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
قُل لَّا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْخَبِيثُ وَٱلطَّيِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ ٱلْخَبِيثِ ۚ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Say, "Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of evil might impress you." So fear Allāh, O you of understanding, that you may be successful.
كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ
They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing.
فَمَن تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allāh will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَمَعَكُمْ ۚ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
And those who believe will say, "Are these the ones who swore by Allāh their strongest oaths that indeed they were with you?" Their deeds have become worthless, and they have become losers.