"And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers." The interpretation of al-Hasan: It is a man who consumes the wealth of another man unjustly and denies it to him, then brings it before the rulers, and the rulers only judge by what is apparent. So, when they judge in his favor, he deems it lawful through their judgment. "in order that [in sin] you might consume a portion of the wealth of the people, while you know [it is unlawful]" that it is not rightfully yours.
Muhammad said: His saying, the Almighty: "or send it [in bribery] to the rulers" means: the wealth. The origin of the term in the language is from your saying: 'adlaytu al-dalw' (I lowered the bucket); when you let it down. And you say: 'adla fulan bi-hujjatihi' (so-and-so presented his argument); meaning: he sent it forth.
﴿وَلا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ وتدلوا بهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّام﴾ تَفْسِير الحَسَن: هُوَ الرجل يَأْكُل مَال الرجل ظلما، ويجحده إِيَّاه، ثمَّ يَأْتِي بِهِ إِلَى الْحُكَّام، والحكام إِنَّمَا يحكمون بِالظَّاهِرِ؛ فَإِذا حكم لَهُ، استحله بِحكمِهِ. ﴿لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالإِثْمِ وَأَنْتُم تعلمُونَ﴾ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لكم بِحَق.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: قَوْله تَعَالَى: ﴿وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّام﴾ يَعْنِي: الْأَمْوَال، وأصل الْكَلِمَة فِي اللُّغَة: من قَوْلك: أدليت الدَّلْو؛ إِذا أرسلتها، وَتقول: أدلى فلَان بحجته؛ أَي: أرسلها.
