وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ ٱلْإِنجِيلِ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ 47
Translations
And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allāh has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.
Transliteration
Wa liyahkum ahlu al-injili bima anzala Allahu fihi wa man lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu fa-ula'ika hum al-fasiqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the People of the Gospel (Christians) to judge by what Allah revealed in the Injil (Gospel), emphasizing that adherence to divine revelation is obligatory for all faith communities. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note this serves as both a directive to Christians and an implicit warning to Muslims about the importance of following divine guidance, as those who abandon Allah's laws are classified as transgressors (fasiqun). The ayah underscores the universal principle that true justice and righteousness can only come through submission to God's revealed law.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ma'idah's broader discussion of the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) and their responsibilities regarding their scriptures. It was revealed in the Medinan period when the Muslim community had direct interactions with Christian and Jewish communities, addressing the theological and legal obligations of these groups to uphold their own divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing the importance of adhering to and implementing divine revelation. Additionally, the Quran states: 'So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations' (5:49), reinforcing the obligation to judge by divine law.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true justice and moral integrity require submission to divine guidance, and reminds all believers—regardless of their faith background—that abandoning God's laws constitutes transgression. For Muslims, it reinforces the critical importance of implementing Islamic law comprehensively rather than selectively in their personal and communal affairs.