124 Preface إِنَّما جُعِلَ السَّبتُ عَلَى الَّذينَ اختَلَفوا فيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحكُمُ بَينَهُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ فيما كانوا فيهِ يَختَلِفونَYusuf AliThe Sabbath was only made1 (Strict) for those who disagreed (as to its observance); But God will judge between them on the Day of Judgment, as to their differences.2If Abraham’s Way was the right way, the Jews were ready with the taunt, “Why don’t you then observe the Sabbath?” The answer is twofold. (1) The Sabbath has nothing to do with Abraham. It was instituted with the Law of Moses because of Israel’s hardness of heart (2:74); for they constantly disputed with their Prophet Moses (2:108), and there were constantly among diem afterwards men who broke the Sabbath (2:65, and n. 79). (2) Which was the true Sabbath Day? The Jews observe Saturday. The Christians, who include the Old Testament in their inspired Scripture, observe Sunday, and a sect among them (the Seventh Day Adventists) disagree, and observe Saturday. So there is disagreement among the People of the Book. Let them dispute among themselves. Their dispute will not be settled till the Day of Judgment. Meanwhile, Muslims are emancipated from such stringent restriction. For them there is certainly the Day of United Prayer on Friday, but it is in no sense like the Jewish or the Scotch Sabbath!Cf. 2:113.