Q 5:44 — "Whoever Does Not Judge by What God Revealed"
The Three-Part Structure
Q 5:44, 45, and 47 share an identical closing formula:
| Verse | Addressee | Scripture | Those who do not judge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:44 | Jews | Torah | kāfirūn (rejectors) |
| 5:45 | Jews | Torah | ẓālimūn (wrongdoers) |
| 5:47 | Christians | Gospel | fāsiqūn (transgressors) |
Text (5:44 closing)
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
"Whoever does not judge by what God has revealed — it is they who are the rejectors."
Root Analysis
| Word | Root | Lexical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| yaḥkum | ḥ-k-m | to judge, to govern, to make firm |
| kāfirūn | k-f-r | to cover, conceal, be ungrateful |
| ẓālimūn | ẓ-l-m | darkness, injustice, displacing something |
| fāsiqūn | f-s-q | to deviate, to leave the path |
Context
Before (5:41-43): Jews come to the Prophet as arbitrator but reject his ruling when it doesn't suit them, though the Torah's ruling is in their hands.
5:44: The Torah is affirmed as divine — containing guidance and light. "Do not fear people; fear Me. Do not sell My signs for a small price."
5:45: Lex talionis — life for life, eye for eye. Those who do not judge are wrongdoers.
After (5:48-50): The Qur'an confirms previous scriptures. Every community has its own law. "Judge between them by what God has revealed; do not follow their desires."
The Three Labels in Qur'anic Usage
- Kāfir: One who covers/rejects the truth. In 5:44 the Jews' rejection of the ruling is denial.
- Ẓālim: One who transgresses. Failing to apply a ruling. Q 35:32 mentions believers who "wrong themselves" — still within the fold.
- Fāsiq: One who deviates. Q 49:6 instructs verifying news from a fāsiq — such a person is still part of the community.
Consistency within the Qur'an
- 5:48: Every community has its own law. "What God has revealed" refers, for each, to its own scripture.
- 33:36: "When God and His Messenger decide a matter, no believing man or woman has a choice."
- 49:9: If two groups of believers fight — they remain believers.
- 4:48: "God does not forgive associating partners with Him; He forgives anything else for whomever He wills."
Conclusion
Q 5:44 targets those who reject the divine ruling, not those who merely fail to implement it. The three variants indicate gradation: rejection → kufr; acceptance without implementation → ẓulm/fisq. The verse is not a blanket formula to be applied to every Muslim out of context. Q 4:94: "Do not say to one who offers you peace, 'you are not a believer.'"
Source: Qur'anic verses (M. Okuyan translation) + kuranokuyan.com. Qur'an-centred, supra-sectarian, cited.