وَٱللَّهُ يَقْضِى بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَقْضُونَ بِشَىْءٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ 20
Translations
And Allāh judges with truth, while those they invoke besides Him judge not with anything. Indeed, Allāh - He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
Transliteration
Wa-allahu yaqdi bi-al-haqq wa-alladhina yad'una min dunahu la yaqduна bi-shay'in inna allaha huwa al-samiu al-basir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that Allah alone judges with absolute truth and justice, while the deities worshipped besides Him possess no such authority or capability. Ibn Kathir notes this serves as a refutation of polytheism, emphasizing that only Allah's judgment is infallible and complete. The concluding attributes—al-Samiu (The All-Hearing) and al-Basir (The All-Seeing)—underscore that Allah's perfect knowledge encompasses all affairs, making His judgment absolutely just.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Ghafir, which addresses the fundamental Islamic doctrine of tawhid (monotheism) against the backdrop of Meccan polytheism. The surah as a whole refutes idolatry and emphasizes Allah's sole authority over judgment and decree, responding to the pagans' reliance on their false gods for intercession and guidance.
Related Hadiths
Related thematically to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most complete of the believers in faith are those with the best character,' emphasizing that true judgment and authority belong only to Allah who knows hearts. Also related to Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Bukhari: 'My mercy precedes My wrath,' illustrating Allah's just judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
True judgment and authority belong exclusively to Allah, whose knowledge and justice are absolute; believers should abandon reliance on false powers and place complete trust in Allah's judgment. This teaches that seeking justice or guidance from anything other than Allah's revelation is futile and represents a departure from monotheism.
Related Ayahs
هُدًى وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
As guidance and a reminder for those of understanding.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ مِنْهُم مَّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قُضِىَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ
And We have already sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you. And it was not for any messenger to bring a sign [or verse] except by permission of Allāh. So when the command of Allāh comes, it will be concluded [i.e., judged] in truth, and the falsifiers will thereupon lose [all].
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ يُوسُفُ مِن قَبْلُ بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا زِلْتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا جَآءَكُم بِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلْتُمْ لَن يَبْعَثَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ رَسُولًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ مُّرْتَابٌ
And Joseph had already come to you before with clear proofs, but you remained in doubt of that which he brought to you, until when he died, you said, 'Never will Allāh send a messenger after him.' Thus does Allāh leave astray he who is a transgressor and skeptic."
قَالُوٓا۟ أَوَلَمْ تَكُ تَأْتِيكُمْ رُسُلُكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۚ قَالُوا۟ فَٱدْعُوا۟ ۗ وَمَا دُعَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
They will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then supplicate [yourselves], but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error [i.e., futility]."