There are 160 instances of shahida and its derived forms classified into 9 different groups based on grammatical forms as shown in the table below, while 51 instances in the noun and participle forms found in 46 verses in the Quran are described below:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Details of instances of shahaadaat
There are 3 instances of shahaadaat in the noun form meaning “testimonies” found in 3 verses are detailed out below:
[24:6] And those who accuse their spouses, and do not have witnesses for them except themselves, then testimony of one of them is four testimonies by God that he is surely, of the truthful ones (ar’ba`u shahaadaatin billahi innahu lamina al-saadiqeena).
[24:8] And it would prevent the punishment from her if she bears witness four testimonies by God that he (her husband) is surely, of the liars (an tashhada ar’ba`a shahaadaatin billahi innahu lamina al-khaadhibeena).
[70:33] And those who – they are being firm in their testimonies (wa-alladheena hum bi-shahaadaatihim qaaimuuna).
Details of instances of shahaadat
There are 23 instances of shahaadat in the noun form meaning “testimony” found in 21 verses are detailed out below:
[2:140] Or do you say that Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs had been Jews or Christians? Say, “Are you knower or God? And who is more wicked than whoever has concealed a testimony with him from God (mimman katama shahaadatan `indahu allahi)? And God is not unaware of what you do.”
[2:282] O you who have believed when you have contracted with one another of a debt for a fixed term, then you shall write it. And let a scribe write between you with the justice. And a scribe shall not refuse to write as God has taught him. So let him write and let the one on him is the right dictate and let him fear God, his Lord, and do not diminish anything from it. Then if the one on him is the right has been limited knowledge, or weak or he is not able to dictate, then let dictate his guardian with the justice. And you shall call to witness two witnesses from your men). And if there are not two men, then a man and two women from whoever you have agreed of the witnesses that one of the two errs, then the other of the two will remind, and cannot refuge the witnesses when as they have been called. And do not tire as you write it for its term whether small or large. That is more just with God and is more uprightness for the testimony (wa-aqwama lil’shahaadati) and is better that you do not doubt, except that a transaction you carry out among you will be on the spot, then there is no sin on you that do not write it. And you shall make to witness when you have made business transaction. And neither a scribe nor a witness will be harmed, and if you do, then indeed, it is an evil conduct for you, while you shall fear God. And God teaches you and God is Knower of everything.
[2:283] If you have been on a journey, and you do not find a scribe, then pledges made with collateral. So if has trusted one of you to another, then let him return who has been trusted, and let him fear God, his Lord. And do not conceal the testimony (wa-laa-taktumuu al-shahaadata), and whoever conceals it, then indeed, he is sinful of his heart. And God is Knower of what you do.
[5:106] O you who have believed, a testimony between yourselves when the death has approached to one of you (shahaadatu baynikum idhaa hadara ahadakumu al-mawtu), at time of the will two just men from you or two others from other than you, if you have traveled in the land, then a disaster of the death befalls you. You may detain both of them after the salat prayer, while both of them swear by God, if they have doubted, “We will not exchange with it a price even if he has been of a near relative, nor will we conceal God’s testimony. Indeed, we then surely would be with the sinners.”
[5:107] Then if it has been discovered on that the two (witnesses) have been guilty of sin, then the two others will stand in their place from those who have right over them – the former two, then they swear by God, “Surely, our testimony is truer than their (former two) testimony (la’shahaadadatunaa ahaqqu min shahaadatihimaa) and we have not transgressed; indeed, we then surely will be with the wrongdoers.”
[5:108] That is closer that they will give of the testimony on its form (dhaalika adnaa an yatuu bil-shahaadati `alaa waj’hihaa), or they would fear that the oaths will refuted after their oaths. And you shall fear God and listen, while God does not guide the disobedient people.
[6:19] Say, “Which thing is greatest in testimony (ayyu shayin akbaru shahaadatan?” Say, “God is a Witness between me (Muhammad) and you; and has been revealed to me this – the Quran that I may warn you with it and whoever it reaches. Do you indeed, surely testify that with God there are other gods?” Say, “I do not testify.” Say, “He is only One god, and indeed, I am innocent of what you associate.”
[6:73] And He is the One who has created the heavens and the earth with the truth, and a day He says, “Be,” then it is; His word is the truth. To Him belongs the dominion; a day will be blown in the trumpet; Knower of the secret and the declaration (`aalimu al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati), and He is the Wise, the Cognizant.
