In matters of religion: suppose two men dispute over a ruling of the sacred law; one says, “It is forbidden,” while the other says, “It is lawful.” They must take the case to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and neither of the disputants is counted a believer until the Messenger, peace be upon him, has passed judgment.

Likewise, if people quarrel over a worldly issue—as happened between Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām, may Allah be pleased with him, and his Anṣārī neighbour when they referred their contention over the water of the valley to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and he judged between them—this too is arbitration in worldly affairs. The crucial point is that no one truly believes unless he submits his disputes, in both religious and worldly matters, to the judgment of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.

The faith negated in this verse concerns a person who is never satisfied with the ruling of the Messenger, peace be upon him; such a denial annuls faith at its root, for whoever is categorically displeased with the Prophet’s judgment is—Allah’s refuge is sought—a disbeliever outside the fold of Islam. However, if the dissatisfaction relates only to a particular issue and he disobeys in that instance, then—provided the matter is not one that itself entails unbelief—he does not become a disbeliever.

As for Allah’s words, “until they make you judge,” someone might ask, “How can the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, be made judge after his death?” The answer is that he is made judge after his death by giving authority to his Sunnah.

Thus the first requirement is: “They will not believe until they make you judge concerning whatever has arisen between them.”

The second requirement is His saying: “and then they find within themselves no discomfort regarding what you have decided.” A person might appeal to the Book and the Sunnah, yet still feel constricted in his heart—unsettled, accepting only under duress. Therefore, he must not find within himself