Surat Al Ma'idah (41-50)

{يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هِادُواْ سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِن بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَـذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُواْ وَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللّهِ شَيْئاً أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ} [المائدة :  41]

41- O generous Messenger, do not feel sorrow for those who wait chances to leave Islam and provide aid to the disbelievers. They are the hypocrites who express faith with their tongues, but their hearts are empty. Likewise, the Jews haste to disbelief. They all accept lying, exaggerate in accepting the words of others, and do not come to your gatherings out of their love and loyalty to them. And of their characteristics that they distort the words and alter them although they believe that these words are the truth. Moreover, they say:  If Muhammad gives you a fatwa about this, act accordingly and if he gives you a fatwa of "not to do", beware of it and do not accept it. The Ayah was revealed regarding two Jews who had committed adultery while they knew that the Torah entails that they should be stoned to death, but they did not do that, so they accepted the verdict of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) if it is lighter than stoning. However, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked them about the ruling of the Torah and they answered:  it is lashing (blow with a rod). He kept asking them until one of them admitted that the ruling is stoning, thereupon he gave a verdict with that. When Allah wills to misguide or destroy someone, you shall not be able to push it away. Allah does not want to purify their hearts from disbelief and error because of the corruption of their intentions, the evil of their souls, and because they denied the truth and preferred falsehood. They shall be disgraced in worldly life, such as showing their hypocrisy to people, disgracing the Jews by ordaining Al Jizyah (Tribute) on them, and killing or expelling them. Moreover, they shall have a tremendous and continuous torment in the Hereafter.

{سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّالُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ فَإِن جَآؤُوكَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْئاً وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ} [المائدة :  42]

42- They are the Jews who frequently accept lying and eat up the unlawful such as bribes. If they come to you to judge between them, judge between them with the ruling which Allah showed you or leave them without paying attention to them. They do not want to follow the truth by resorting to you in judgment but they only take what is in harmony with their whims. If you turn away from them, they will not harm you and Allah protects you against their harm. The Messenger (peace be upon him) was given choice in the beginning then he was commanded to judge between them according to the rulings of Shari`ah. Allah (may He be Exalted) says:  "And so judge (O Muhammad) between them by what Allah has revealed so to his zooming the ruling furze giving the option." So, the command was obligatory and the choice was removed, thus, the Ayah is abrogated.

Imam Ahmad adopted the view that this Ayah was not abrogated, so the ruler has the choice to judge or not when the case is submitted to him from Dhimmis (Non-Muslims living in and under the protection of a Muslim state). And when you judge between them, let you judgment be just according to the truth which I revealed to you (i.e., what is contained in the Islamic Shari`ah) even if they are aggressors and unjust. Allah loves those who are just in their judgment and raises their status.

{وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ التَّوْرَاةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ اللّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَمَا أُوْلَـئِكَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ} [المائدة :  43]

43- How can they ask you to pass a verdict while they do not believe in your prophethood and the truthfulness of your message, however, they are not obliged to accept it. The fact is:  the ruling which they search for is present in the Torah as Allah commanded although they claim that they stick to Torah in judgment, but indeed, they resort to other sources for judgment. They do not believe in their book because they turn away from it.

{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُواْ مِن كِتَابِ اللّهِ وَكَانُواْ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاء فَلاَ تَخْشَوُاْ النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلاَ تَشْتَرُواْ بِآيَاتِي ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ} [المائدة :  44]

44- We revealed the Torah which contains guidance for the people, and a light that explains the truth and shows to the people the rulings, transactions, and behaviors they need by which prophets judge from Moses until Jesus (peace be upon them). Those who became Muslims, followed the path of guidance and righteousness as their Lord asked them, and judged according to the rulings of the Torah for the sake of the Jews judge according to the Torah. They never tried to violate its rulings, nor distort it. Likewise, worshippers and scholars judge with what their prophets told them in order to show it up, act accordingly, preserve it from alteration and distortion, so do not violate these rulings, and they were watchers over the application of these rulings. After that, the Jews distorted and altered many of them , so do not fear the people, but fear Me because benefit and harm are in My Hand. Do not replace My Ayahs with trivial worldly affairs through bribe and power and whoever does not judge with the rulings that Allah revealed will be from the disbelievers.

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said:  Whoever denies what Allah has revealed has disbelieved in Allah and whoever admits it, but does not judge according to it is a wrong doer and a Fasiq (someone flagrantly violating Islamic law).

Al Hakim corrected the view of Ibn `Abbas in this Ayah:  It is not a clear disbelief, but it is a minor disbelief. I said:  It is an illustration to part of his previous view:  whoever admitted that these rulings are from Allah but did not act accordingly will be Fasiq.

