إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ ٱلسَّبْتُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ 124
Translations
The sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it. And indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
Transliteration
Innama ju'ila as-sabtu 'ala alladhina akhtalafu fih. Wa inna rabbaka layahkumu baynahum yawma al-qiyamati fima kanu fih yakhtalifun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah clarifies that the Sabbath (Saturday) was prescribed specifically for the Children of Israel as a test and due to their disputes about its observance, not as a general obligation for the Muslim ummah. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah reassures the Prophet Muhammad that He will judge between the differing groups on the Day of Judgment regarding their disagreements over the Sabbath and other religious matters, establishing the truth and vindicating the righteous.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Nahl, which discusses various signs of Allah's wisdom. The verse is part of a broader discussion about the laws given to the Children of Israel and serves to clarify the Islamic position that while the Sabbath was binding upon the Jews, it is not obligatory for Muslims, whose day of gathering is Friday (Jumu'ah).
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself in Surah Al-A'raf (7:163-166) discusses the story of the people of the Sabbath who transgressed its limits. Additionally, hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim establish that Friday is the Sabbath (day of rest and gathering) for Muslims, replacing Saturday for the previous communities.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that religious obligations are divinely ordained with wisdom, and that differences in religious practice between communities reflect Allah's comprehensive plan. It also reminds us that all disputes will ultimately be settled by Allah's perfect justice on the Day of Judgment, encouraging humility and trust in Divine wisdom rather than contention over matters of law.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ كُلِى مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]." There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.
وَٱللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And Allāh has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect] that perhaps you would be grateful.
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّمَّا خَلَقَ ظِلَـٰلًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ أَكْنَـٰنًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَٰبِيلَ تَقِيكُمُ ٱلْحَرَّ وَسَرَٰبِيلَ تَقِيكُم بَأْسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْلِمُونَ
And Allāh has made for you, from that which He has created, shadows [i.e., shade] and has made for you from the mountains, shelters and has made for you garments which protect you from the heat and garments [i.e., coats of mail] which protect you from your [enemy in] battle. Thus does He complete His favor upon you that you might submit [to Him].
وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمٌۢ بَعْدَ ثُبُوتِهَا وَتَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِمَا صَدَدتُّمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And do not take your oaths as [means of] deceit between you, lest a foot slip after it was [once] firm, and you would taste evil [in this world] for what [people] you diverted from the way of Allāh, and you would have [in the Hereafter] a great punishment.