5:49
And this (He commands): Judge thou between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching)which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah’s purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.
The participle muhaymin is derived from the quadrilateral verb haymana, meaning “to watch over,” “to oversee,” or “to exercise control.” In this context, it is used to describe the Qurʾān as functioning as a criterion or authoritative reference for determining what is authentic and what is erroneous in earlier scriptures (Asad, citing Tafsīr al-Manār, VI, p. 410). In this sense, the Qurʾān is understood to provide a standard for evaluating prior revelations.
The instruction often translated as “judge between them” may extend beyond formal judicial decisions to include broader ethical judgments about what is morally right or wrong. The passage addresses both Jews and Christians, as indicated by the preceding references to the “followers of the Gospel” and earlier references to the Torah. Within this framework, the verse emphasizes the consequences of disregarding divine guidance. According to this interpretation, neglecting God’s commandments ultimately leads to the erosion of moral values within a community, which can result in increasing social disorder and internal conflict.
References:
Asad, Muhammad (1980). The Message of the Quran.