[9:94] They make excuses to you when you have returned to them. Say, “You do not make excuse; we do not believe you. Certainly, God has informed us of your news.” And God will see your deeds and His messenger, then you will be brought back to the Knower of the secret and the declaration (thumma turadduuna ilaa `aalimi al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati), then He will inform you of what you had done to accomplish.
[9:105] Say, “Do, then God will see your deed, and His messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to Knower of the secret and the declaration (wa-sa-turadduuna ilaa `aalimi al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati), then He will inform you of what you have done to accomplish.”
[13:9] Knower of the secret and the declaration (`aalimu al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati), the Great, the High.
[23:92] Knower of the secret and the declaration (`aalimi al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati) so He has exalted far above what they associate.
[24:4] Those who accuse the chaste women, then they cannot bring of four witnesses, then you shall whip them eighty-lash, and do not accept testimony from them (wa-laa-taqbaluu lahum shahaadatan), and those – they are the disobedient.
[24:6] And those who accuse their spouses, and do not have witnesses for them except themselves, then testimony one of them is four testimonies by God (fa-shahaadatu ahadihim ar’ba`u shahaadaatin billahi) that he is surely, of the truthful ones.
[32:6] That is Knower of the secret and the declaration (dhaalika `aalimu al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati), the Almighty, the Merciful.
[39:46] Say: “O God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the secret and the declaration (`aalima al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati), You will judge between Your servants in what they have done to dispute in it.”
[43:19] And they have made the angels females, those who – they are servants of the Gracious, Have they witnessed their creation? Their testimony will be recorded (sa-tuk’tabu shahaadatuhim), and they will be questioned.
[59:22] He is God, the One who – there is no god except He, Knower of the secret and the declaration (`aalimu al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati). He is the Gracious, the Merciful.
[62:8] Say, “Indeed, the death which you try to flee from it, then indeed is your meeting it. Then you will be returned to Knower of the secret and the declaration (`aalimi al-ghaybi wal-shahaadat), then He will inform you of what you had done to accomplish.”
[64:18] Knower of the secret and the declaration (`aalimu al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati), the Almighty, the Wise.
[65:2] So when they have reached their term, then you may retain them in a fair manner, or they shall be separated in a fair manner, and shall make to bear witness of two just men from you, and establish the testimony for God (wa-aqeemuu al-shahaadata lillahi). That is instructed with it whoever has been to believe in God and the Last Day; and whoever fears God, He will make a way out for him.
Details of instance of mash’had
There is an instance of mash’had in the noun form meaning “witnessing” in the Quran, which is detailed out below:
[19:37] Then has differed the parties among themselves. So, woe to those who have disbelieved of witnessing a great day (fa-waylun lilladheena kafaruu min mash’hadi yawmin `azeemin).
Details of instances of shaahid
There are 21 instances of shaahid in the active participle (noun/adjective) form meaning “witness/witnesses” in the Quran, which are detailed out below:
Active participle (noun)
[3:53] “Our Lord, we have believed in what You have revealed and we have followed the messenger; so, include us with the witnesses (fa-uk’tubnaa ma`a al-shaahideena).
[3:81] And when God has taken a covenant of the prophets: “Surely, what I have given you from scripture and wisdom, then has come to you a messenger confirming that which is with yourselves. You must believe in him and you must support him.” He said: “Have you affirmed and taken My covenant on that?” They said: “We have affirmed.” He said: “So, you shall bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses (wa-anaa ma`akum mina al-shaahideena).”
[5:83] And when they have heard what has been revealed to the messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears for what they have recognized of the truth, and they say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so include us with the witnesses (fa-uk’tubnaa ma`a al-shaahideena).
[5:113] They said, “We wish that we eat from it, and it would content our hearts, while we know that you (Jesus) have certainly spoken truth to us, and we would be with the witnesses over it (wa-nakuuna `alayhaa mina al-shaahideena).”
[9:17] It has not been for the idol worshipers that they maintain God’s masjids, are witnesses against themselves of the disbelief (shaahideena `alaa anfusihim bil-kuf’ri). Those – has been worthless of their deeds, and in the Fire they will be dwellers.
[10:61] And you cannot be in a situation, nor can you recite of it from a Quran, nor can you do any deed except we have been witnesses over you (illaa kunnaa `alaykum shuhuudun) when you engage in it; nor can escape from your Lord of an atom’s weight in the earth, nor in the heavens, nor smaller than that, nor greater except in a clear record.
