Chapter on the words of Allah the Exalted: “Have you not seen those who claim that they believe in what was sent down to you and what was sent down before you? They wish to refer their disputes for judgment to the ṭāghūt (rebellious authority), though they were commanded to reject it; and Satan only wishes to lead them far, far astray…”—and the rest of the verses.

The remainder reads: “When it is said to them, ‘Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger,’ you see the hypocrites turning away from you completely. But how will it be when a calamity strikes them because of what their own hands have sent ahead, then they come to you swearing by Allah, ‘We intended nothing but good-will and reconciliation’” (al-Nisāʾ 60–62).

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Monotheism: By citing these verses, the author—may Allah have mercy on him—alerts the reader to the fact that true monotheism necessarily requires referring matters of dispute to the Messenger ﷺ for judgment. This is implicit in the two testimonies of faith; whoever utters them and then turns to anyone other than the Messenger for judgment has lied in his testimony.

Alam tara: an interrogative particle conveying amazement and denunciation.

Yazʿumūna annahum āmanū…: they allege faith in what was revealed, but they are lying.

An yataḥākamū: to take their disputes for adjudication.

Ilā al-ṭāghūt: literally “the one who exceeds all bounds.” Here it refers to Kaʿb ibn al-Ashraf, the Jewish leader, and by extension to anyone who judges by something other than what Allah has revealed.