“Have you not seen those who claim to believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you? They seek judgment from false authorities, although they were commanded to reject them; yet Satan desires to lead them far astray.” (60)

Concerning His saying, exalted is He, “Have you not seen those who claim to believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you? They seek judgment from false authorities,” to the end of the verse: al-Sha‘bi said: There was a dispute between a Jewish man and a hypocrite. The Jewish man said, “Let us take our case to Muhammad,” for he knew that he neither accepted bribes nor deviated from justice in his judgments. The hypocrite said, “Let us take our case to the Jews,” knowing that they accepted bribes and deviated from justice in their judgments. They then agreed to go to a soothsayer among the tribe of Juhaynah and seek his judgment, whereupon this verse was revealed. (1)

Jabir said: The false authorities to whom they would turn for judgment included one among Juhaynah and another among Aslam; indeed, every clan had soothsayers.

Al-Kalbi related from Abu Salih, from Ibn ‘Abbas, that it was revealed concerning a hypocrite named Bishr, who had a dispute with a Jewish man. The Jewish man said, “Let us go to Muhammad,” while the hypocrite said, “Rather, to Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf.” He was the one whom Allah called the false authority. But the Jewish man refused to litigate anywhere except before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When the hypocrite saw this, he went with him to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ruled in favor of the Jewish man.

After they left him, the hypocrite stayed close to the Jewish man and said, “Let us go to ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.” So they came to ‘Umar, and the Jewish man said, “This man and I brought our dispute before Muhammad, and he ruled in my favor against him. Yet he was not satisfied with his judgment and claims that he wishes to litigate before you.” ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the hypocrite, “Is that so?” He replied, “Yes.” He said to them both, “Wait here a moment.”