Tafsir of An-Nur 24:48-49

"And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger..."

The meaning of "to Allah and His Messenger" is: to the Messenger of Allah. It is like your saying, "Zayd and his generosity impressed me," meaning: the generosity of Zayd. From this is the poet’s saying: Before the sandgrouse and its flock, meaning: before the flock of the sandgrouse.

It is narrated that this was revealed regarding Bishr the hypocrite and his Jewish opponent when they disputed over a piece of land. The Jew would pull him toward the Messenger of Allah, while the hypocrite would pull him toward Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf, saying, "Muhammad will be unjust to us."

It is also narrated that al-Mughirah ibn Wa'il had a dispute with Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) over water and land. Al-Mughirah said, "As for Muhammad, I will not go to him, nor will I seek his judgment, for he hates me, and I fear he will be unjust to me."

"To him" (ilayhi) is connected to "they come" (ya'tu), because ata (to come) and ja'a (to arrive) are sometimes used with the preposition ila (to). Alternatively, it connects to "obedient" (mudh'inin), because it carries the meaning of "hastening in obedience." This is the better interpretation, as its connection precedes it and indicates exclusivity.

The meaning is: Because they know that you possess nothing but bitter truth and pure justice, they turn away from seeking your judgment when the truth is against them, lest you extract it from their very eyes by ruling against them in favor of their opponents. Yet, if they have a proven right against an opponent, they hasten to you and will accept nothing but your judgment, so that you may secure for them what is rightfully theirs from the opponent’s liability.

"Is there a disease in their hearts, or have they doubted, or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will be unjust to them? Rather, it is they who are the wrongdoers."