After Ibn Jarir At-Tabary had mentioned that the Ayah was revealed in the People of the Scriptures, he said:  likewise anyone does not judge with what Allah has revealed will be a disbeliever as Ibn `Abbas said because denying the ruling of Allah after knowing that He had revealed in His Book is likewise denying the prophethood of Muhammad. I said:  Likewise, whoever mocks at the Islamic Shari`ah and its rulings or claimed that it is not suitable for application.

{وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالأَنفَ بِالأَنفِ وَالأُذُنَ بِالأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ} [المائدة :  45]

45- We ordained for the Children of Israel in the Torah that the soul which was Killed without right should be avenged on by killing its killer, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and the rest of wounds will be treated likewisely in retaliation in matters that can be retaliated, such as:  hands, legs, and tongue. As for things that cannot be retaliated, such as breaking bones, or cutting of flesh, and suchlike, just retaliation is not applied, but financial compensation for bodily harm in addition to the money he deserves which is called Arsh (an indemnity given in case of someone's injury by another). The Imams of jurisprudence have estimated the amount of Arsh (indemnity paid for inflicting certain wounds) for each wound that you can find in the books of Fiqh. Therefore, whoever pardons his Muslim brother and does not take retaliation from him will be expiation for his sins by the will of Allah. And whoever does not judge with the rulings of Allah will be from the wrongdoers. However, these rulings are ordained in our Shari`ah as well, Allah (Glory be to Him) says:  "And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al Muttaqun (the pious)." and that has been previously explained.

{وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آثَارِهِم بِعَيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ} [المائدة :  46]

46- Then We sent Jesus, the son of Mary, after the prophets of the Children of Israel, believing the Torah and acting according to it. We revealed the Bible to him in which there is guidance to the truth and a light that distinguishes between the truth and falsehood, removes doubts, and solves problems exactly as the Torah. He is a follower to it, judges according to it, and not violating its rulings except for few rulings which were abrogated by Torah. The Bible is full of guidance and warning against committing of sins for those who fear Allah and his punishment.

{وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فِيهِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ} [المائدة :  47]

47- It is obligatory on those who were given the Bible to believe, judge, and act according to it, especially the glad tidings of the forth coming of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the command of following and believing in him, and abide by his Shari`ah. Whoever does not judge according to the commands of Allah do not obey the ordinances of Allah, distort the truth, and incline to falsehood.

{وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِناً عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجاً وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى الله مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعاً فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ} [المائدة :  48]

48- O Prophet, We sent down the Qur`an with truth that does not contain any doubt. It was revealed by Allah confirming the previous divine books which also contain your name and praise. The Qur'an is keeper, watcher, and confirming to them all. It bears witness to them and abrogates parts of them as it is the last message, the most comprehensive, and the wisest books that was preserved against distortion and alteration. So, judge between all the people, including the People of the Scriptures, when they come to you to seek judgment among them with what Allah has revealed to you in the Qur'an. Do not follow their deviant desires and their corrupted ideas and leave what Allah has revealed to you of justice and the truth which you cannot miss.

We have made a way for every nation because all religions were revealed to ascertain monotheism through certain codes of rulings that are suitable for the people, their times, and their environment.

When Allah wills, He would make you one group belong to one religion at all times, without variation in rulings and without some of them abrogate the other, but Allah (Glory be to Him) made for every messenger a code of laws. Later on, He modified that code for the next prophet until Islam abrogated all codes. The message of Islam was sent to all the people on earth to test His Servants in terms of the ordinances that He legislated for them and to distinguish the obedient from the disobedient, compliant from denier, the one who obeys and the one who disobeys. He would reward and punish each one according to their intentions and actions in different times with the decreed codes. So, haste to good actions and righteous deeds by obeying Allah, following His Shari`ah, believing His Scriptures, and following His Orders.

And know that you all shall return to Allah to judge among you in things that you differed about in the world, torture those who deny the truth, and reward the believing person with benevolence and generosity.

{وَأَنِ احْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ إِلَيْكَ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ وَإِنَّ كَثِيراً مِّنَ النَّاسِ لَفَاسِقُونَ} [المائدة :  49]

49- So, judge between the People of the Scriptures —If they resort to you— to judge between them by the rulings that Allah revealed to you in the Qur'an. And do not pursuit their false desires and their deviant ideas, and beware that the Jews trick you in terms of the truth and turn you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you. They are disbelievers and traitors, so no one is safe in their presence and they do not resort to you in arbitration to satisfy with the ruling of Allah. If they turn away from your judgment and violate the Shari`ah, know that Allah destined that to punish them for their past sins; of which is turning away from the ruling of Allah. There are many people who do not obey Allah, away from the truth, and prefer to follow their whims instead.

{أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللّهِ حُكْماً لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ} [المائدة :  50]

50- Do they want to apply the rulings of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) that are laid by narrow-minded people of confused ideas and different whims without accepting the revelation that came from Allah? Where they can find a ruling better than what Allah has revealed to His Prophets? It contains justice, right, and mercy and is not meant for anything else. That is for those who reflect on the matter, and know that Allah is the Most Just Ruler.