إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ ٱلسَّبْتُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ 124
Translations
The sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it. And indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
Transliteration
Innama ju'ila as-sabtu 'ala alladhina akhtalafu fih. Wa inna rabbaka layahkumu baynahum yawma al-qiyamati fima kanu fih yakhtalifun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah clarifies that the Sabbath (Saturday) was prescribed specifically for the Children of Israel as a test and due to their disputes about its observance, not as a general obligation for the Muslim ummah. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah reassures the Prophet Muhammad that He will judge between the differing groups on the Day of Judgment regarding their disagreements over the Sabbath and other religious matters, establishing the truth and vindicating the righteous.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Nahl, which discusses various signs of Allah's wisdom. The verse is part of a broader discussion about the laws given to the Children of Israel and serves to clarify the Islamic position that while the Sabbath was binding upon the Jews, it is not obligatory for Muslims, whose day of gathering is Friday (Jumu'ah).
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself in Surah Al-A'raf (7:163-166) discusses the story of the people of the Sabbath who transgressed its limits. Additionally, hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim establish that Friday is the Sabbath (day of rest and gathering) for Muslims, replacing Saturday for the previous communities.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that religious obligations are divinely ordained with wisdom, and that differences in religious practice between communities reflect Allah's comprehensive plan. It also reminds us that all disputes will ultimately be settled by Allah's perfect justice on the Day of Judgment, encouraging humility and trust in Divine wisdom rather than contention over matters of law.
Related Ayahs
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths [that] Allāh will not resurrect one who dies. But yes - [it is] a true promise [binding] upon Him, but most of the people do not know.
وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
And Allāh knows what you conceal and what you declare.
شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ ۚ ٱجْتَبَىٰهُ وَهَدَىٰهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
[He was] grateful for His favors. He [i.e., Allāh] chose him and guided him to a straight path.
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّمَّا خَلَقَ ظِلَـٰلًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ أَكْنَـٰنًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَٰبِيلَ تَقِيكُمُ ٱلْحَرَّ وَسَرَٰبِيلَ تَقِيكُم بَأْسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْلِمُونَ
And Allāh has made for you, from that which He has created, shadows [i.e., shade] and has made for you from the mountains, shelters and has made for you garments which protect you from the heat and garments [i.e., coats of mail] which protect you from your [enemy in] battle. Thus does He complete His favor upon you that you might submit [to Him].