النص المفهرس

MA'ARIFUL
QUR'AN
A Comprehensive commentary on the Holy Quran
Volume
By
Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi.
Maktaba-e-Darul-'Uloom
Karachi.14 Pakistan

MA'ARIFUL-QUR'AN
By
MAULĀNĀ MUFTI MUHAMMAD SHAFI‘
Translated by
Muhammad Shamim
Revised by
Maulana Muhammad Taqi 'Usmani
Volume 3
(Surah Al-Ma'idah, Al-An'am & Al-A'raf)

3
Page
Subject
S. No
CONTENTS
1.
Preface
13
2.
Transliteration Scheme
15
Surah 'Al-Ma'idah
1.
Verses 1 : Translation and Commentary
19
Background of revelation and a summary of subjects
19
The logic of the Lawful
23
Living under the authority and wisdom of the Creator
25
2.
Verse 2 : Translation and Commentary
25
Linkage of verses
26
Background
26
The Qur'anic principle of mutual cooperation and assistance
31
The formation of separate nations
34
The teaching of the Qur'an about nationalism and universalism
35
3.
Verse 3 : Translation and Commentary
39
The Islamic principle of celebrating festive occasions
47
Understanding important meanings of the verse
50
Unlawfulness of animals: Exception under compulsion
53
4.
Verse 4 : Translation and Commentary
54
Ruling
55
5.
Verse 5 : Translation and Commentary
55
The slaughter of the people of the Book
61
Atheist Jews and Christians are not the people of the Book
63
What does the 'food' of the people of the Book mean?
64
The wisdom behind the lawfulness of the slaughter of the
people of the Book
66
The rationale of the lawfulness of animals slaughtered by
Jews and Christians: A gist
72

4
S. No
Subject
Page
The most sound and preferred view
73
Mufti 'Abduh of Egypt and his error of judgement
74
The lawfulness of the 'food' of the Muslims for the people of the
Book: What does it mean?
75
+
Dhabihah of apostates
77
Marriage: Major points of guidance for Muslims
77
Marriage with other non-Muslim women
78
The problem in marrying Jewish and Christian women
80
Conclusion
82
6.
Verses 6 - 10 : Translation and Commentary
83
Some forms of testimony
87
7.
Verses 11 - 12 : Translation and Commentary
90
8.
Verses 13 - 14 : Translation and Commentary
98
9.
Verses 15 - 18 : Translation and Commentary
101
10
Verse 19 : Translation and Commentary
104
Verification of the gap
104
· Rulings concerning the gap
105
A question and its Answer
106
The Unique perfection of the last among Prophets
106
11.
Verses 20 - 26 : Translation and Commentary
107
Which land is the Holy Land?
112
The determination of Sayyidna Musa against the treachery
of his people
118
12.
Verses 27 - 32 : Translation and Commentary
122
The story of Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain)
124
While reporting historical accounts, caution and
truth are mandatory
125
Acceptibility of deeds depends on Ikhlas (sincerity) and
Taqwa (fear of Allah)
128
13.
Verses 33 - 34 : Translation and Commentary
129
Qur'anic laws are unique and revolutionary
129
The three kinds of Islamic legal punishments
130
The punishment of Qisas (even retaliation)
133
The explanation of 'Ayat and details of Hudud
134
14.
Verses 35 - 40 : Translation and Commentary
140
Understanding the Islamic law of Sariqah (Theft)
147
Being privately - owned
147
Being secured
147
Being without permission
147

