أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْتَغِى حَكَمًا وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُۥ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُمْتَرِينَ 114
Translations
[Say], "Then is it other than Allāh I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.
Transliteration
Afa-ghayra Allahi abtaghi hakaman wa-huwa alladhi anzala ilaykum al-kitaba mufassalan. Wa-alladhina ataynahum al-kitaba ya'lamun annahu munazzalun min rabbika bil-haqq. Fala takununna mina al-mumtareen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) rhetorically, emphasizing that he should not seek judgment from anyone other than Allah, who has revealed the Qur'an in detailed clarity. The scholars among the People of the Book recognize the divine origin of this revelation, and the believers are warned against harboring doubt about its authenticity. Ibn Kathir explains that this refutation addresses those who attempted to influence the Prophet to judge by means other than what Allah had revealed, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the comprehensive nature of the Qur'an (mufassalan) means it addresses all necessary matters of guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period within Surah Al-An'am, which extensively defends the oneness of Allah and the authenticity of the Qur'an against pagan objections. The verse responds to the arguments of those who questioned the Prophet's reliance solely on divine revelation for judgment, and it affirms that the Qur'an is sufficient as a complete legal and spiritual guide.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best speech is the Book of Allah' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the hadith 'We judge by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet' reflects the principle established in this ayah of seeking judgment only from divine sources.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should place absolute trust in Allah's revelation as their source of guidance and judgment, rejecting all competing authorities and worldly pressures that contradict divine law. The ayah teaches that certainty in the Qur'an's divine origin comes from recognizing its comprehensive wisdom and the witness of knowledgeable believers throughout history.