42They are, listeners to calumny and consumers of unlawful gain (read suhut or suht), that which is illicit, such as bribes. If they come to you, to judge between them, then judge between them or turn away from them: the [second] option given here was abrogated by His saying, So judge between them [to the end of] the verse [Q. 5:48]. Therefore, we [Muslims] are obliged to judge between them if they request arbitration before us - and this is the more sound of Al-Shāfi’ī's two opinions. If their request for arbitration involves a Muslim, however, then we are obliged to judge according to the consensus [of legal scholars and not just Al-Shāfi’ī]); if you turn away from them, they cannot harm you at all; and if you judge, between them, then judge justly between them; Allahu ta’ālā loves the just, those that judge fairly, meaning that He will reward them. |
﴾ 42 ﴿