5
S. No
Subject
Page
Taking clandestinely
148
What is Benign and What is Savage?
152
15.
Verses 41 - 43 : Translation and Commentary
158
Sequence of the verses
159
The background of the revelation
160
Judicial process for non-Muslims in an Islamic state
165
Following 'Ulama : The Norm for people
168
Bribery and its evil consequences
172
16.
Verses 44 - 50 : Translation and Commentary
173
Sequence of the verse
176
The Qur'an: Custodian of Torah and Injil
181
The wisdom behind partial difference in Shari'ah of Prophets
181
A summary of subsidiary injunctions
184
17.
Verses 51 - 58 : Translation and Commentary
185
Explanation in brief
187
The background of revelation
188
The fitnah of apostacy
193
Marks of true Muslims
197
People of Allah shall prevail ultimately
199
The prohibition of friendship with those who
make fun of Islam
200
The tragedy of people who do not understand
201
18.
Verses 59 - 61 : Translation and Commentary
201
Consideration of the Addressee: A principle of Da'wah
202
19.
Verses 62 - 63 : Translation and Commentary
203
The moral loss of Jews
203
The correction of deeds
204
Are religious leaders responsible for the deeds of
common people?
205
For 'Ulama and Mashayikh - a note of warning
205
The method of community correction
208
Warning against not hating sins
208
20.
Verses 64 - 67 : Translation and Commentary.
209
Full obedience to the divine commands brings
blessings in this world too
211
How are divine commands carried out in full?
211
Answer to a doubt
212
Exphasis on Tabligh and comfort for the Prophet Le
213
The parting will of the Holy Prophet on the
occasion of the last Hajj
214

6
S. No
Subject
Page
The protection of Allah
215
21
Verses 68 - 69 : Translation and Commentary
215
Follow the divine Shari'ah: Instruction for the
people of the Book
216
Three kinds of Ahkam
218
Allah consoles his Prophet
219
Salvation promised for four communities having
faith and good deeds
219
With Allah, distinction depends on righteous deeds
220
There is no salvation (Najat) without belief in
prophethood ('Iman bir-Risalah)
221
22.
Verses 70 - 81 : Translation and Commentary
224
The crookedness of Bani Isra'il: Yet another aspect
229
Bani Isra'il: The cycle of excess and deficiency
230
The method of knowing and reaching Allah
231
Justified intellectual research is no excess
232
Bani Isra'il asked to follow the path of moderation
233
The sad end of Bani Isra'il
233
23.
Verses 82 - 86 : Translation and Commentary
233
Sequence of verses
234
Some votaries of the truth among the people of the Book
235
The effect of Sayyidna Ja'far's presentation on Najashi
236
The visit of Ethiopean delegation
237
Limits of interpretation
238
Those who side with truth are the moving spirit
of a community
239
94.
Verses 87 - 88 : Translation and Commentary
239
Sequence of verses
239
Leaving the worldly pleasures, when permissible
240
How Halal is turned into Haram: The three forms
240
The correct attitude towards Halal things
241
25
Verse 89 : Translation and Commentary
241
Sequence of verses
242
Three forms of oaths and their injunctions
242
Paying Kaffarah, before oath is broken, is not valid
245
26
Verses 90 - 92 : Translation and Commentary
245
Creation of the universe is for the benefit of human beings
246
An explanation of "Al-Azlam"
247
The permissible way of drawing lots
247

7
Page
Physical and spiritual disorders caused by drinking
and gambling
248
28.
Verses 93 - 96 : Translation and Commentary
251
Sequence of verses
252
Rulings
253
29.
Verses 97 - 100 : Translation and Commentary
256
Four sources of tranquility
257
Baytullah is the mainstay of the universe
257
Baytullah: Symbol and substance of peace
258
The background of the revelation of the verse
263
30.
Verses 101 - 103 : Translation and Commentary
265
The prohibition of asking unnecessary questions
265
The background of the revelation
265
There is no nubuwwah (prophethood) and wahy (revelation)
after the Holy Prophet
266
The definition of Bahirah and Sa'ibah
267
31.
Verse 104 - 105 : Translation and Commentary
268
Sequence of verses
269
The background of the revelation of the verses
269
Following an undeserving leader is asking for trouble
270
The criterion of leadership
271
An effective method of criticism
271
Comfort for the reformers of people
271
Sayyidna Abu Bakr on checking of sins
273
The meaning of Ma'ruf and Munkar
273
There is nothing legally unfair in the sayings of the
Mujtahid Imams
274
32.
Verses 106 - 108 : Translation and Commentary
275
Sequence of verses
276
The background of revelation
276
Some rulings
278
The witness of a Kafir is acceptable in the case of
another Kafir
279
Two words, two rules
279
33.
Verses 109 - 110 : Translation and Commentary
280
The linkage of verses
281
The first question asked of Prophets on the last day
281
The removal of a doubt
282
The answer shows the affection Prophets have for people
284
Subject
S. No

