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
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِۦ مِنۢ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآئِغًا لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ
And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
But if they turn away, [O Muḥammad] - then only upon you is [responsibility for] clear notification.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message [i.e., former scriptures] if you do not know.
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allāh presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?