The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 341
PT. 6 AL-MA'IDAH in the Hereafter they shall have 673 a severe punishment. 6 CH. 5 سَمَّعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكُلُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ They are habitual listeners. 43 فَإِنْ جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُم أَو things forbidden. If, then they أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَ إِنْ تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ to falsehood, "devourers of come to thee for judgement, judge between them or turn فَلَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْئًا وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ aside from them. And if thou turn aside from them, they فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ cannot harm thee at all. And if thou judge, judge between them with justice. Surely, Allah loves those who are just. 674 a5:63, 64. الْمُقْسِطِينَ 673. Commentary: The expression (who. سحت infinitive from They say i. e. he extirpated or destroyed it utterly. means, he earned foul or unlawful gain in his trade. An Arab would say i. e. his property may be ماله سحت سحت would fondly listen to any lie) is means, he removed his hair capable of bearing two meanings: (1) utterly (in shaving and cutting). ¿ cow they listen to you in order to lie, i. e. they come to you so that they may listen to your words, and then go out and distort and twist your words and their meanings before their own people and ascribe to you things which you did not say or mean; (2) they hearken to lies and accept them, i. e. they believe the lies which others utter about you and accept them as true. Similarly, the clause (who listen for conveying it to another people) means: (1) they listen (to you) for the sake of another people; i. e. they come and listen to what you say in order to report it to another people; (2) they believe what others say about you and take it as true. 674. Important Words: (things forbidden) is the noun- with destroyed impunity. therefore means, a thing which is forbidden or unlawful; that which is foul and of bad repute; a bribe that is given to a judge or the like; anything little or small in quantity or number; or anything paltry, mean and inconsiderable (Lane). Commentary: The words mean: (1) that the Jews devour things that are forbidden and unlawful; or (2) they devour things the result of which is spiritual ruin and national des- truction; or (3) they do not hesitate to take paltry and mean things | unlawfully; or (4) they accept bribes. 781