Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: Allah Almighty revealed these verses: “And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed, they are disbelievers,” and “they are wrongdoers,” and “they are defiantly disobedient.” He said: Allah Almighty revealed these verses about two groups of Jews. One of them had overpowered the other during the time of ignorance, until they were satisfied and made peace on the condition that if a man from the noble tribe killed a man from the lowly tribe, his blood money would be fifty wasq, and if a man from the lowly tribe was killed, his blood money would be one hundred (100) wasq. They remained on this agreement until the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah. With his arrival, both tribes lost their status, even though the period of reconciliation was still ongoing. Then, a man from the lowly tribe killed a man from the noble tribe. The noble tribe sent a message to the lowly tribe: “Pay one hundred wasq.” The lowly tribe said: “Is it possible that tribes whose religion is one and whose city is one, that the blood money of one is half of the other? We used to give you (one hundred wasq) because of your oppression and tyranny, but now that Muhammad (peace be upon him) has come, we will not give it to you.” The flames of war were about to ignite between them when they agreed to appoint the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) as the judge between them. The heirs of the noble tribe said among themselves: “By Allah! Muhammad (peace be upon him) will not judge in your favor with double. The lowly tribe is truthful, for they used to give us double because of our oppression and tyranny. Now, send someone as a spy to Muhammad (peace be upon him) who can inform you of his judgment. If he judges according to your wishes, then accept him as the judge, and if not, then be cautious and do not accept him as the judge.” So they sent some hypocrites as spies to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When they reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah Almighty informed His Messenger of all their conspiracies and intentions, and revealed these verses: “O Messenger! Do not grieve over those who hasten into disbelief, whether it be those who say with their mouths ‘We believe’ but their hearts do not believe... and those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed, they are disbelievers.” (Surah al-Ma’idah: 41-44) Then he said: By Allah! These verses were revealed about these two (groups), and Allah Almighty meant these people.