Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:49
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ · Medinan · Verse 49 of 120
وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَٰسِقُونَ
Translation
So [Prophet] judge between them according to what God has sent down. Do not follow their whims, and take good care that they do not tempt you away from any of what God has sent down to you. If they turn away, remember that God intends to punish them for some of the sins they have committed: a great many people are lawbreakers.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In this profound verse, Allah addresses Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, with a clear instruction and a crucial warning regarding his role as a judge, especially when dealing with those who seek to deviate from divine law.
The Emphasized Command
The verse opens with the command, "وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ" (And rule between them by what Allah has revealed). This instruction is a re-emphasis of a command given earlier in the Surah, and scholars note the significance of its repetition. Ibn Ashur, for example, points out that the word "وَأَنِ" (and that) here acts as an explanatory particle. Its use, coupled with the repetition of the command to judge by Allah's revelation, serves to deeply impress upon the listener the absolute necessity and critical importance of adhering strictly to divine law. It’s as if Allah is saying, "We revealed the Book to you, and specifically, We command you to judge by it." This stylistic variation reinforces the core message with undeniable strength.
Beware of Whims and Temptation
Following this directive is a strong prohibition: "وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ" (and do not follow their whims). "Ahwaa" (أهواء) refers to personal desires or inclinations that stray from the truth. This is immediately followed by a direct warning: "وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ" (and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you). The word "yaftinook" (يفتنوك) means to tempt, mislead, or cause one to deviate from the truth. Al-Zamakhshari recounts an incident where Jewish leaders attempted to sway the Prophet by promising their allegiance if he ruled in their favor, illustrating precisely the kind of "fitna" (temptation) this warning addresses. It highlights the constant pressure faced by those upholding truth.
The Gravity of "Some"
An especially poignant detail in the wording is the recurring phrase "بَعْضِ" (some or part of). When Allah warns against being tempted "عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ" (from *some* of what Allah has revealed to you), Al-Zamakhshari explains that the use of "some" is not to minimize the issue but to magnify it. It implies that even deviating from a small part of divine revelation is immensely serious, a sign of grave heedlessness. Similarly, when Allah states the consequence for those who turn away: "أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ" (to afflict them for *some* of their sins), Al-Zamakhshari and Al-Razi clarify that this wording indicates they have many sins, and this particular sin (of turning away from Allah's judgment), though mighty, is but one among their numerous transgressions. Moreover, Ibn Ashur adds that even a portion of their accumulated sins is enough for Allah to punish them, signifying a complete divine abandonment.
The Nature of Disobedience
The verse concludes with a general statement that also serves as a consolation to the Prophet: "وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَاسِقُونَ" (And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient). The word "fasiqun" (فاسقون) describes those who are rebellious in disbelief and excessive in their transgression. Ibn Ashur notes that this phrase helps put into perspective the actions of those who reject divine judgment; their defiance is not an anomaly, but rather a characteristic of many among humanity. It suggests that their turning away is part of a deeper, ingrained pattern of disobedience, and the Prophet need not be unduly distressed by their actions.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:49 is discussed in 16 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:49 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.