8
S. No
Subject
Page
Five questions on the day of resurrection
284
A particular question asked from Sayyidna 'Īsa
285
The answer given by Sayyidna 'Isa before His Lord
286
The mention of special blessings on Sayyidna Isa
286
34.
Verses 111 - 115 : Translation and Commentary
287
A true believer should not demand miracles
288
The better the blessing, the worse the curse of ingratitude
288
35.
Verses 116 - 118 : Translation and Commentary
289
Important Notes
289
36
Verses 119 - 120 : Translation and Commentary
291
The linkage of verses
292
Notes
292
Surah Al-An'am
1.
Verses 1 - 21 : Translation and Commentary
297
All gain and loss comes from Allah: A cardinal Muslim belief
312
2.
Verses 22 - 32 : Translation and Commentary
317
The present life is a great blessing: Invest wisely, and prosper
329
3.
Verses 33 - 41 : Translation and Commentary
330
Maximum regard for the rights of Allah's creation
333
4.
Verses 42 - 51 : Translation and Commentary
334
The demand of miracles from the Holy Prophet
341
5.
Verses 52 - 55 : Translation and Commentary
347
In Islam there is no distinction between rich and poor,
high or low
347
Some injunctions and instructions
353
Every sin is forgiven by Taubah (repentance)
356
6.
Verses 56 - 58 : Translation and Commentary
359
The linkage of verses
359
7.
Verses 59 - 62 : Translation and Commentary
360
How to stay safe from sins - the master prescription
361
Knowledge of the unseen and absolute power:
Two attributes of Allah, not shared by anyone
362
8.
Verses 63 - 64 : Translation and Commentary
370
Some manifestations of divine knowledge and absolute power
371
The moral
372
Accidents and hardships: The real remedy
372
9
Verses 65 - 67 : Translation and Commentary
376
Three kinds of divine punishment
377

9
Subject
S. No
Page
The anatomy and rationale of differences
382
10.
Verses 68 - 73 : Translation and Commentary
387
Avoid gatherings of false people
389
11.
Verses 74 - 81 : Translation and Commentary
394
Reform begins at home
396
Two nation theory: Believers are one people -
disbelievers, another
396
Using wisdom and strategy in Tabligh and
Da wah is the way of Prophets
398
Some instructions for preachers of Islam
401
12.
Verses 82 - 94 : Translation and Commentary
402
Explanatory notes on the present verses
410
13.
Verses 95 - 98 : Translation and Commentary
414
Night for rest is a blessing
417
Solar and lunar calendar
418
14.
Verses 99 - 107 : Translation and Commentary
422
The possibility of seeing the Creator
426
15
Verses 108 - 113 : Translation and Commentary
431
The background of revelation
432
Related considerations
435
Becoming the cause or agent of a sin is also a sin
436
On signs and miracles
440
16.
Verses 114 - 121 : Translation and Commentary
442
Linkage of verses
448
1.7.
Verse 122
451
Believer is alive; disbeliever, dead
451
Faith is light and disbelief, darkness
454
The light of faith brings benefits for others too
456
18.
Verses 123 - 125 : Translation and Commentary
457
Prophets and messengers are appointed by Allah:
This office cannot be acquired or appropriated
459
Signs of 'Sharh al-Sadr' in Din
460
The Noble Şahabah: Ever-eager receivers of truth
461
To remove doubts: Open hearts, narrow debates
462
19.
Verses 126 - 132 : Translation and Commentary
462
The basis of human groupings after resurrection
469
Deeds and morals affect collective matters even in this world
470
An oppressor is punished at the hands of another oppressor
471
Are there messengers of Allah among the Jinn too?
472
Related notes on Hindu autars
473

