Verses 42–45
5. Al-Maaida · The Table
Madinan120 verses
سَمَّٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّٰلُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ ۚ فَإِن جَآءُوكَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
5:42Eavesdroppers with the aim of [telling] lies, eaters of the unlawful—if they come to you, judge between them, or disregard them. If you disregard them, they will not harm you in any way. But if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed Allah loves the just.1
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
5:43And how should they make you a judge, while with them is the Torah, in which is Allah’s judgement? Yet in spite of that, they turn their backs [on Him] and they are not believers.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ فِيهَا هُدًۭى وَنُورٌۭ ۚ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلرَّبَّٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا ٱسْتُحْفِظُوا۟ مِن كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَلَا تَخْشَوُا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱخْشَوْنِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِى ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًۭا ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ
5:44We sent down the Torah containing guidance and light. The prophets, who had submitted, judged by it for the Jews, and so did the rabbis and the scribes, as they were charged to preserve the Book of Allah and were witnesses to it. So do not fear the people, but fear Me, and do not sell My signs for a paltry gain. Those who do not judge by what Allah has sent down—it is they who are the faithless.23
وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَآ أَنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ بِٱلنَّفْسِ وَٱلْعَيْنَ بِٱلْعَيْنِ وَٱلْأَنفَ بِٱلْأَنفِ وَٱلْأُذُنَ بِٱلْأُذُنِ وَٱلسِّنَّ بِٱلسِّنِّ وَٱلْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌۭ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
5:45In it We prescribed for them: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, and an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and retaliation for wounds. Yet whoever remits it out of charity, that shall be an atonement for him. Those who do not judge by what Allah has sent down—it is they who are the wrongdoers.4
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Regarding the dealings of the People of the book there are differences of opinion among Muslim scholars. Whether their litigations should be accepted in Islamic courts or not and if taken what would be the method of giving decision? But this verse shows that the Judge has the authority to give his decision or abstain from it and submit the case to their scholars and rulers; but if the case is taken, he cannot give the judgement according to their law, on the contrary he should do justice with equity according to the law of Islam. After that Allah has mentioned the revelation of Taurat from which people misunderstood that the decision has to be according to Taurat, as the previous Apostles Dawood, Sulaiman, Zakaria, and Yahya (a.s.) had given. Also previously the scholars of Jews and the people of Allah but this is not true because this is regarding the Taurat which was revealed by Allah whose trustees were Apostles and some learned men. After that distortion started in Taurat and today it does not remain in its original. Therefore, to decide according to this Taurat is like deciding according to ones own desires and is not allowed. After this a few rules of retaliation are mentioned which shows that many commands of Taurat are still available in the law of Islam and are not abrogated
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
- 1
This defect of Jews is mentioned again and it is their most well known defect. Soht - It is ill-gotten wealth. In addition to interest it also includes the earnings Muslim rulers get by selling Islamic values.
- 2
Rabbani - is related to Rabb (Lord).A person who aims to obtain the pleasure of Lord through his utterances as well as actions.
- 3
This is addressed to the Jew scholars. “When you are appointed as the guardians and protectors of Divine revelation you must not succumb to the fear of anyone other than Allah. And do not trade in the signs of Allah, because those who judge against the Divine commands are disbelievers.
- 4
‘Beh’ is related to the right of retaliation. And the wronged party is encouraged to forgive. And ‘Huwa’ is related to Tasadding - That is forgiveness, which is considered as the expiation of other sins.
Benefit
The law of retaliation is an ancient custom. It was also mentioned in Taurat. And it was mentioned without discrimination. Objection against Islam is invalid because it has provided some alternatives. If there is stringency in the law we can be kind and forgiving ourselves.