أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوٓا۟ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا 60
Translations
Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to ṭāghūt, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.
Transliteration
Alam tara ilal-ladhina yaz'umuna annahum amanu bima unzila ilayka wa ma unzila min qablika yuriduna an yatahakamu ilat-taghuti wa qad umiru an yakfuru bihi wa yurid ash-shaytan an yudillahum dalalalan ba'ida
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses hypocrites who claim to believe in the Quran and previous scriptures yet seek to resolve their disputes through taghut (false judges and systems of governance contrary to Islamic law) instead of submitting to Allah's revealed guidance. Ibn Kathir explains that despite being commanded to reject taghut entirely, these individuals deliberately turn away from Islamic arbitration, revealing the falsehood of their faith. The ayah warns that Satan uses this deviation as a means to lead them far astray from the straight path.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the early Islamic period when certain hypocrites and those with weak faith would appeal to pagan Arab judges and Jewish rabbis rather than to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for legal arbitration. This reflects the broader Medinan context of establishing Islamic governance and the struggle against hypocrisy (munafiqun) within the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever judges between people with knowledge will enter Paradise, but whoever judges between people with ignorance will enter Hell' (Sunan at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The best of judges are those who judge according to the Book of Allah' (related to judicial principles in Islamic jurisprudence).
Themes
Key Lesson
True belief requires complete submission to Allah's laws and willing acceptance of Islamic arbitration in all disputes; seeking judgment from un-Islamic systems despite claiming faith demonstrates the emptiness of one's Islamic commitment and opens the door to Satan's deception and moral corruption.