5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّالُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ...

5: 42. (They are fond of) listening to falsehood, of devouring anything forbidden.

C747. Devouring anything forbidden: both in a literal and in a figurative sense.

In the figurative sense, it would be:

- the taking of usury or bribes, or

- taking undue advantage of people's weak position or

- their own fiduciary powers to add to their own wealth.

... فَإِن جَآؤُوكَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ...

If they do come to thee, either judge between them, or decline to interfere.

C748. Where it is merely a trick to catch out the unwary, a just man may honorably decline to interfere in a cause submitted to him, as also in a case where the parties are not honestly desirous of justice, but each hopes that some partiality will be shown to it.

... وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْئًا...

If thou decline, they cannot hurt thee in the least.

... وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ ﴿٤٢﴾

If thou judge, judge in equity between them; for Allah loveth those who judge in equity.

Other versions:

5: 42

Asad …………But if you do judge, judge between them with equity [note 56]: verily, God knows those who act equitably.

Yusuf Ali (They are fond of) listening to falsehood of devouring anything forbidden. If they do come to thee either judge between them or decline to interfere. If thou decline they cannot hurt thee in the least. If thou judge judge in equity between them; for Allah loveth those who judge in equity.

Pickthall Listeners for the sake of falsehood! Greedy for illicit gain! If then they have recourse unto thee (Muhammad) judge between them or disclaim jurisdiction. If thou disclaimest jurisdiction, then they cannot harm thee at all. But if thou judgest, judge between them with equity. Lo! Allah loveth the equitable.

Transliteration Samma_'u_na lil kazibi akka_lu_na lis suht(i), fa in ja_'u_ka fahkum bainahum au a'rid 'anhum, wa in tu'rida_'anhum falay yadurru_ka syai'a_(n), wa in hakamta fahkum bainahum bil qist(i), innalla_ha yuhibbul muqsitin(a).