Sūrah Mā’idah (64-89)
Qur’ānic Exegesis
(Translated from Al-Bayān by Dr Shehzad Saleem)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ يَدُ اللّهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْ بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاء وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا وَأَلْقَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ كُلَّمَا أَوْقَدُواْ نَارًا لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful.
The Jews say: “God’s hands are tied.”[1] – may their own hands be tied and may they be cursed for what they say![2] [By no means!] Both His hands are outspread, He bestows as He intends.[3] In fact, what has been revealed to you from your Lord is increasing the rebelliousness and disbelief of many of them.[4] [It is because of this attitude of theirs that] We have stirred among them enmity and hatred that will continue till the Day of
اللّهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ (64)
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ آمَنُواْ وَاتَّقَوْاْ لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلأدْخَلْنَاهُمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ (65) وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُواْ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ لأكَلُواْ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَاء مَا يَعْمَلُونَ (66)
Judgement.[5] Whenever they ignite the fire of war, God puts it out [otherwise they keep spreading rebelliousness in this manner] and strive to spread disorder in the land; but God does not like those who spread disorder. (64)
[On the other hand], if these People of the Book had professed faith [in our Prophet] and adopted piety, then [as a reward] We would have brushed away their sins from them and would have admitted them into gardens of delight. And if [in their collective capacity] they had adhered to the Torah and the Gospel and that which has been revealed to them by their Lord,[6]they would have found sustenance from above and beneath them.[7][There is no
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ
doubt that] there is one group among them who is righteous; but most are those whose deeds are very evil. (65-66)
[Do not show concern for them][8]O Prophet! [and] whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord, communicate it [to them] and [remember that] if you do not do so, then you failed to
وَاللّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ (67)
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ حَتَّىَ تُقِيمُواْ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا فَلاَ تَأْسَ عَلَى
convey His message.[9]God will protect you from these people.[10][Rest assured!] God will never show the path of success [against you] to these disbelievers [of yours].[11] (67)
[12]Tell them [clearly]: “People of the Book! You have no basis if you do not adhere to the Torah, the Gospel and that which has been revealed to you from your Lord.”[13]But what will happen is
الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ (68) إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَالَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالصَّابِؤُونَ وَالنَّصَارَى مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (69)
that what has been revealed to you from your Lord will increase the rebelliousness and disbelief of many of them.[14]So do not grieve for these disbelievers. [The truth is that no one has any monopoly of attaining salvation from God; so] those who are Muslims and those [before them] who became Jews and those who are called the Sabaens and the Nazarenes[15]– whoever among them believes in God and the Last Day and does righteous deeds shall have nothing to fear [in the presence of God] nor will they ever grieve.[16](68-69)
لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلاً كُلَّمَا جَاءهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لاَ تَهْوَى أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُواْ وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ (70) وَحَسِبُواْ أَلاَّ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ فَعَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ ثُمَّ تَابَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ عَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ (71)
We indeed made a covenant with the Israelites [that they will obey the sharī‘ah] and [for its reminder] sent many messengers towards them [but what happened was that] whenever a messenger came to them with a something which was against their desires, some they would reject and others they would put to death,[17]and thought that they will not be seized for it;[18]thus they became blind and deaf. Then God was graceful to them and accepted their repentance. Even after this, most among them became blind and deaf.[19][Same is the situation now], and God is watching whatever they are doing now.[20](70-71)
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللّهُ عَلَيهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ (72) لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلاَثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـهٍ إِلاَّ إِلَـهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُواْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (73) أَفَلاَ يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (74) مَّا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ
Indeed, those who said: “God is the Messiah, the son of Mary,” have committed disbelief.[21]Even though the Messiah himself had said: “O Israelites! Serve God, Who is my Lord and also yours.” [They should know that] whoever associates others with God, God will deny him Paradise, and Hell shall be his abode and for such wrong-doers there shall be no one to help them [there]. The same disbelief was committed by those who said: God is the third of three[22]even though there is but one God. If they do not desist from such statements then those of them who persist in their disbelief [even after the truth has been conclusively communicated to them by the Prophet], a painful torment will visit them.[23]Will they not turn to God in penitence and see forgiveness from Him? God indeed is Most-Forgiving and Ever-Merciful. The Messiah, the son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger; several messengers also came before him, and his mother was a righteous servant [of God]. Both of them ate
صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلاَنِ الطَّعَامَ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الآيَاتِ ثُمَّ انظُرْ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ (75) قُلْ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ مَا لاَ يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلاَ نَفْعًا وَاللّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (76) قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ تَغْلُواْ فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ أَهْوَاء
food.[24]See how We are plainly stating Our revelations before them. See how they turn back. Ask them: “While leaving aside God, do you worship those who neither have any authority to help or harm you, even though it is only God Who hears all and knows all?”[25]Say: “People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion without any basis[26]and do not follow the religious
قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّواْ كَثِيرًا وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ (77)
لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُواْ يَعْتَدُونَ (78) كَانُواْ لاَ يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا
innovations[27]of these people who have already been led astray and who led many others astray and who have strayed from the straight path.”[28] (72-77)
Those of the Israelites who committed disbelief [before this] were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary[29]
كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ (79) تَرَى كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِي الْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ (80) وَلَوْ كَانُوا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالله والنَّبِيِّ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا اتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء وَلَـكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ (81)
لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الَّذِينَ قَالُوَاْ إِنَّا نَصَارَى ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ
because they were disobedient [to God] and would cross the limits [prescribed by God in matters of their fellow human beings]. They would not forbid one another from the wrongs they did. Very evil was the attitude they had adopted. [At this time also] you see many people from among them who befriend the rejecters.[30]Very evil is the provision which they have prepared for the future [which is] that they incurred the wrath of God and shall endure an everlasting torment.[31]Had they really believed in God and His Prophet and that which has been revealed to the Prophet,[32]they would never have befriended these [rejecters]; but most among them have become insolent. (78-81)
The truth is that you will find the Jews and Idolaters to be the most ruthless in enmity with the Muslims,[33]and will find nearest in affection to Muslims those who said: “We are Nazarenes.”[34][
يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ (82) وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَى أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُواْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ (83) وَمَا لَنَا لاَ نُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَمَا جَاءنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبَّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ (84) فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللّهُ بِمَا قَالُواْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الْمُحْسِنِينَ (85) وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ (86)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تُحَرِّمُواْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللّهُ لَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ
This is because there are scholars and monks among them, and because they are not arrogant. And when they listen to that which was revealed to the Messenger of God, you see their eyes shed tears because of recognizing the truth.[35]They call out: “Lord! We accept; so count us among [his] witnesses.[36]And why should we not believe in God and in the truth that has come to us when we hope that our Lord will admit us among the righteous?[37]So it is the verdict of God that in reward of these words of theirs, He will grant them orchards below which streams flow; they will dwell therein forever. This is the reward of those who adopt a good attitude. As for those disbelieved and denied Our revelations, they are the companions of Hell. (82-86)
1. [38]Believers! do not forbid[39]the pure and wholesome things
يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ (87) وَكُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللّهُ حَلاَلاً طَيِّبًا وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِيَ أَنتُم بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ (88) لاَ يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَـكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ الأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ
which God has made lawful for you.[40]And do not transgress bounds;[41]God does not like people who transgress bounds.[42]Eat of the lawful and wholesome things which God has given you and fear [your] God in whom you have professed faith. [Some people among you swear an oath to forbid something to themselves; so you should know that] God will not hold you accountable for oaths which you swear inadvertently;[43]but He will definitely hold you accountable for the oaths which you
كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُواْ أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (89)
solemnly swear.[44][So if such an oath is broken] its atonement is the feeding of ten needy persons of a standard with which you normally feed your own families or the clothing of ten needy people or the liberation of one slave. But whosoever cannot afford these should fast for three days. This is the atonement for the oaths when you have sworn.[45] [Give this atonement] and protect oaths. Thus Allah explains to you His verses that you may be grateful.[46] (87-89)