Tafsir of Ash-Shura 42:10

{And in whatever you differ...}

This is a narration of the words of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to the believers. It means: Whatever the disbelievers among the People of the Book and the polytheists have differed with you about, and you and they have disagreed upon regarding matters of religion, the judgment of that disputed matter is delegated to Allah Almighty. He is the One who will reward the truth-tellers among the believers and punish the falsifiers.

{That is Allah, my Lord; upon Him I have relied} in repelling the plots of the enemies of the religion, {and to Him} I return for protection against their evil.

It is also said: Whatever you differ and dispute about regarding any litigation, refer the judgment to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and do not prefer the judgment of anyone else over his judgment, as in the Almighty’s saying: {And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger} (An-Nisa: 59).

It is also said: Whatever you differ about regarding the interpretation of a verse and it becomes ambiguous to you, refer its clarification to the Muhkam (clear) verses of the Book of Allah and the apparent Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

It is also said: Whatever disagreement occurs between you regarding sciences that are not connected to your religious obligations and for which you have no path to knowledge, say: "Allah knows best," such as the knowledge of the soul (al-ruh). Allah Almighty said: {And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord"} (Al-Isra: 85).

If you ask: Is it permissible to apply this to the disagreement of mujtahids (jurists) regarding the rulings of the Sharia? I say: No, because ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) is not permissible in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

{Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.}