وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنْجِيلِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿۴۷﴾ وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿۴۸﴾

﴾47﴿ Walyahkum Ahlul Injeeli bimaaa anzalal laahu feeh; wa mal lam yahkum bimaaa anzalal laahu fa ulaaa'ika humul faasiqoon
﴾48﴿ Wa anzalnaa ilaikal Kitaaba bilhaqqi musaddiqallimaa baina yadaihi minal Kitaabi wa muhaiminan 'alaihi fahkum bainahum bimaa anzalal laahu wa laa tattabi' ahwaaa'ahum 'ammaa jaaa'aka minal haqq; likullin ja'alnaa minkum shir'atanw wa minhaajaa; wa law shaaa'al laahu laja'alakum ummatanw waahidatanw wa laakil liyabluwakum fee maa aataakum fastabiqul khairaat; ilal laahi marji'ukum jamee'an fayunab bi'ukum bimaa kuntum feehi takhtalifoon

﴾47﴿ (And we said) let the people of the Bible decide according to the ruling that Allah Almighty has revealed in the Gospel, and whoever does not decide according to the ruling that Allah Almighty has revealed, then they are disobedient
﴾48﴿ And We sent down to you the Book (Qur'an) for the truth to confirm that, which was before this from the Book and the guardian over it, So decide between them according to what Allah has revealed and do not follow their request (to turn you back) from what has come to you the truth, We have ordained (this Qur'an) for everyone among you as a law and a great way, and if Allah the Exalted willed, He would of course make you one group, But He willed (given the authority) to test you in what He has given you, Therefore, surpass each other in doing good deeds, especially to Allah Almighty is the return of all of you, so let him inform you of what you used to disagree about

[47] Previously, only descriptions were mentioned—now the purpose of the book is stated, which is to judge by it. “Let them judge” (walyahkum) — here, the phrase “We said” (qulnā) is implied, meaning: We had said this to them at that time, or it is an independent sentence on its own. “The defiantly disobedient” (al-fāsiqūn) — this indicates that turning away from the guidance of the Gospel leads to disobedience. If the disobedience is in belief, then it is disbelief (kufr), and if it is in action, then it is sinful behavior (fisq).
Benefit: The mention of disbelievers (kāfirūn), wrongdoers (ẓālimūn), and disobedient (fāsiqūn) points to the fact that sins are of three types:
1. By way of denial — this is disbelief (kufr).
2. By transgressing the legal limits — this is wrongdoing (ẓulm).
3. By falling short of the legal limits — this is disobedience (fisq).
[48] After mentioning the Torah and the Gospel, the Qur'an is now mentioned. “With the truth” (bil-ḥaqq) — this means truthfulness, indicating that there is no doubt that this book was revealed from Allah the Exalted. The word “with” may indicate connection or causation — i.e., it was revealed with the truth or for the purpose of establishing and manifesting the truth. “From the Book” (mina al-kitāb) — this refers to all divine books revealed before the Qur'an. The meaning of confirmation (taṣdīq) is agreement in the message — in monotheism (tawḥīd), prophethood (risāla), other matters of faith, and in fundamental principles. “And as a guardian over it” (muhayminan ʿalayh) — means trustworthy, witness, and ruler. All these meanings converge on one idea: the Qur'an serves to clarify which beliefs and principles in earlier scriptures align with the truth. Whatever agrees with the Qur'an is true; whatever contradicts it has been altered or fabricated by the People of the Book and is false. Thus, it becomes clear that the Qur'an safeguards previous scriptures from distortion. The phrases muhayminan and muṣaddiqan imply an invitation to the Jews and Christians to believe in this Book. “So judge between them by what Allah has revealed” — this is an additional attribute of the Qur'an. Since it is revealed, confirming, and safeguarding, it logically follows that judgments must be made according to it. “And do not follow their desires” — desires here refer to those invented rulings and laws which the People of the Book inserted into the Torah and Gospel. “For each [community] We made a law and a clear way” — this addresses the potential objection from the People of the Book, who may say: There are rulings in our scriptures that differ from the Qur'an (such as in prayer, fasting, etc.), so how is the Qur'an a confirmation and guardian? The answer is that all divine books are united in their fundamentals and beliefs. What differs are the subsidiary laws (furuʿ) and minor details, which are unique to each nation — and these differences do not imply contradiction. This idea is confirmed by the authentic hadith: “The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.” Thus, Sharīʿah (law) refers to these subsidiary rulings. It is called Sharīʿah because Allah prescribed it, and minhāj (clear way) because it must be followed and practiced. “If Allah had willed...” — this explains the wisdom behind differing religious laws in the Torah, Gospel, and Qur'an. “But to test you” — meaning each community is responsible and tested with the laws Allah has assigned to it. “So race toward good deeds” — refers to obeying Allah, following His Messenger (May Allah bless him and give him peace), and believing in the Qur'an.