Overview (Verses 105 - 109)

A Firm Stand in Support of Justice
 
We have bestowed this book on you from on high, setting forth the truth, so that you may judge between people in accordance with what God has taught you. Hence, do not contend with those who betray their trust. Seek God’s forgiveness, for God is indeed Much-Forgiving, Merciful. And do not argue on behalf of those who are false to their own selves. Indeed God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful action. They conceal their doings from men, but they cannot conceal them from God; for He is present with them when, in the darkness of the night, they agree all manner of sayings which displease Him. God certainly encompasses [with His knowledge] whatever they do. You may well argue on their behalf in the life of this world, but who is there to argue on their behalf with God on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be their advocate? (Verses 105-109)
 
The style here is very firm, smacking of anger in support of the truth. Real concern for justice is felt throughout the passage. The first aspect of this is the reminder to God’s Messenger of the fact that God’s book was, in truth, bestowed on him from on high so that he may arbitrate between people in accordance with what God imparted to him of true knowledge. This reminder is followed by an order requiring him never to defend those who betray their trust. He must not contend for them or argue on their behalf. He is further directed to seek God’s forgiveness for such arguments in their defence: “We have bestowed this book on you from on high, setting forth the truth, so that you may judge between people in accordance with what God has taught you. Hence, do not contend with those who betray their trust. Seek God’s forgiveness, for God is indeed Much-Forgiving, Merciful.” (Verses 105-106)
 
This command is then repeated once more. Those who are untrue to their trust on whose behalf the Prophet spoke out are further described as false even to themselves. The logic behind this order is the fact that God does not love people who engage in sinful practices and who betray their trust. “And do not argue on behalf of those who are false to their own selves. Indeed God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful action.” (Verse 107)
 
To all appearances, these people betrayed others, but in truth they have been false to themselves when they betrayed their community and the system and principles that make it unique among human communities. They also betrayed the trust given to the whole community, of which they themselves are a part. They betrayed themselves in another way, when they exposed themselves to sin and for which they incur severe punishment. Indeed, they incur God’s displeasure and render themselves liable to His punishment. This is indeed a case of being false to oneself. A third aspect is that they stained themselves when they conspired against someone, for their conspiracy involved telling lies and playing false.
 
“Indeed God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in sinful action.” (Verse 107) This is indeed a punishment far greater than any other punishment. It also gives a further impression whereby those whom God does not love cannot be defended by anyone. No one can take up their case when God dislikes them for their sin and treachery.
 
This is followed by a description of their unsavoury behaviour: “They conceal their doings from men, but they cannot conceal them from God; for He is present with them when, in the darkness of the night, they agree all manner of sayings which displease Him.” (Verse 108) This is a contemptible situation that earns them nothing but scorn and derision. It is contemptible because of all that it shows of weakness and deviousness, particularly when they meet in the darkness of the night to devise their wicked plans. They do this in order to conceal their objectives and to hide it from people. Yet people cause them neither harm nor benefit. The One who is able to harm and benefit them, i.e. God, is with them, fully aware of what they scheme and what they try to conceal. He knows their intentions which lie behind the falsehood they devise. Thus, they incur His displeasure. What situation could be more contemptible than this?
 
“God certainly encompasses [with His knowledge] whatever they do.” (Verse 108) This applies equally to everything in the universe. How can they, then, conceal whatever they wish to hide when God is with them, aware of all that they do? In fact, He is watching over them and they are subject to His will and power.
 
The passage goes on to include a censure of all who tried to defend those who were untrue to their trust: “You may well argue on their behalf in the life of this world, but who is there to argue on their behalf with God on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be their advocate?” (Verse 109) There will certainly be no one to speak out for them on the Day of Judgement. What is the use, then, of taking up their case in life of this world when such defence will change nothing of what happens on that future day?