹the hypocrites˺ say: “When we return back to Madinah, the more honoured shall evict the more humiliated from it!” ˹In fact˺ To Allah ˹truly˺ belongs honour, and to His Messenger and to the Believers, but the hypocrites know not.” (63: 8)
[1034] The Qur’an; as in Aya 6: 68: “And when you see those who engage in vain discussion about Our Signs, turn away from them till they engage in other discourse. If Satan should cause you to forget, then once you have remembered, sit not in the company of wrongdoers”. (Ibn ʿUthaymīn)