M6:2883 — این قضا بر نیک و بد حاکم بود / بر قضا شاهد نه حاکم می‌شود

Translation: This judgment (qazā) rules over good and bad; Yet the witness (shāhid) rules, not the judgment. Meaning:* This verse speaks to the hierarchy of authority in a court of law: the judge makes rulings, but the witness, through their testimony, holds sway and can even direct the judge's decision.

Here, Mawlana touches upon a subtle and profound point regarding the standing of the 'witness' (shāhid) versus the 'judge' (qāẓī). I have previously elaborated on Mawlana's lofty interpretation of 'witnessing' (shahādat) and 'intercession' (shafāʿat); it is akin to a witness who appears in court, whose testimony holds sway even over the judge, meaning the judge is obliged to heed and act upon the witness's evidence. This very verse elucidates that precise point.

The line, 'This judgment (qazā) rules over good and bad,' refers to qazā in the sense of judicial judgment and the judge's authority. It is the judge who pronounces on good and bad, right and wrong, and the guilt or innocence of an accused. The judge rules over human affairs, and their decree is binding. However, Mawlana immediately adds: 'Yet the witness (shāhid) rules, not the judgment.' This implies that the witness, the one present at the scene who testifies to the truth, holds authority over this very judgment and over this judge.

This is a meaningful hierarchy. The judge possesses the power to rule, but it is the witness who, by their testimony, determines the course of justice and compels the judge to accept the truth being attested. In other words, the judge is beholden to truth, and it is the witness who brings this truth into the court. This is a crucial teaching: power resides not merely in pronouncing a verdict, but, more profoundly, in witnessing and establishing the truth. The position of the witness is greatly elevated here, for their testimony brings even the judge, who rules over good and bad, under its command.

Key takeaways

• The witness, through testimony, holds sway over the judge and their ruling.
• The witness's authority, as bearer of truth, surpasses that of the judge.
• True power lies not in issuing a verdict, but in establishing truth.
• The verse depicts a hierarchy of influence, from witness to judge.