thus, when used without qualification, it refers to someone who has set all his affairs right, leaving no corruption within him, so that his inward and outward states, his words and deeds, all accord with what pleases his Lord. This includes the prophets and those below them.

Here, “the steadfastly truthful” are mentioned alongside the prophets, yet Allah has also described prophets with this term, as in His words:

“Mention in the Book Abraham. Indeed, he was a steadfastly truthful man and a prophet.”

“Mention in the Book Idrīs. Indeed, he was a steadfastly truthful man and a prophet.”

Likewise, “the martyr” is mentioned here alongside the steadfastly truthful and the righteous, yet He also says:

“The prophets and the witnesses will be brought forth, and judgment will be passed among them in truth.”

When bearing witness is qualified as being over mankind, the entire community is described in these terms, in His words:

“Thus We have made you a justly balanced community, so that you may be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger may be a witness over you.”

This witnessing is specifically qualified as being over mankind, like the testimony mentioned in His words:

“Why did they not produce four witnesses to it?”

And His words:

“Call upon two witnesses from among your men.”

Such testimony is not what is meant by the unqualified designation in the two verses; rather, that is exemplified by His words:

“and take martyrs from among you.”