Surah Al-Maidah Verse 49 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And judge, [O Muhammad], between them by what Allah has…

Al-Maidah · 49/120

Translation Transliteration — Al-Maidah

وَأَنِ احْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ لَفَاسِقُونَ ۝٤٩

🔤 Transliteration

Wa anih kum bainahum bimaaa anzalal laahu wa laa tattabi` ahwaaa`ahum wahzarhum ai yaftinooka `am ba`di maaa anzalal laahu ilaika fa in tawallaw fa`lam annamaa yureedul laahu ai yuseebahum biba`di zunoobihim; wa inna kaseeram minan naasi lafaasiqoon

📖 Translation (English Meaning)

📖 English Meaning

And judge, [O Muhammad], between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allah only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.

🌐 Additional reference in Français

📜

Translation — Tafsir

Word Meanings:

Ahwaahum (their desires): Their whims, personal opinions, and biased inclinations that contradict divine revelation.
Yaftinooka (they tempt/try to turn you): That they may seduce, mislead, or divert you through their schemes and deception.
Fasiqoon (defiantly disobedient): Those who have transgressed the bounds of Allah and persist in rebellion against His commands.

Tafsir (Explanation):

In this noble verse, Allah addresses His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) with a decisive command that establishes the foundation of justice and governance: "And judge between them by what Allah has revealed." This is a direct order to rule by the divine law of the Qur'an, not by human legislation, custom, or the preferences of the people—regardless of who they are. The verse specifically refers to the Jews of Medina who would come to the Prophet seeking judgments, yet they had no intention of fully submitting to Allah's law.

Allah then warns His Messenger: "And do not follow their desires." This is a profound lesson for every believer in a position of authority—whether a ruler, judge, father, or community leader. Justice must be blind to personal relationships, tribal loyalties, or the pressure of influential people. The truth of Allah's revelation stands above all considerations.

Then comes a critical caution: "And beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you." The enemies of truth will never rest; they will use every tool at their disposal—flattery, threats, manipulation, and even seemingly reasonable compromises—to steer the believer away from the complete application of divine law. They do not want the full truth; they want a watered-down version that accommodates their interests. This warning remains relevant today: be vigilant against those who call for "modernizing" or "reinterpreting" clear divine commands to suit changing societal pressures.

The verse then reveals the deeper wisdom behind their rejection: "But if they turn away, then know that Allah only intends to afflict them with some of their sins." When people stubbornly refuse the truth after it has been clearly presented to them, their rejection is not a sign of their strength but rather a sign of Allah's justice. He allows them to persist in their error as a consequence of their accumulated sins, and He may hasten punishment upon them in this world as a foretaste of what awaits them in the Hereafter. This is both a comfort to the believers and a stark warning to the rejecters.

Finally, Allah declares: "And indeed, many among mankind are defiantly disobedient." This is a realistic assessment of human nature—not to breed despair, but to strengthen resolve. The believer's duty is to convey the truth and implement justice, not to guarantee that everyone will accept it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not despair when people rejected his message; he continued to deliver it with patience and wisdom.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, this verse carries a timeless message for all who claim to follow Allah's guidance. It calls us to three essential qualities:

Unyielding commitment to divine law — never compromise the clear rulings of Allah for the sake of pleasing people, no matter how powerful or influential they may be.
Vigilance against subtle temptations — the enemies of truth rarely attack head-on; they work through gradual erosion, half-truths, and appealing arguments. Guard your heart and your principles.
Trust in Allah's wisdom — when people reject the truth, do not be shaken. Allah's plan is perfect, and He deals with every soul with perfect justice.

The beauty of Islam lies in its complete submission to the Creator's wisdom. When we judge by what Allah has revealed, we free ourselves from the chaos of human whims and the tyranny of ever-changing desires. We anchor ourselves to the unchanging truth that brings peace to hearts and justice to societies.

May Allah guide us all to judge by His revelation, protect us from following desires, and grant us steadfastness in the face of trials. Ameen.

🎧 Listen

📜 Verse 47-51 — Al-Maidah

47وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.

48وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۚ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ ۖ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.

49وَأَنِ احْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ لَفَاسِقُونَ

50أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ

Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allah in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].

51۞ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.

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Translation — Al-Maidah 49

Surah Al-Maidah Verse 49 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And judge, [O Muhammad], between them by what Allah has…

Surah Verse 49/120 — Al-Maidah المائدة (Medinan). Read Listen Translation (English). Listen: Al-Maidah Listen, Al-Maidah Translation, Al-Maidah mp3, Al-Maidah pdf. Verse 47–51. English Meaning: Français.

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