[11:17] Has then he whoever been on a clear proof from his Lord and recites it a witness from Him (shaahidan min’hu), and of it’s before Moses’ scripture a guide and mercy? Those believe in it; and whoever disbelieves in it from the parties, then the Fire is his promised place. So you would not be in doubt about it. Indeed, it is the truth from your Lord but most of the people do not believe.
[11:18] And who is more wicked than whoever has invented a lie about God? Those will be before their Lord, while will say the witnesses (wa-yaquulu al-ash’haadu), “These are those who have lied about their Lord. No doubt, God’s curse is upon the wrongdoers.”
[12:26] He (Yusuf) said, “She had sought to seduce me from myself.” And a witness from her family had borne witness (wa-shahida shaahidan min ah’lihaa): “If it has been his shirt has been torn from the front, then she has told truth, and he is with the liars.
[21:56] He (Abraham) said, “Nay, your Lord is Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who has created them, and I am on that is one of the witnesses (wa-anaa `alaa dhaalikum mina al-shaahideena).
[21:78] And David and Solomon, when they judge about the field when a sheep of a people had pastured in it, and we have been witnesses to their judgment (wa-kunnaa li’huk’mihim shaahideena).
[28:44] And you (Muhammad) have not been on the western side, when we had decreed the command to Moses and you have not been among the witnesses (wa-maa-kunta mina al-shaahideena).
[33:45] O prophet, indeed, we have sent you a witness, and a bearer of good news, and a warner (innaa arsalnaaka shaahidan wa-mubashiran wa-nadheeran).
[37:150] Or have we created the angels females, while they have been witnesses (wa-hum shaahiduuna)?
[40:51] Indeed, we surely support our messengers and those who have believed during the life of the world and a day will stand the witnesses (wa-yawma yaquumu al-ash’haadu).
[46:10] Say, “Have you seen if it has been from God and you have disbelieved in it, and has testified a witness from Children of Israel to like of it (shaahidun min banee is’raaila `alaa mith’lihi), then he has believed, while you have turned arrogant? Indeed, God does not guide the wicked people.”
[48:8] Indeed, we have sent you (Muhammad) a witness, and a bearer of good news, and a warner (innaa ar’sal’naaka shaahidan wa-mubashiran wa-nadheeran).
[85:3] A witness (wa-shaahidun) and to be a witnessed.
[85:7] And they were witnesses over what they were doing with the believers (wa-hum `alaa maa yaf’`aluuna bil-mu’mineena shuhuudun).
Active participle (adjective)
[73:15] Indeed, we have sent to you (people) a messenger (Muhammad) as a witness upon you (innaa ar’sal’naa ilaykum rasuulun shaahidan `alaykum), as we had sent to Pharaoh a messenger (Moses).
[74:13] And children as witnesses (wa-baneena shuhuudun).
Passive participle
There are 3 instances of mash’huud in the passive participle form meaning “to be witnessed” in the Quran, which are detailed out below:
[11:103] Indeed, in that there is surely a sign for whoever has feared a punishment of the Hereafter. That is a day on it to be gathered the people and that is a day to be witnessed (wa-dhaalika yawmun mash’huudun).
[17:78] You (Muhammad) shall establish the salat prayer at declining of the sun towards darkness of the night and Quran at the dawn; indeed, Quran at the dawn has been a witnessed (inna qur’aana kaana mush’huudan)
[85:3] And a witness and to be a witnessed (wa-mash’huudin).
In brief, the review of 51 instances in the participle form found in 49 verses in the Quran may help us to reflect that God is a Knower of the secret and the declaration, we will be brought back to Knower of the secret and declaration, woe to those who disbelieve in witnessing of a great day, those who have believed in what has been revealed to the messenger and have followed the messenger as well as those who have heard what has been revealed to the messenger recognize the truth from God ask Him to include them with the witnesses, God Himself is a Witness of coming a messenger after delivering the scripture given to all of His prophets, the idol worshipers are witnesses of their disbelief and has made worthless their deed to be dwellers in the Fire, those who have invented lie about God will be witnesses of their wickedness before Him, He has sent His prophet a witness, a bearer of good news and a warner, He has supported His messengers and the believers during the life of the world and a day will stand the witnesses, He has sent Muhammad as a witness upon his people as He had sent Moses as a witness upon his people, He has supported His messenger of covenant with abundant wealth and followers as witnesses to be sent after delivery of all the scripture given to the prophets, a day to be gathered is to be witnessed and the Quran at the dawn has been witnessed.
Careful review may help us avoid misinterpretation of certain crucial verses in the Quran, even interpretation of the Quran based on paganism beliefs and personality cult came down from the past.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless. Tafazzal (12/16/2022).