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
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنۢبِيَآءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَءَاتَىٰكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ قَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Come to what Allāh has revealed and to the Messenger," they say, "Sufficient for us is that upon which we found our fathers." Even though their fathers knew nothing, nor were they guided?