Surah Al-Ma'ida 5:42 — translation and meaning

المائدة · Verse 42 / 120 · Page 115

ۖ ۚ ۖ ۚ سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّالُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ فَإِن جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْئًا وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِالْقِسْطِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ

Word by Word

ۖ
ۚ
ۖ
ۚ
سَمَّاعُونَ
samma'una
Listeners
لِلْكَذِبِ
lil'kadhibi
to [the] falsehood
أَكَّالُونَ
akkaluna
devourers
لِلسُّحْتِ
lilssuh'ti
of the forbidden
فَإِن
fa-in
So if
جَاءُوكَ
jauka
they come to you
فَاحْكُم
fa-uh'kum
then judge
بَيْنَهُمْ
baynahum
between them
أَوْ
aw
or
أَعْرِضْ
a'rid
turn away
عَنْهُمْ
anhum
from them
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تُعْرِضْ
tu'rid
you turn away
عَنْهُمْ
anhum
from them
فَلَن
falan
then never
يَضُرُّوكَ
yadurruka
will they harm you
شَيْئًا
shayan
(in) anything
وَإِنْ
wa-in
And if
حَكَمْتَ
hakamta
you judge
فَاحْكُم
fa-uh'kum
then judge
بَيْنَهُم
baynahum
between them
بِالْقِسْطِ
bil-qis'ti
with [the] justice
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
اللَّهَ
al-laha
Allah
يُحِبُّ
yuhibbu
loves
الْمُقْسِطِينَ
al-muq'sitina
the ones who are just

Transliteration

Sammaa'oona lilkazibi akkaaloona lissuht; fa in jaaa'ooka fahkum bainahum aw a'rid anhum wa in tu'rid 'anhum falany-yadurrooka shai'anw wa in hakamta fahkum bainahum bilqist; innal laaha yuhibbul muqsiteen

Translation

[They are] avid listeners to falsehood, devourers of [what is] unlawful. So if they come to you, [O Muhammad], judge between them or turn away from them. And if you turn away from them - never will they harm you at all. And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

Verse interpretation (Tafsir)

These Jews frequently listen to lies and consume unlawful wealth, such as usury. If they bring a case before you for judgement, O Messenger, then pass judgement between them if you wish, or leave off passing judgement if you so wish – you have the option of doing either of these. If you choose not to pass judgement, they will not be able to harm you in any way. If you do pass judgement, then do so with justice, even though they themselves are unfair and are your enemies. Allah loves those who are just in their judgements, even though the case is between those who are the judge’s enemies.

Source: Al-Mukhtasar Tafsir — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

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