6:114 Al-An'aam (The Cattle)

قل -أيها الرسول- لهؤلاء المشركين: أغير الله إلهي وإلهكم أطلب حَكَمًا بيني وبينكم، وهو سبحانه الذي أنزل إليكم القرآن مبينًا فيه الحكم فيما تختصمون فيه من أمري وأمركم؟ وبنو إسرائيل الذين آتاهم الله التوراة والإنجيل يعلمون علمًا يقينًا أن هذا القرآن منزل عليك -أيها الرسول- من ربك بالحق، فلا تكونن من الشاكِّين في شيء مما أوحينا إليك.

أي: قل يا أيها الرسول { أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا } أحاكم إليه، وأتقيد بأوامره ونواهيه. فإن غير الله محكوم عليه لا حاكم. وكل تدبير وحكم للمخلوق فإنه مشتمل على النقص، والعيب، والجور، وإنما الذي يجب أن يتخذ حاكما، فهو الله وحده لا شريك له، الذي له الخلق والأمر. { الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا } أي: موضَّحا فيه الحلال والحرام، والأحكام الشرعية، وأصول الدين وفروعه، الذي لا بيان فوق بيانه، ولا برهان أجلى من برهانه، ولا أحسن منه حكما ولا أقوم قيلا، لأن أحكامه مشتملة على الحكمة والرحمة. وأهل الكتب السابقة، من اليهود والنصارى، يعترفون بذلك { ويَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ } ولهذا، تواطأت الإخبارات { فَلَا } تشُكَّنَّ في ذلك ولا { تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ }

يقول تعالى لنبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم قل لهؤلاء المشركين بالله الذين يعبدون غيره "أفغير الله أبتغي حكما" أي بيني وبينكم "وهو الذي أنزل إليكم الكتاب مفصلا" أي مبينا "والذين آتيناهم الكتاب" أي من اليهود والنصارى يعلمون أنه منزل من ربك بالحق أي بما عندهم من البشارات بك من الأنبياء المتقدمين "فلا تكونن من الممترين" كقوله "فإن كنت في شك مما أنزلنا إليك فاسأل الذين يقرءون الكتاب من قبلك لقد جاءك الحق من ربك فلا تكونن من الممترين" وهذا شرط والشرط لا يقتضي وقوعه ولهذا جاء عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال "لا أشك ولا أسأل".

The following was revealed when they asked the Prophet s to appoint an arbiter between him and themselves. Say Shall I seek demand other than God as a judge an arbiter between you and me when it is He Who revealed to you the Book the Qur’ān clearly explained? wherein truth is distinguished from falsehood. Those to whom We have given the Scripture the Torah the likes of ‘Abd Allāh b. Salām and his companions know that it is revealed read munzal or munazzal from your Lord in truth; so do not be of the waverers the doubters regarding it this is intended to affirm to the disbelievers that it is the truth.

Commentary

Mentioned in previous verses was the obstinate attitude of the disbelievers of Makkah against the veracity of the Qur'an and the Prophet of Islam ﷺ . Despite having seen signs and miracles proving their truth, they remained adamant, event went on to demand miracles of their choice before they could believe. The Qur'an answered this illogical argumentation by saying that the manifestation of miracles they demanded was easy for Allah, but those who were demanding them were obstinate people who would see them yet continue in their wickedness. When they do so, Divine Law will take over, as a result of which, they shall be over-run with mass punishment. That is why the Holy Prophet in his universal mercy, refused to oblige them. He asked them to ponder over the miracles, signs and proofs they have already seen.

The present verses carry evidences which clearly prove the veracity of the Qur'an and that it is the Divine Word.

The substance of what has been said in the first verse (114) is: The difference between you and me is in the case of my being a prophet and messenger of Allah. I claim it and you deny it. But, this case has already been decided by the Judge of judges in my favour in a way that the miracle of the Qur'an itself is more than sufficient a proof of the truth of my claim. This is the same Qur'an which has challenged the nations of the world to come forward - if they doubt its being the Word of Allah - and make a small Surah or 'Ayah to match this Word. Even the eloquent Arabs failed to meet this challenge. Then, there were those opposing Islam, Qur'an and the Prophet of Islam ﷺ enblock at the cost of their lives, properties and honour, even not one from among them rose with one single 'Ayah which would match the words of the miraculous Qur'an. Was this open miracle not good enough to make one accept the truth that a total Ummiyy who was never taught by anyone was reciting what had left Arabia and the world at large wondering? This is a case already decided in the Court of the Judge of all judges - that Muhammad ﷺ is a true Rasul of Allah and the Qur'an is the Kalam (Word) of Allah Jalla Sha'nuhu.

It was regarding this that it was said in the first verse (114): أَفَغَيْرَ‌ اللَّـهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا (So, is it someone apart from Allah that I should seek as judge). In other words, it means: ` Do you want that I should, after this decision (of Allah Ta` ala to reveal the Qur'an to me), go and look for a judge other than Him? This is impossible. Following that - given there are some particular qualities of the Holy Qur'an which are by themselves the proof of the Qur'an being true and the Word of Allah. For example, it was said: وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا (while He has sent down to you the Book with details) which describes four special perfections of the Qur'an, that is: (1) It has been sent down from Allah Ta ala; (2) It is perfect, miraculous, unchallenged and inimitable; (3) All matters of principle have been given in clear details; and (4) Before the Qur'an, the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians knew for sure that the Qur'an is the true Word of Allah. Then, those who had regard for truth, said so while those who were hostile would not say so despite that they were sure about it.

After the description of these four qualities of the Holy Qur'an, the address is to the Holy Prophet ﷺ : فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِ‌ينَ (So, never be one of those who are suspicious). It means that in the presence of such clear proofs, there is no room for doubt. It is obvious that the Holy Prophet ﷺ was never one of those who were in doubt, nor he could be, as confirmed by his saying reported in Tafsir Ibn Kathir: "Neither I ever doubted, nor I ever asked." This tells us that, though in terms of the words, the address is to the Holy Prophet ﷺ but, in reality, the purpose is to make others hear it. That it has been ascribed to him is a manner in which the aim is to lay emphasis on and heighten the effect of the command - in the sense: ` when this has been said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ who would have the audacity to entertain any doubt?'

What, shall I want other than God as a judge? “Shall I take other than God as an object of worship? Certainly not! Should I know a god other than God? No, never.” The object of worship without peer is He, for He is one and unique. In activity and all-compellingness He has no equal, in running the work and mastering the work He has no similar. In caressing servants He is well known, in loving kindness and showing love, He is the one described. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “O God, You are found by the recognizers, You are the wish of the hearts of the yearners, You are mentioned on the tongue of the praisers! How should I not want You, for You hear the voice of the supplicators. How should I not praise You, for You make the hearts of the servants happy. How should I not know You, for You are the adornment of the universe. How should I not love You, for You are the delight of the spirit.”