10
S. No
Subject
Page
20.
Verses 133 - 136 : Translation and Commentary
475
Allah is all-independent and His Creation is only a mirror of
His Mercy
476
Allah, in His Wisdom, made no human being need-free - if so,
man turns to tyranny
476
The admonition for disbelievers - a lesson for Muslim
.480
21.
Verses 137 - 140 : Translation and Commentary
481
Linkage of verses
482
22
Verses 141 - 142 : Translation and Commentary
483
Some words and their meanings
484
The 'Ushr of Land
487
23
Verres 143 - 153 : Translation and Commentary
490
Some virtues of the verses
494
These verses are the will and testament of the Holy Prophet
495
Details of ten prohibitions and explanation of the three verses
495
The first grave sin forbidden is shirk
496
Shirk: Definition and kinds
496
The second sin: Mistreating parents
497
The third prohibition: Killing children
499
A modern form of killing children
500
The fourth prohibition: Shameful acts
501
The fifth prohibition: Killing unjustly
503
The sixth prohibition: Eating up the property of the
orphan by false means
504
The seventh prohibition: Weighing and measuring short
505
Officials and workers who fall short in set duties
come under this Qur'anic ruling
506
The eighth commandment: Be just - doing otherwise is Haram
507
The ninth command: To fulfill the covenant of Allah - i.e.,
breach of pledge is Haram
509
24.
Verses 154- 160 : Translation and Commentary
513
Stern warnings against making additions in
established religion
522
25.
Verses 161 - 165 : Translation and Commentary
527
One's burden of sin cannot be borne by another
531
Surah Al-A'raf
1.
Verses 1 - 10 : Translation and Commentary
537
The weighing of deeds: A doubt and its answer
542
How would deeds be weighed?
544
)
Verses 11 - 18 : Translation and Commentary
17

11
S. No
Subject
Page
How long was the respite given to Iblis?
549
Can the prayer of a disbeliever be acceptable?
550
The event of'Adam and Iblis: The rationale of different words
551
What made Iblis speak the way he did before Allah?
551
The assault of Shaytan is multi-dimensional,
not simply four-sided
551
3.
Verses 19 - 27 : Translation and Commentary
552
Two uses of dress
555
The modern obsession for nudity: The tempter of
'Adam and Eve still stalks
555
After 'Iman, the first duty is to cover your body properly
556
The great reward of giving the old dress as Sadaqah
after wearing the new one
556
Covering of body is natural and the theory of evolution is false
556
The ultimate dress
557
The real purpose of physical dress too is to achieve taqwa
558
4.
Verses 28 - 31 : Translation and Commentary
559
Covering the body_properly is obligatory: There is no
Salah without it
565
A good dress for Salah
566
Salah and dress: Some rulings
567
Eating and drinking as needed is obligatory
568
Legality operates until proved otherwise
568
Extravagance in eating and drinking is not permissible
569
Moderation in eating and drinking is always beneficial
570
Eight rulings from one 'Ayah
570
5.
Verses 32 - 34 : Translation and Commentary
572
Abstinence from good dress and tasty food is no
teaching of Islam
573
The Sunnah of the Holy Prophet in food and dress
575
6.
Verses 35 - 43 : Translation and Commentary
578
Injunctions of the Shari'ah: Consideration of convenience
584
For its people, a paradise minus Malice
584
Guidance has degrees, the last being the entry into paradise
586
7
Verses 44 - 49 : Translation and Commentary
587
Who are the people of A'raf?
590
Salam greetings: Blessed legacy of the Holy Prophet
592
8
Verses 50 - 54 : Translation and Commentary
594
The creation of the Heavens and the Earth: Why in six days?
596

12
Page
S. No
Subject
How were days and nights identified before the
creation of Earth, heavens and planets?
596
9.
Verses 55 - 56 : Translation and Commentary
600
The meaning and etiquette of Du'a and Dhikr
601
What is order or disorder on the Earth and what
have sins of people to do with it?
607
10.
Verses 57 - 72 : Translation and Commentary
612
A brief history of 'Ad and Thamud
626
The lineage of Sayyidna Hud and some glimpses of
the background
627
11.
Verses 73 - 76 : Translation and Commentary
631
Injunctions and rulings
635
The confrontation between the arrogant and the weakened
636
12.
Verses 77 - 93 : Translation and Commentary
637
Index
653

تفسِيرْ
مُعَارِق ◌ُ لِّقُرن
Tafsir
Ma'ariful-Qur'an
Surah Al-Ma'idah
سُوَرَة المَائِدة
Surah Al-An'am
سُورَة الانعام
Surah Al-A'raf
سُوَرَة الاعْرَابِ.

