Ash-Shuraa · Makki · ayah 10 of 53

Ash-Shuraa 42:10

وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ

“And in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allāh. [Say], "That is Allāh, my Lord; upon Him I have relied, and to Him I turn back."[1410]”

Saheeh International

Essence

Every dispute ends with Allah, so the believer can stop needing to win, rely on Him, and keep turning back.

A reflection

A file called "Things I was right about"

Whatever you differ over, its judgement belongs to Allah. Then comes a declaration: that is Allah, my Lord. One commentator explains the pointing word "that". It refers to the One just described: who gives life to the dead, who has power over everything, and who judges between those who differ.

The commentaries explain that the final ruling on the great disputes of religion belongs to Him. He rewards those who were right and holds to account those who were wrong. Nobody's argument settles it. He does.

That should loosen something in the ego. Picture a man in his fifties who keeps a document on his laptop. Its title is "Things I was right about". It lists every family argument he has had for twenty years, with dates, and how it turned out. He reads it sometimes late at night. It has not made him happier. His brothers still do not ring him much.

Most of us keep a version of that file in our heads. We replay old arguments and polish our lines. We need to be shown right, and we need others to admit it. Religious arguments are often the worst, because we feel we are defending God.

The ayah takes the final verdict out of our hands. You may be right. You may be wrong. Either way, the case is not closed by you. That is humbling, and it is a relief. You no longer have to win every round.

A reader may push back. Does "leave it to Allah" simply shut down thinking? Is it a way to avoid hard questions? The commentaries do not read it that way. They say disputes that can be resolved should be taken to the Book and the Messenger's way (4:59). Only what is truly beyond knowing is left with "Allah knows best". It is not a refusal to think. It is a refusal to make yourself the final judge.

So argue honestly where argument helps. Then put the file down. The verdict was never yours to give.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.