وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ 10
Translations
And in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allāh. [Say], "That is Allāh, my Lord; upon Him I have relied, and to Him I turn back."
Transliteration
Wa makhtalaftum fihi min shay'in fahukmuhu ilallah. Dhalikumullah rabbi alayhi tawakkaltu wa ilayhi unib.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that in all matters of dispute among people, the ultimate judgment and authority belongs to Allah alone. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) affirms his complete reliance and trust in Allah, and his turning back to Him in repentance and submission. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah negates human authority in religious matters and establishes the supremacy of divine law, with the Prophet serving as the executor of Allah's judgments.
Revelation Context
Surah Ash-Shuraa was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period and addresses fundamental principles of Islamic belief and governance. This particular ayah appears in a section emphasizing monotheism and divine authority, serving as a response to polytheistic practices and disputes among Arabian tribes over religious and social matters.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of people is the one who judges between people with justice' (reported in Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Umar ibn al-Khattab stated: 'We were ordered to judge by what Allah revealed' (Sahih Bukhari 7138), reflecting the principle established in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must recognize that all final authority rests with Allah and His revelation, not with human opinion or preference, and that true peace and justice come only through complete trust and submission to divine guidance. This ayah teaches us that in our disagreements, we should turn to Allah's law and the Sunnah rather than following personal desires or cultural norms.