Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ma'idah Verse 50

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Is it, then, the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance that they seek? Who is better in judgement than Allah, for a people who believe?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Is it the judgment of ˹pre-Islamic˺ ignorance they seek? Who could be a better judge than Allah for people of sure faith?

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do they seek the judgment of the times of ignorance? Who could be better than Allah in judgment for people who are certain in faith?

A. J. Arberry

Is it the judgment of pagandom then that they are seeking? Yet who is fairer in judgment than God, for a people having sure faith?

Abdul Haleem

Do they want judgement according to the time of pagan ignorance? Is there any better judge than God for those of firm faith?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Seek they then the judgement of Paganism? And who is better than Allah in judgement unto a people who are convinced?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Do they then seek after a judgment of (the days of) ignorance? But who, for a people whose faith is assured, can give better judgment than Allah?

Abul Ala Maududi

(If they turn away from the Law of Allah) do they desire judgement according to the Law of Ignorance? But for those who have certainty of belief whose judgement can be better than Allah's?

Ahmed Ali

Do they seek a judgement of the days of pagan ignorance? But who could be a better judge than God for those who are firm in their faith?

Ahmed Raza Khan

So do they wish a judgement of ignorance? And whose judgement is better than that of Allah, for the people who are certain?

Ali Quli Qarai

Do they seek the judgement of [pagan] ignorance? But who is better than Allah in judgement for a people who have certainty?

Ali Ünal

Or is it the law of the (pagan) Ignorance that they seek (to be judged and ruled by)? Who is better than God as law-giver and judge for a people seeking certainty (and authoritative knowledge)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

Do they seek to enforce the law of (the days of) ignorance? And who is better than Allâh in giving judgment for a people who are convinced (of their faith)?

English Literal

Is (it) the Pre-Islamic paganism`s/ignorance`s judgment/rule (that) they desire ? And who (is) better than God (in) judgment/ruling to a nation they be sure/certain?

Faridul Haque

So do they wish a judgement of ignorance? And whose judgement is better than that of Allah, for the people who are certain?

Hamid S. Aziz

O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians for your friends (or patrons): they are friends (or patrons) to each other. Whoever amongst you takes them for friend (or patron), verily, he is of them, and, verily, Allah guides not an unjust people.

Hilali & Khan

Do they then seek the judgement of (the Days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who have firm Faith.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And that thou shouldst judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their low desires, and be cautious of them lest they seduce thee from part of what Allah has revealed to thee. Then if they turn away, know that Allah desires to affect them for some of their sins. And surely many of the people are transgressors.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Is it then the judgment of (the times of) ignorance that they desire? And who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Is it a judgment of the time of (pagan) ignorance that they are seeking? Who is better than Allah for judgment to a people who have certainty (in their belief)?

Muhammad Sarwar

Do they want judgments that are issued out of ignorance? Who is a better judge for the people whose belief is based on certainty, than God?

Qaribullah & Darwish

Is it pagan laws that they wish to be judged by? Who is a better judge than Allah for a nation whose belief is firm?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) ignorance And who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who have firm faith.

Wahiduddin Khan

Is it pagan laws that they wish to be judged by? Who is a better judge than God for men whose faith is firm?

Talal Itani

Is it the laws of the time of ignorance that they desire? Who is better than God in judgment for people who are certain?

Tafsir jalalayn

Do they desire (yabghn, is also read tabghn, `[do] you desire?'), [do] they seek, the judgement of paganism, through their deceit and deviation when they turn away? (this is an interrogative meant as a disavowal). Yet who, that is, no one, is better in judgement than God for a people knowing, Him, with certainty? These [people] are singled out for mention because they are the ones who reflect.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Do they then seek the judgment of (the days of) ignorance! And who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm faith!

Allah criticizes those who ignore Allah's commandments, which include every type of righteous good thing and prohibit every type of evil, but they refer instead to opinions, desires and customs that people themselves invented, all of which have no basis in Allah's religion.

During the time of Jahiliyyah, the people used to abide by the misguidance and ignorance that they invented by sheer opinion and lusts.

The Tatar (Mongols) abided by the law that they inherited from their king Genghis Khan who wrote Al-Yasiq, for them. This book contains some rulings that were derived from various religions, such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Many of these rulings were derived from his own opinion and desires. Later on, these rulings became the followed law among his children, preferring them to the Law of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. Therefore, whoever does this, he is a disbeliever who deserves to be fought against, until he reverts to Allah's and His Messenger's decisions, so that no law, minor or major, is referred to except by His Law.

Allah said,

أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ

Do they then seek the judgment of (the days of) ignorance!

meaning, they desire and want this and ignore Allah's judgment.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ

And who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm faith.

Who is more just in decision than Allah for those who comprehend Allah's Law, believe in Him, who are certain that Allah is the best among those who give decisions and that He is more merciful with His creation than the mother with her own child Allah has perfect knowledge of everything, is able to do all things, and He is just in all matters.

Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Qasim At-Tabarani recorded that Ibn Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah said,

أَبْغَضُ النَّاسِ إِلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنْ يَبْتَغِي فِي الاِْسْلَمِ سُنَّةَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَطَالِبُ دَمِ امْرِىءٍ بِغَيْرِ حَقَ لِيُرِيقَ دَمَه

The most hated person to Allah is the Muslim who seeks the ways of the days of ignorance and he who seeks to shed the blood of a person without justification.

Al-Bukhari recorded Abu Al-Yaman narrating a similar Hadith, with some addition