سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 44
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ ۚ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا ٱسْتُحْفِظُوا۟ مِن كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَلَا تَخْشَوُا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱخْشَوْنِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ ﴿44﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We did send down the Taurât (Torah) [to Mûsâ (Moses)], therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allâh’s Will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests [too judged for the Jews by the Taurât (Torah) after those Prophets], for to them was entrusted the protection of Allâh’s Book, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men but fear Me (O Jews) and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn (i.e. disbelievers - of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allâh’s Laws).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed
أَنزَلْنَا
anzalnā
We revealed
ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ
l-tawrāta
the Taurat
فِيهَا
fīhā
in it
هُدًۭى
hudan
(was) Guidance
وَنُورٌۭ ۚ
wanūrun
and light
يَحْكُمُ
yaḥkumu
judged
بِهَا
bihā
by it
ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ
l-nabiyūna
the Prophets
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
أَسْلَمُوا۟
aslamū
had submitted (to Allah)
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
for those who
هَادُوا۟
hādū
were Jews
وَٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ
wal-rabāniyūna
and the Rabbis
وَٱلْأَحْبَارُ
wal-aḥbāru
and the scholars
بِمَا
bimā
with what
ٱسْتُحْفِظُوا۟
us'tuḥ'fiẓū
they were entrusted
مِن
min
of
كِتَـٰبِ
kitābi
(the) Book
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَكَانُوا۟
wakānū
and they were
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
to it
شُهَدَآءَ ۚ
shuhadāa
witnesses
فَلَا
falā
So (do) not
تَخْشَوُا۟
takhshawū
fear
ٱلنَّاسَ
l-nāsa
the people
وَٱخْشَوْنِ
wa-ikh'shawni
but fear Me
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَشْتَرُوا۟
tashtarū
sell
بِـَٔايَـٰتِى
biāyātī
My Verses
ثَمَنًۭا
thamanan
(for) a price
قَلِيلًۭا ۚ
qalīlan
little
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
لَّمْ
lam
(does) not
يَحْكُم
yaḥkum
judge
بِمَآ
bimā
by what
أَنزَلَ
anzala
has revealed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
fa-ulāika
then those
هُمُ
humu
[they]
ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
l-kāfirūna
(are) the disbelievers
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 44) ➊ {اِنَّاۤ اَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرٰىةَ فِيْهَا هُدًى وَّ نُوْرٌ …… :} In this, there is a warning for the Jews who denied the punishment of stoning (rajm) and an encouragement for them to adopt the way of their predecessors, prophets, pious scholars, and rabbis. (Kabir) Among the Children of Israel, after Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) until Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon him), there were many prophets upon whom no new book was revealed, and in their times, they used to advise people to act upon the Torah and would judge among them according to its rulings. Isa (peace be upon him) himself was not given a new law; rather, the purpose of his prophethood was to revive the law of the Torah. { ”الَّذِيْنَ اَسْلَمُوْا“ } This is a praiseworthy attribute, and the meaning of these prophets being obedient is that they were followers of the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham), or that they were obedient to Allah. (Qurtubi, Kabir)
➋ {بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوْا مِنْ كِتٰبِ اللّٰهِ:} The "ba" of {’’ بِمَا ‘‘} is connected to {”الرَّبّٰنِيُّوْنَ وَ الْاَحْبَارُ“}, meaning that in the times when there was no prophet, these ascetics and learned people used to judge among the Jews according to the Torah, because the prophets had appointed them as the guardians of Allah's book, the Torah, and the meaning of {’’ شُهَدَآءَ ‘‘} is that they were witnesses to the Torah being from Allah. Some scholars have stated that the "ba" of {’’ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوْا ‘‘} is connected to {’’ يَحْكُمْ ‘‘}, meaning that they judged according to the trust of Allah's book that was entrusted to them. (Qurtubi, Kabir)
➌ The responsibility for the protection and guardianship of the Torah was given to the scholars and pious people, but the protection of the Quran and the Shariah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken up by Allah Himself, as He said: «اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَ اِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰفِظُوْنَ » [ الحجر : ۹ ] "Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will surely be its Guardian." Although the work of protecting the Quran was also carried out by the scholars and pious scholars, because Allah Himself took responsibility for it, the difference between the preservation of the Torah and the Quran is evident to all.
