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
فِى ٱلْحَمِيمِ ثُمَّ فِى ٱلنَّارِ يُسْجَرُونَ
In boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with flame].
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱتَّبِعُونِ أَهْدِكُمْ سَبِيلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ
And he who believed said, "O my people, follow me; I will guide you to the way of right conduct.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُنَادَوْنَ لَمَقْتُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ مِن مَّقْتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ إِذْ تُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَتَكْفُرُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve will be addressed, "The hatred of Allāh for you was [even] greater than your hatred of yourselves [this Day in Hell] when you were invited to faith, but you disbelieved [i.e., refused]."
وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَـٰنَهُۥٓ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّىَ ٱللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَآءَكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَكُ كَـٰذِبًا فَعَلَيْهِ كَذِبُهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَكُ صَادِقًا يُصِبْكُم بَعْضُ ٱلَّذِى يَعِدُكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ
And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said, "Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allāh' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allāh does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.