Tafsir & Commentary
The Forgiver (غافر) · Meccan
وَٱللَّهُ يَقْضِى بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَقْضُونَ بِشَىْءٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ20
40:20
Translation — Sahih International
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 (Asbab al-Nuzul)
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 Lessons
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.