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
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave him good in this world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تِبْيَـٰنًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves [i.e., their prophet]. And We will bring you, [O Muḥammad], as a witness over these [i.e., your nation]. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.
وَٱللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And Allāh has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect] that perhaps you would be grateful.