سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 49
وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿49﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And so judge (you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) among them by what Allâh has revealed and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) far away from some of that which Allâh has sent down to you. And if they turn away, then know that Allâh’s Will is to punish them for some sins of theirs. And truly, most of men are Fâsiqûn (rebellious and disobedient to Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأَنِ
wa-ani
And that
ٱحْكُم
uḥ'kum
you 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
وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ
wa-iḥ'dharhum
and beware of them
أَن
an
lest
يَفْتِنُوكَ
yaftinūka
they tempt you away
عَنۢ
ʿan
from
بَعْضِ
baʿḍi
some
مَآ
mā
(of) what
أَنزَلَ
anzala
has revealed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
إِلَيْكَ ۖ
ilayka
to you
فَإِن
fa-in
And if
تَوَلَّوْا۟
tawallaw
they turn away
فَٱعْلَمْ
fa-iʿ'lam
then know that
أَنَّمَا
annamā
only
يُرِيدُ
yurīdu
intends
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
أَن
an
to
يُصِيبَهُم
yuṣībahum
afflict them
بِبَعْضِ
bibaʿḍi
for some
ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ
dhunūbihim
(of) their sins
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
And indeed
كَثِيرًۭا
kathīran
many
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
the people
لَفَـٰسِقُونَ
lafāsiqūna
(are) defiantly disobedient
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
49. And judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires. And beware lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you [91]. And if they turn away, then know that Allah intends to afflict them for some of their sins. And indeed, most of the people are defiantly disobedient.
[91]
Renouncing a Great Benefit for the Sake of Truth:
A dispute arose among the Jews regarding a certain issue. Among one of the parties were their prominent scholars and elders. These people came to the service of the Prophet ﷺ and said: "Please decide our dispute." Then they added: "If you decide in our favor, then not only we ourselves but most of the Jews will also embrace faith, because the majority of the Jews are under our influence." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not accept such a bribed Islam and clearly refused to follow their desires. During this time, these verses were revealed. (Ibn Kathir) Allah Almighty revealed this verse during this period because even the Islam of a single individual was extremely beloved to the Prophet ﷺ, let alone the expectation of the majority of the Jews embracing faith, and thus you ﷺ might be inclined to accept their request in order to obtain such a great benefit. From this, we learn that for the sake of truth, if we have to renounce even a very great expected benefit, we should not hesitate, and we must remain steadfast upon the truth at any cost.
[91]
Renouncing a Great Benefit for the Sake of Truth:
A dispute arose among the Jews regarding a certain issue. Among one of the parties were their prominent scholars and elders. These people came to the service of the Prophet ﷺ and said: "Please decide our dispute." Then they added: "If you decide in our favor, then not only we ourselves but most of the Jews will also embrace faith, because the majority of the Jews are under our influence." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not accept such a bribed Islam and clearly refused to follow their desires. During this time, these verses were revealed. (Ibn Kathir) Allah Almighty revealed this verse during this period because even the Islam of a single individual was extremely beloved to the Prophet ﷺ, let alone the expectation of the majority of the Jews embracing faith, and thus you ﷺ might be inclined to accept their request in order to obtain such a great benefit. From this, we learn that for the sake of truth, if we have to renounce even a very great expected benefit, we should not hesitate, and we must remain steadfast upon the truth at any cost.
