Tafseer of The Women · An-Nisaa · 4:108
They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allah, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allah, of what they do, encompassing.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of His word: هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلاءِ جَادَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَمَنْ يُجَادِلُ اللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَمْ مَنْ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلا (4:109)
(Behold, you are those who have pleaded on their behalf in the worldly life; but who will plead with Allah on their behalf on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be a guardian over them?)
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted means by His word: "Behold, you are those who have pleaded on their behalf in the worldly life" — you are those who pleaded, O company that pleaded in favor of the Banū Ubayriq — "in the worldly life." And the "hā" and the "mīm" in His word "on their behalf (ʿanhum)" refer to the traitors.
"But who will plead with Allah on their behalf" — He says: who, then, will contend with Allah on their behalf in a dispute — "on the Day of Resurrection," that is: the Day on which the people rise from their graves for their gathering, and avert from them what Allah will do to them and that with which He will punish them. By this is meant: indeed, you who defend these traitors — even if you defend them in this passing worldly life — they will end up in the coming Hereafter before the One before whom no one will defend them against the painful punishment (ʿadhāb) and the dreadful retribution that will befall them.
As for His word: "or who will be a guardian over them?" — by it He means: and who is the one who will be a guardian (wakīl) for these traitors on the Day of Resurrection? That is: and who will manage their interests in the dispute against their Lord on their behalf on the Day of Resurrection?
We have already expounded the meaning of "guardianship (al-wakāla)" previously, namely that it is the managing of the affair of the one for whom one acts as a guardian.
