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Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 42

سورة المائدة، الآية ٤٢

5:42 Juz 6 Hizb 12 Page 115 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 5:42

سَمَّٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّٰلُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ فَإِن جَآءُوكَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْـًٔا وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ ۝٤٢

Transliteration

sammāʿūna lil'kadhibi akkālūna lilssuḥ'ti fa-in jāūka fa-uḥ'kum baynahum aw aʿriḍ ʿanhum wa-in tuʿ'riḍ ʿanhum falan yaḍurrūka shayan wa-in ḥakamta fa-uḥ'kum baynahum bil-qis'ṭi inna l-laha yuḥibbu l-muq'siṭīna

Translation

[They are] avid listeners to falsehood, devourers of [what is] unlawful. So if they come to you, [O Muḥammad], judge between them or turn away from them. And if you turn away from them - never will they harm you at all. And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 42 of Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:42), a Medinan surah, is in juz 6, on page 115 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.

Listen to verse 42 of Surah Al-Ma’idah

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Tafsir of verse 42

Al-Mukhtasar

These Jews frequently listen to lies and consume unlawful wealth, such as usury. If they bring a case before you for judgement, O Messenger, then pass judgement between them if you wish, or leave off passing judgement if you so wish – you have the option of doing either of these. If you choose not to pass judgement, they will not be able to harm you in any way. If you do pass judgement, then do so with justice, even though they themselves are unfair and are your enemies. Allah loves those who are just in their judgements, even though the case is between those who are the judge’s enemies.

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Ma’idah

Other translations of verse 42

They eagerly listen to lies and consume unlawful gains. If they come to you [O Prophet], either judge between them or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot harm you in the least. But if you judge, then judge between them with justice, for Allah loves those who are just.

(They like to) listen to falsehood, to devour anything forbidden. So if they come to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), either judge between them, or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot hurt you in the least. And if you judge, judge with justice between them. Verily, Allâh loves those who act justly.

Listeners for the sake of falsehood! Greedy for illicit gain! If then they have recourse unto thee (Muhammad) judge between them or disclaim jurisdiction. If thou disclaimest jurisdiction, then they cannot harm thee at all. But if thou judgest, judge between them with equity. Lo! Allah loveth the equitable.

(They are fond of) listening to falsehood, of devouring anything forbidden. If they do come to thee, either judge between them, or decline to interfere. If thou decline, they cannot hurt thee in the least. If thou judge, judge in equity between them. For Allah loveth those who judge in equity.

(They are) listeners of a lie, devourers of what is forbidden; therefore if they come to you, judge between them or turn aside from them, and if you turn aside from them, they shall not harm you in any way; and if you judge, judge between them with equity; surely Allah loves those who judge equitably.

Constant listeners to lies, constant eaters of illicit gain, so in case they come to you, then judge between them or veer away from them; and in case you veer away from them, then they will never harm you anything; and in case you judge, then judge with equity between them. Surely Allah loves the equitable.

Verse 42 word by word

  1. سَمَّٰعُونَ sammāʿūna Listeners س م ع
  2. لِلْكَذِبِ lil'kadhibi to [the] falsehood ك ذ ب
  3. أَكَّٰلُونَ akkālūna devourers أ ك ل
  4. لِلسُّحْتِ lilssuḥ'ti of the forbidden س ح ت
  5. فَإِن fa-in So if
  6. جَآءُوكَ jāūka they come to you ج ي أ
  7. فَٱحْكُم fa-uḥ'kum then judge ح ك م
  8. بَيْنَهُمْ baynahum between them ب ي ن
  9. أَوْ aw or
  10. أَعْرِضْ aʿriḍ turn away ع ر ض
  11. عَنْهُمْ ʿanhum from them
  12. وَإِن wa-in And if
  13. تُعْرِضْ tuʿ'riḍ you turn away ع ر ض
  14. عَنْهُمْ ʿanhum from them
  15. فَلَن falan then never
  16. يَضُرُّوكَ yaḍurrūka will they harm you ض ر ر
  17. شَيْـًٔا shayan (in) anything ش ي أ
  18. وَإِنْ wa-in And if
  19. حَكَمْتَ ḥakamta you judge ح ك م
  20. فَٱحْكُم fa-uḥ'kum then judge ح ك م
  21. بَيْنَهُم baynahum between them ب ي ن
  22. بِٱلْقِسْطِ bil-qis'ṭi with [the] justice ق س ط
  23. إِنَّ inna Indeed
  24. ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
  25. يُحِبُّ yuḥibbu loves ح ب ب
  26. ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ l-muq'siṭīna the ones who are just ق س ط

Hadiths that cite this verse

Good chain (hasan) Sunan Abu Dawud 3590

The Qur'anic verse: "If they do come to thee, either judge between them, or decline to interfere" was abrogated by the verse: "So judge between them by what Allah hath revealed."

