Surah Al-Ma'idah — Verse 44
The Table Spread · 5:44 · 44/120
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
Inna anzalna attawratafeeha hudan wanoorun yahkumu biha annabiyyoonaallatheena aslamoo lillatheena hadoo warrabbaniyyoonawal-ahbaru bima istuhfithoomin kitabi Allahi wakanoo AAalayhi shuhadaafala takhshawoo annasa wakhshawniwala tashtaroo bi-ayatee thamanan qaleelanwaman lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu faola-ikahumu alkafiroon
Translations of this verse 11
Saheeh International
Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allāh] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allāh, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
We revealed the Torah with guidance and light, and the prophets, who had submitted to God, judged according to it for the Jews. So did the rabbis and the scholars in accordance with that part of God’s Scripture which they were entrusted to preserve, and to which they were witnesses. So [rabbis and scholars] do not fear people, fear Me; do not barter away My messages for a small price; those who do not judge according to what God has sent down are rejecting [God’s teachings].
Marmaduke Pickthall
Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah's Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
Surely We have sent down the Torah, in which there was guidance and light by which the prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah, used to judge for the Jews, and (so did) the Men of Allah and the Men of knowledge, because they were ordained to protect the Book of Allah, and they stood guard over it. So, (O Jews of today,) do not fear people. Fear Me, and do not take a paltry price for My verses. Those who do not judge according to what Allah has sent down are the disbelievers.
Al-Hilali & Khan
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).
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
Surely We revealed the Torah, wherein there is guidance and light. Thereby did Prophets - who had submitted themselves (to Allah) - judge for the Judaized folk; and so did the scholars and jurists. They judged by the Book of Allah for they had been entrusted to keep it, and bear witness to it. So (O Jews!) do not fear men but fear Me, and do not barter away My signs for a trivial gain. Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are indeed the unbelievers.
Muhammad Asad — The Message of the Qur’an
Verily, it is We who bestowed from on high the Torah, wherein there was guidance and light. On `its strength did the prophets, who had surrendered themselves unto God, deliver judgment unto those who followed the Jewish faith; and so did the [early] men of God and the rabbis, inasmuch as some of God's writ had been entrusted to their care; and they [all] bore witness to its truth. Therefore, [O children of Israel,] hold not men in awe, but stand in awe of Me; and do not barter away My messages for a trifling gain: for they who do not judge in accordance with what God has bestowed from on high are, indeed, deniers of the truth!
Rowwad · source edition
We sent down the Torah which contains guidance and light; the prophets who submitted themselves to Allah were judging by it for the Jews, and so did the rabbis[40] and scholars because they were entrusted to protect the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses to it. So do not fear people but fear Me, and do not trade My verses for a small price[41]. Whoever does not judge according to what Allah has revealed, it is they who are the disbelievers.
Notes
[40] Al-Rabbāniyyūn (sing. rabbānī) are men of extensive knowledge, both religious and worldly. This includes the wise scholar, the mindful jurisprudent, the reforming teacher, and the person who enjoins others to uphold the teachings of religion. [41] The guardians of Divine law should bear the fear of Allah first and foremost and not that of fellow men, nor are they to be swayed by bribes and worldly gains.
Noor International · source edition
(44) Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allāh] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allāh, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.
Hilali and Khan · source edition
44. 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).[13]
Notes
[13] (V.5:44) For different degrees of Kufr (Disbelief) see Appendix 2, "Polytheism and Disbelief".
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءَ فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ (44)} [المائدة: 44].
وقال تعالى {وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنْفَ بِالْأَنْفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ (45)} [المائدة: 45].
وقال تعالى: {وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنْجِيلِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ (47)} [المائدة: 47].
157 - عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسِ -رضي الله عنهما- قَالَ: "إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْزَلَ {وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ}، {فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ}، {فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ} قَالَ: قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنْزَلَهَا اللهُ فِي الطَّائِفَتْينِ مِنْ الْيَهُودِ، وَكَانَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا قَدْ قَهَرَت الْأُخْرَى فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، حَتَّى ارْتَضَوْا أَوْ اصْطَلَحُوا عَلَى أَنَّ كُلَّ قَتِيلٍ قَتَلَهُ الْعَزِيزَةُ مِنْ الذَّلِيلَةِ فَدِيَتُهُ خَمْسُونَ وَسْقاً، وكُلَّ قَتِيلٍ قَتَلَهُ الذَّلِيلَةُ مِنْ الْعَزِيزَةِ فَدِيَتُهُ مِائَةُ وَسْقٍ، فَكَانُوا عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - الْمَدِينَةَ، فَذَلَّتِ الطَّائِفَتَانِ كِلْتَاهُمَا لِمَقْدَمِ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -، وَيَوْمَئِذِ لَمْ يَظْهَرْ، وَلَمْ يُوطِئِهُمَا عَلَيْهِ، وَهُوَ فِي الصُّلْحِ، فَقَتَلَتِ الذَّلِيلَةُ مِن العَزِيْزَةَ قَتِيْلاً، فَأَرْسَلَتِ العَزِيْزَةُ إِلى الذِّلِيلَةِ: أَنِ ابْعَثُوا إِلَيْنَا بمِائَةِ وَسْقٍ، فَقَالَتِ الذَّلِيْلَةُ: وَهَلْ كَانَ هَذَا فِي حَيَّيْنِ قَطُّ دِينُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ، وَنَسَبُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ، وَبَلَدُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ، دِيَةُ بَعْضِهِمْ نِصْفُ دِيةِ بَعْضٍ، إِنَّا إِنَّمَا أَعْطَيْنَاكُمْ هَذَا ضَيْماً مِنْكُمْ لَنَا، وَفَرَقاً مِنْكُمْ، فَأَمَّا إِذْ قَدِمَ مُحَمَّدٌ فَلَا نُعْطِيكُمْ ذَلِكَ.
فَكَادَتِ الْحَرْبُ تَهِيجُ بَيْنَهُمَا، ثُمَّ ارْتَضَوْا عَلَى أَنْ يَجْعَلُوا رَسُولَ اللهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بَيْنَهُمْ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَتِ الْعَزِيزَةُ فَقَالَتْ: وَاللهِ مَا مُحَمَّدٌ بِمُعْطِيكُمْ مِنْهُمْ ضِعْفَ مَا يُعْطِيهِمْ مِنْكُمْ، وَلَقَدْ صَدَقُوا، مَا أَعْطَوْنَا هَذَا إِلَّا ضَيْماً مِنَّا، وَقَهْرَاً لَهُمْ، فَدُسُّوا إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ مَنْ يَخْبُر لَكُمْ رَأْيَهُ، إِنْ أَعْطَاكُمْ مَا تُرِيدُونَ حَكَّمْتُمُوهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْطِكُمْ حَذِرْتُمْ فَلَمْ تُحَكِّمُوهُ، فَدَسُّوا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ رَسُولَ اللهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -، أَخْبَرَ اللهُ رَسُولَهُ بِأَمْرِهِمْ كُلِّهِ، وَمَا أَرَادُوا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: {يَاأَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا آمَنَّا} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: {وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ}، ثُمَّ قَالَ: فِيهِمَا وَاللهِ نَزَلَتْ، وَإِيَّاهُمَا عَنَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ". واللفظ لأحمد ¬أخرجه أحمد: 1/ 246 برقم: 2212، وأبو داود برقم: 3576، والطبراني في الكبير برقم: 3576، والحديث إسناده حسن ..¥.