وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 43
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Wa kayfa yuhakkimunaka wa 'indahumu at-Tawratu fīha hukmu Allahi thumma yatawallawna min ba'di dhalika wa mā ulā'ika bil-mu'minīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses astonishment at the Jews who ask Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to judge between them while they possess the Torah, which contains God's law, yet they turn away from his judgment afterward. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as highlighting the hypocrisy and inconsistency of those who seek judgment selectively rather than submitting entirely to divine guidance. The ayah demonstrates that true faith requires consistent acceptance of God's judgment, not selective application based on personal desires.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during conflicts with Jewish tribes who lived in Medina. The immediate context involves disputes brought before the Prophet (ﷺ), possibly regarding the case of adultery mentioned in the preceding ayah (5:41-42). The surah addresses the People of the Book and their reluctance to accept Islamic law despite possessing previous scriptures.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4552: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever judges by something other than what Allah has revealed is among the disbelievers.' This hadith reinforces the principle that judgment must be based solely on divine revelation. Additionally, the incident of the Jewish couple brought for judgment (mentioned in early Islamic sources) relates directly to the circumstances of this ayah's revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires consistent, wholehearted submission to divine guidance without selective acceptance based on desires; merely possessing sacred knowledge is meaningless without acting upon it and respecting divinely appointed judges.