‏‏{‏ فَإِنْ جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ‏}‏ فَنُسِخَتْ قَالَ ‏‏{‏ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ‏}‏ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Weak Sunan Abu Dawud 3591

When this verse was revealed: "If they do come to thee, either judge between them, or decline to interfere....If thou judge, judge in equity between them." Banu an-Nadir used to pay half blood-money if they killed any-one from Banu Qurayzah. When Banu Qurayzah killed anyone from Banu an-Nadir, they…

بَنُو النَّضِيرِ إِذَا قَتَلُوا مِنْ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ أَدَّوْا نِصْفَ الدِّيَةِ وَإِذَا قَتَلَ بَنُو قُرَيْظَةَ مِنْ بَنِي النَّضِيرِ أَدَّوْا إِلَيْهِمُ الدِّيَةَ كَامِلَةً فَسَوَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 1 other version

Weak Sunan Abu Dawud 4451

A man and a woman of the Jews who were married committed fornication at the time when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to Medina. Stoning was a prescribed punishment for them in accordance with the Torah, but they abandoned it and followed tajbiyyah, meaning, the man was beaten a hundred times with…

زَنَى رَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ وَقَدْ أُحْصِنَا حِينَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَدْ كَانَ الرَّجْمُ مَكْتُوبًا عَلَيْهِمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ فَتَرَكُوهُ وَأَخَذُوا بِالتَّجْبِيَةِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 4494

Qurayzah and Nadir (were two Jewish tribes). An-Nadir were nobler than Qurayzah. When a man of Qurayzah killed a man of an-Nadir, he would be killed. But if a man of an-Nadir killed a man of Qurayzah, a hundred wasq of dates would be paid as blood-money. When Prophethood was bestowed upon the…

كَانَ قُرَيْظَةُ وَالنَّضِيرُ - وَكَانَ النَّضِيرُ أَشْرَفَ مِنْ قُرَيْظَةَ - فَكَانَ إِذَا قَتَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْظَةَ رَجُلاً مِنَ النَّضِيرِ قُتِلَ بِهِ وَإِذَا قَتَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّضِيرِ رَجُلاً مِنْ قُرَيْظَةَ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 1 other version

Differing grades Sunan an-Nasa'i 4732

"There were (the two tribes of) Quraizah and An-Nadir, and An-Nadir was nobler than Quraiaah. If a man of Quraizah Killed a man of An-Nadir, he would be killed in return, but if a man of An-Nadir killed a man of Quraizah, he would pay a Diyah of one hundred Wasqs of dates. When An-Nadir killed a…

كَانَ قُرَيْظَةُ وَالنَّضِيرُ وَكَانَ النَّضِيرُ أَشْرَفَ مِنْ قُرَيْظَةَ وَكَانَ إِذَا قَتَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْظَةَ رَجُلاً مِنَ النَّضِيرِ قُتِلَ بِهِ وَإِذَا قَتَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّضِيرِ رَجُلاً مِنْ قُرَيْظَةَ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 1 other version

Weak Sunan an-Nasa'i 4733

"Either judge between them, or turn away from them. If you turn away from then up to: those who act justly."[1] - were revealed concerning the matter of blood money between An-Nadir and Quraizah. That was because the slain of An-Nadir were of noble status, so the blood money would be paid in full…

الآيَاتِ الَّتِي، فِي الْمَائِدَةِ الَّتِي قَالَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏‏{‏ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ‏}‏ إِلَى ‏‏{‏ الْمُقْسِطِينَ ‏}‏ إِنَّمَا نَزَلَتْ فِي الدِّيَةِ بَيْنَ النَّضِيرِ وَبَيْنَ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Other hadiths (1)

Verses related to verse 42

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:49

    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 لَفَٰسِقُونَ

    And judge, [O Muḥammad], between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allāh has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allāh only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:45

    وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَآ أَنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ بِٱلنَّفْسِ وَٱلْعَيْنَ بِٱلْعَيْنِ وَٱلْأَنفَ بِٱلْأَنفِ وَٱلْأُذُنَ بِٱلْأُذُنِ وَٱلسِّنَّ بِٱلسِّنِّ وَٱلْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُۥ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

    And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:47

    وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ ٱلْإِنجِيلِ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَٰسِقُونَ

    And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allāh has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-Mumtahanah 60:8

    لَّا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ

    Allāh does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.

  • Al-Hujurat 49:9

    وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنۢ بَغَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ فَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى تَبْغِى حَتَّىٰ تَفِىٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِن فَآءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ

    And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allāh. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.

All similar verses of Surah Al-Ma’idah

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