سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّـٰلُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ ۚ فَإِن جَآءُوكَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ 42
Translations
[They are] avid listeners to falsehood, devourers of [what is] unlawful. So if they come to you, [O Muḥammad], judge between them or turn away from them. And if you turn away from them - never will they harm you at all. And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.
Transliteration
Sammā'ūn lil-kadhbi akklūn lil-suḥt. Fa-in jā'ūka faḥkum baynahum aw a'riḍ 'anhum. Wa-in tu'riḍ 'anhum falan yaḍurrūka shay'ā. Wa-in ḥakamta faḥkum baynahum bil-qisṭ. Inna Allāha yuḥibbu al-muqsiṭīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding Jewish groups who were prone to deception and illicit gain, giving him discretion to either judge between them according to Islamic law or abstain from their disputes. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this verse grants judicial discretion while emphasizing that if judgment is rendered, it must be with perfect justice ('al-qisṭ'). The verse culminates with a fundamental principle: Allah loves those who establish justice, making equity a divine attribute and a requirement of Islamic governance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during the Prophet's engagement with various Jewish communities and hypocrites in Madinah. The context reflects disputes brought before the Prophet by Jews and others seeking his adjudication, setting guidelines for Islamic judicial practice that balance mercy with mandatory justice when the Prophet (or Islamic authority) chooses to intervene.
Related Hadiths
Sunan Ibn Majah and other collections record that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The judges are of three types: one will go to Paradise and two to Hell. A judge who knows the truth and judges according to it goes to Paradise; a judge who knows the truth but judges contrary to it goes to Hell; and a judge who judges between people in ignorance goes to Hell.' This emphasizes the grave responsibility of judicial office addressed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that justice is not merely a legal requirement but a divine virtue that Allah loves, making integrity in judgment a sacred trust whether in formal courts or in resolving everyday disputes. It reminds leaders and arbiters that impartiality and truthfulness are essential, and that one may decline involvement in matters of deception while remaining obligated to pursue justice when engaged.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ شَهَـٰدَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ حِينَ ٱلْوَصِيَّةِ ٱثْنَانِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ أَوْ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصَـٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ لَا نَشْتَرِى بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۙ وَلَا نَكْتُمُ شَهَـٰدَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلْـَٔاثِمِينَ
O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allāh if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange it [i.e., our oath] for a price [i.e., worldly gain], even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of [i.e., ordained by] Allāh. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."
وَإِذَا نَادَيْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱتَّخَذُوهَا هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ
And when you call to prayer, they take it in ridicule and amusement. That is because they are a people who do not use reason.
لَوْلَا يَنْهَىٰهُمُ ٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلْأَحْبَارُ عَن قَوْلِهِمُ ٱلْإِثْمَ وَأَكْلِهِمُ ٱلسُّحْتَ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ
Why do the rabbis and religious scholars not forbid them from saying what is sinful and devouring what is unlawful? How wretched is what they have been practicing.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Except for those who return [repenting] before you overcome [i.e., apprehend] them. And know that Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.