أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ 50
Translations
Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allāh in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].
Transliteration
Afa-hukma al-jahiliyyati yabghun, wa-man ahsanu min-Allahi hukman li-qawmin yuqinun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rejects the pre-Islamic pagan laws and customs (jahiliyyah), rhetorically questioning why anyone would seek judgment according to ignorant, unguided principles when Allah's law is supreme. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse establishes the superiority of Islamic jurisprudence over all human-made systems, and Al-Tabari notes it was revealed to address those who wavered between Islamic and pagan judgment. The rhetorical question 'Who is better than Allah in judgment for a people who are certain (in faith)?' serves as a powerful affirmation that those with true conviction (yaqin) recognize Allah's wisdom as absolute and incomparable.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'idah is predominantly Medinan and addresses legal and social matters of the Muslim community. This ayah appears in the context of judging disputes and establishing Islamic law among the believers, particularly relevant to those who still harbored attachments to pre-Islamic tribal customs and judgments.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever judges between people with knowledge and justice, Allah will grant him the best of gardens' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The best of judges is he who judges according to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah' (related to various sources emphasizing adherence to divine law).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that true justice and wisdom come exclusively from Allah's guidance, and submitting to any system of law or custom that contradicts Islamic principles reflects weak faith and spiritual conviction. In modern contexts, this teaches Muslims to critically evaluate contemporary legal systems and social norms through the lens of Quranic values rather than blindly following cultural or secular standards.
Related Ayahs
فَطَوَّعَتْ لَهُۥ نَفْسُهُۥ قَتْلَ أَخِيهِ فَقَتَلَهُۥ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers.
۞ وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱبْنَىْ ءَادَمَ بِٱلْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both made an offering [to Allāh], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allāh only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Except for those who return [repenting] before you overcome [i.e., apprehend] them. And know that Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَآ أُحِلَّ لَهُمْ ۖ قُلْ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ ۙ وَمَا عَلَّمْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِينَ تُعَلِّمُونَهُنَّ مِمَّا عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّآ أَمْسَكْنَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, "Lawful for you are [all] good foods and [game caught by] what you have trained of hunting animals which you train as Allāh has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allāh upon it, and fear Allāh." Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.