سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 48
وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿48﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) the Book (this Qur’ân) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures). So judge among them by what Allâh has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you. To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allâh had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds. The return of you (all) is to Allâh; then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأَنزَلْنَآ
wa-anzalnā
And We revealed
إِلَيْكَ
ilayka
to you
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
بِٱلْحَقِّ
bil-ḥaqi
in [the] truth
مُصَدِّقًۭا
muṣaddiqan
confirming
لِّمَا
limā
what
بَيْنَ
bayna
(was) before
يَدَيْهِ
yadayhi
his hands
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
l-kitābi
the Book
وَمُهَيْمِنًا
wamuhayminan
and a guardian
عَلَيْهِ ۖ
ʿalayhi
over it
فَٱحْكُم
fa-uḥ'kum
So judge
بَيْنَهُم
baynahum
between them
بِمَآ
bimā
by what
أَنزَلَ
anzala
has revealed
ٱللَّهُ ۖ
l-lahu
Allah
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَتَّبِعْ
tattabiʿ
follow
أَهْوَآءَهُمْ
ahwāahum
their vain desires
عَمَّا
ʿammā
when
جَآءَكَ
jāaka
has come to you
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ
l-ḥaqi
the truth
لِكُلٍّۢ
likullin
For each
جَعَلْنَا
jaʿalnā
We have made
مِنكُمْ
minkum
for you
شِرْعَةًۭ
shir'ʿatan
a law
وَمِنْهَاجًۭا ۚ
wamin'hājan
and a clear way
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
شَآءَ
shāa
(had) willed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
لَجَعَلَكُمْ
lajaʿalakum
He (would have) made you
أُمَّةًۭ
ummatan
a community
وَٰحِدَةًۭ
wāḥidatan
one
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
[and] but
لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ
liyabluwakum
to test you
فِى
fī
in
مَآ
mā
what
ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۖ
ātākum
He (has) given you
فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟
fa-is'tabiqū
so race
ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ
l-khayrāti
(to) the good
إِلَى
ilā
To
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَرْجِعُكُمْ
marjiʿukum
you will return
جَمِيعًۭا
jamīʿan
all
فَيُنَبِّئُكُم
fayunabbi-ukum
then He will inform you
بِمَا
bimā
of what
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you were
فِيهِ
fīhi
concerning it
تَخْتَلِفُونَ
takhtalifūna
differing
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 48)➊ {وَ اَنْزَلْنَاۤ اِلَيْكَ الْكِتٰبَ بِالْحَقِّ ……:} In the previous verses, the attributes of the Torah and the Gospel were described, and the People of the Book were declared disbelievers, wrongdoers, and transgressors for not acting upon them. Now, in this verse, the description of the Quran is given, and you, O Prophet (peace be upon him), are addressed and told to judge according to the Quran. The meaning of {’’ مُهَيْمِنًا ‘‘} is protector, guardian, and witness. The Holy Quran is the protector of the previous books, meaning that the guidance, knowledge, meanings, and subjects that were in the earlier books are all presented with complete trustworthiness, and it exposes the distortions and false interpretations of the Jews. It also means that every command of the Torah and the Gospel will be tested against the standard of the Quran; if it proves authentic, it will be accepted, otherwise, it will be rejected.
➋ {فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ ……:} Previously, in verse (42), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was given the choice to judge their matters or not, as he wished, but now this command is being given in its place that even in their mutual matters, judge according to the Quran.
➌ {لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَّ مِنْهَاجًا:} Its addressees are the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, meaning that although the religion of all the Prophets is one, in their respective times, the Shariah (secondary rulings) and methods of each community have been different. In the Shariah of each subsequent Prophet, there have been rulings different from the previous Shariah. Now, the Shariah of the Last Prophet is complete in every respect and is for all times until the Day of Judgment. In a hadith it is said: "The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one." [ بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قول اﷲ : «واذكر في الكتاب مريم…… » : ۳۴۴۳ ] That is, the religion and principles of all are one; whatever differences exist are only in the secondary rulings. Now, after the Last Prophet, neither the rulings and issues of any previous Prophet will be acted upon, nor on the statement, opinion, or fatwa of any Imam or Mujtahid of this Ummah.
➍ {وَلٰكِنْ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِيْ مَاۤ اٰتٰىكُمْ:} That is, if Allah Almighty had willed, He could have made you all one community by force, but this difference exists so that Allah Almighty may test you as to how you use the intellect and choices He has given you, so that reward and punishment may be based on that.
➎ {فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرٰتِ:} That is, leaving aside unnecessary disputes, strive to excel one another in those good deeds which you are now commanded to do in the final Shariah.
➋ {فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ ……:} Previously, in verse (42), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was given the choice to judge their matters or not, as he wished, but now this command is being given in its place that even in their mutual matters, judge according to the Quran.
➌ {لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَّ مِنْهَاجًا:} Its addressees are the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, meaning that although the religion of all the Prophets is one, in their respective times, the Shariah (secondary rulings) and methods of each community have been different. In the Shariah of each subsequent Prophet, there have been rulings different from the previous Shariah. Now, the Shariah of the Last Prophet is complete in every respect and is for all times until the Day of Judgment. In a hadith it is said: "The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one." [ بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قول اﷲ : «واذكر في الكتاب مريم…… » : ۳۴۴۳ ] That is, the religion and principles of all are one; whatever differences exist are only in the secondary rulings. Now, after the Last Prophet, neither the rulings and issues of any previous Prophet will be acted upon, nor on the statement, opinion, or fatwa of any Imam or Mujtahid of this Ummah.
➍ {وَلٰكِنْ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِيْ مَاۤ اٰتٰىكُمْ:} That is, if Allah Almighty had willed, He could have made you all one community by force, but this difference exists so that Allah Almighty may test you as to how you use the intellect and choices He has given you, so that reward and punishment may be based on that.
➎ {فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرٰتِ:} That is, leaving aside unnecessary disputes, strive to excel one another in those good deeds which you are now commanded to do in the final Shariah.