➍ {فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَ اخْشَوْنِ:} Meaning, you too should follow in the footsteps of your prophets and elders, and do not alter the Torah in any way, neither by hiding it nor by giving a wrong ruling to gain worldly benefit, because the world, no matter how much, is little, and in speaking the truth and in mentioning the circumstances of Muhammad (peace be upon him) that are mentioned in it, do not care about people, nor fear them, but keep only the fear of My vengeance and punishment in your hearts. Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "Allah has made three things obligatory upon rulers: (1) Do not follow desires: «وَ لَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوٰى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ» [صٓ : ۲۶] and He said: «يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّوْنَ الَّذِيْنَ اَسْلَمُوْا» [ المائدۃ : ۴۴ ] (2) Do not fear people in making correct judgments: «فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَ اخْشَوْنِ» [ المائدۃ : ۴۴ ] (3) And do not make wrong judgments by taking bribes: «وَ لَا تَشْتَرُوْا بِاٰيٰتِيْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا» [ المائدۃ : ۴۴ ] [بخاري، الأحكام، باب متي يستوجب الرجل القضاء، قبل ح : ۷۱۶۳] All three of these matters are mentioned in this verse.
➎ {وَ مَنْ لَّمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ:} This address is to the Jews, meaning that when they knowingly conceal the rulings of the Torah and do not wish to act upon them, then it clearly means that despite their verbal claims, they are disbelievers. A Muslim ruler can only be declared a disbeliever when he denies the Quran and Hadith and issues a ruling against them; there is no doubt about the disbelief of such a person.
➋ {بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوْا مِنْ كِتٰبِ اللّٰهِ:} The "ba" of {’’ بِمَا ‘‘} is connected to {”الرَّبّٰنِيُّوْنَ وَ الْاَحْبَارُ“}, meaning that in the times when there was no prophet, these ascetics and learned people used to judge among the Jews according to the Torah, because the prophets had appointed them as the guardians of Allah's book, the Torah, and the meaning of {’’ شُهَدَآءَ ‘‘} is that they were witnesses to the Torah being from Allah. Some scholars have stated that the "ba" of {’’ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوْا ‘‘} is connected to {’’ يَحْكُمْ ‘‘}, meaning that they judged according to the trust of Allah's book that was entrusted to them. (Qurtubi, Kabir)
➌ The responsibility for the protection and guardianship of the Torah was given to the scholars and pious people, but the protection of the Quran and the Shariah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken up by Allah Himself, as He said: «اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَ اِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰفِظُوْنَ » [ الحجر : ۹ ] "Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will surely be its Guardian." Although the work of protecting the Quran was also carried out by the scholars and pious scholars, because Allah Himself took responsibility for it, the difference between the preservation of the Torah and the Quran is evident to all.
➍ {فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَ اخْشَوْنِ:} Meaning, you too should follow in the footsteps of your prophets and elders, and do not alter the Torah in any way, neither by hiding it nor by giving a wrong ruling to gain worldly benefit, because the world, no matter how much, is little, and in speaking the truth and in mentioning the circumstances of Muhammad (peace be upon him) that are mentioned in it, do not care about people, nor fear them, but keep only the fear of My vengeance and punishment in your hearts. Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "Allah has made three things obligatory upon rulers: (1) Do not follow desires: «وَ لَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوٰى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ» [صٓ : ۲۶] and He said: «يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّوْنَ الَّذِيْنَ اَسْلَمُوْا» [ المائدۃ : ۴۴ ] (2) Do not fear people in making correct judgments: «فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَ اخْشَوْنِ» [ المائدۃ : ۴۴ ] (3) And do not make wrong judgments by taking bribes: «وَ لَا تَشْتَرُوْا بِاٰيٰتِيْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا» [ المائدۃ : ۴۴ ] [بخاري، الأحكام، باب متي يستوجب الرجل القضاء، قبل ح : ۷۱۶۳] All three of these matters are mentioned in this verse.
➎ {وَ مَنْ لَّمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ:} This address is to the Jews, meaning that when they knowingly conceal the rulings of the Torah and do not wish to act upon them, then it clearly means that despite their verbal claims, they are disbelievers. A Muslim ruler can only be declared a disbeliever when he denies the Quran and Hadith and issues a ruling against them; there is no doubt about the disbelief of such a person.
