Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:135

"Maintainers of justice" Striving to establish justice so that you do not transgress.

"Witnesses for Allah" You perform your testimonies for the sake of Allah, just as you were commanded to perform them.

"Even if it be against yourselves" Even if the testimony is against your own selves, your parents, or your relatives.

If you ask: How can one testify against oneself? To say, "I testify that so-and-so has such-and-such a claim against my father or my relatives." What is the meaning of testifying against oneself? I say: It is the admission against one's own self, for it is in the meaning of testifying against it by binding the right upon it. It is also possible that the meaning is: "Even if the testimony is a burden upon yourselves, your parents, or your relatives," such as testifying against someone whose harm you fear, whether from an oppressive ruler or others.

"If he be" If the one against whom the testimony is given...

"Rich" Do not withhold the testimony against him because of his wealth, seeking his favor.

"Or poor" Do not withhold it out of pity for him.

"Allah is more worthy of them both" Of the rich and the poor; meaning, He is more concerned for them and more desirous of their benefit. Were it not that testifying against them is in their best interest, He would not have legislated it, for He is more solicitous of His servants than any other.

If you ask: Why is the pronoun dual in "more worthy of them both" (أولى بهما), when it should have been singular, since the phrase "If he be rich or poor" implies "if one of these two exists"? I say: The pronoun refers to what is indicated by the phrase "If he be rich or poor," not to the specific individuals mentioned. Therefore, it is dual and not singular. It refers to the category of the rich and the category of the poor, as if it were said: "Allah is more worthy of the two categories of the rich and the poor," meaning the rich and the poor in general. In the recitation of Ubayy, it is "more worthy of them" (أولى بهم), which serves as evidence for this. Abdullah recited it as "If there be a rich or a poor person" (إن يكن غني أو فقير), treating kana as a complete verb.

"That you deviate" It admits the meaning of "justice" (‘adl) and "deviation" (‘udul). It is as if it were said: "Do not follow desire, fearing that you might deviate between people, or desiring to deviate from the truth."

"And if you distort or turn away" If you twist your tongues away from the testimony of truth or the judgment of justice, or if you turn away from testifying with what you possess and withhold it. It is also recited as "If you undertake or turn away" (in tawallaytum), meaning: if you take charge of performing the testimony or turn away from performing it.

"Indeed, Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted" And with your recompense for it.