Transliteration:( Afahukmal jaahiliyyati yabghoon; wa man ahsanu minal laahi hukmal liqawminy yooqinoon )
“Do they seek the judgement of Jahiliyyah (the Days of Ignorance)?”
This refers to the pre-Islamic era of ignorance and tribal customs, where justice was often partial and biased.
The example behind this revelation involves two tribes in Madinatul Munawwarah — Bani Nazeer and Bani Kuraiza — who were in conflict over compensation for their dead.
The stronger tribe, Bani Nazeer, would pay double compensation to their own dead but only half compensation for the dead of Bani Kuraiza.
When Bani Kuraiza complained to the Prophet ﷺ, he ruled that the blood-money (compensation) for both tribes was equal.
However, Bani Nazeer refused to accept this Islamic judgement and preferred their own tribal customs.
“And who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who are certain (in faith)?”
Allah’s judgement is perfect, just, and impartial, unlike the biased rulings of Jahiliyyah customs.
Those who have firm faith recognize that Allah’s laws and judgements are the best and most equitable.
The verse condemns those who prefer unjust, ignorant customs over the divine guidance revealed by Allah.
The verse serves as a warning that rejecting Islamic laws in favor of personal or tribal desires is the hallmark of unbelief and ignorance.
True believers must embrace Allah’s justice without compromise, even when it conflicts with entrenched social or tribal biases.
The tafsir of Surah Maidah verse 50 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Maidah ayat 48 which provides the complete commentary from verse 48 through 50.
(5:50) (If they turn away from the Law of Allah) do they desire judgement according to the Law of Ignorance?[83] But for those who have certainty of belief whose judgement can be better than Allah’s?
83. The word jahiliyah (literally ‘ignorance’) is used as an antonym to Islam. Islam is the way of ‘ilm (true knowledge), since it is God Himself Who has shown this way, and His knowledge embraces everything. In contrast is the way that diverges from Islam – the path of Ignorance (jahiliyah). The pre-Islamic period in Arabia is designated as jahiliyah because this was the era when human beings derived their norms from either superstitious beliefs, conjectures and imagination or from their desires. Whenever such an attitude is adopted, it is bound to be designated as Ignorance. The appellation ‘jahiliyah’ will apply to every aspect of life which is developed in disregard of the knowledge made available by God, based only on man’s partial knowledge blended with imagination, superstitious fancies, conjectures and desires.
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