15
TRANSLITERATION SCHEME
Arabic Letter
Name of Letter
English Transliteration
الف
·· Alif
a
باء
-- ba
b
ت
-- ta
t
ث
-- tha
th
جيم
-- jim
j
ح
خاء
-- kha
kh
دال
-- dal
d
قال
-- dhal
dh
راء
-- ra
r
ز
زای
-- za
Z
سین
-- sin
S
ش
شین
-- shin
sh
ص
صاد
-- şad
Ş
ض
ضاد
-- dad
d
طاء
-- ța
ț
ظ
9
-- za
₡
ع
عين
-- ‘ayn
غ
غین
-- ghayn
gh
-- fa
f
ق
قاف
-- qaf
q
کاف
-- kaf
k
ل
لام
-- lam
1
میم
-- mim
m
ن
نون
-- nun
n
هاء
-- ha
h
واؤ
·· waw
W
پمزه
-- Hamzah
یاء
-- ya
y
Short Vowels
: Fathah
a
: Kasrah
i
: Dammah
u
Long Vowels
1
: Shortened Alif
1-
: Maddah Alif
: Maddah Ya
: Maddah Waw
u
:Alif and Ya
: Alif and Waw
ay (also ai in some cases)
aw (also au in some cases)
س .
حاء
-- ha
خ
ى
Dipthongs
ای
او اؤ
,

19
Surah Al-Ma'idah : 5 : 1
Surah Al-Ma'idah
(The Repast)
[This Surah is Madinite (Madani). It has 120 Verses and 16 Sections]
Verse 1
بِشِعِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمِنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
◌َيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ امَنُؤَاْ أَوْفُوْا بِالْعُقُوْدِةِ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ بَهِيْمَهُ الْآَنْعَامِ
إِلَّ مَا يُتُلى عَلَيْكُمُ غَيْرَ مُحِّى الصَّيْدِ وَأَنْهُمْ مُمٌٍ إِنَّ اللّهَ
يَحْكُمُ مَايُرِيدُ
With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.
O those who believe, fulfill the contracts. The cattles
have been made lawful for you, except that which shall
be recited (mentioned) to you, provided that you do not
treat hunting as lawful while you are in Ihram. Surely,
Allah ordains what He wills. [1]
Background of revelation and a summary of subjects
This is the initial verse of Surah al-Ma'idah. As agreed upon, Su-
rah al-Ma'idah is a Madani (Madinite) Surah and also the last among
all Madani Chapters (Surah) so much so that some revered elders have
identified this as the last Surah of the Qur'an itself. On the authority
of narrations from Sayyidna 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar and Sayyidah Asma'
bint Yazid, it appears in the Musnad of Ahmad that Surah al-Ma'idah
was revealed to the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while in travel riding
the she-camel named 'Adba'. As explained in the introduction to this
Tafsir in Volume 1, there used to be a sense of being under some heavy
weight, extraordinary and unexplained, at a time the Wahy
(revelation) came to the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم .So, this is what
happened as customary. When the she-camel could bear the phenome-

20
Surah Al-Ma'idah : 5 : 1
non of unusual weight no more, he dismounted from her back. This
journey is obviously the journey he made to perform his last Hajj as
supported by some relevant reports. The Last Hajj took place in the
tenth year of Hijrah. After his return from there, his blessed life in
the mortal world lasted for about eighty more days. In al-Bahr al-
Muhiț, commentator Ibn Hayyan has said that some portions of Surah
al-Ma'idah were revealed during the journey of Hudaybiyah, some oth-
ers during the journey of the Conquest of Makkah and still others dur-
ing the journey of the Last Hajj. This tells us that Surah al-Ma'idah
has been revealed during the final stages of the revelation of the
Qur'an - though, it may not be the very last Surah.
Ruh al-Ma'ani on the authority of Abu 'Ubaydh, cites a narration of
ibn Habib and 'Atiyyah ibn Qays رضى الله عنهم أجمعين in which the Holy
Prophet & has been reported to have said:
المائدة من اخر القران تنزيلا فاحلوا حلالها وحرموا حرامها
Surah al-Ma'idah is from what has been revealed towards the
last stage of the revelation of the Qur'an. So, take what has
been made lawful there as lawful for ever and take what has
been made unlawful there as unlawful for ever.
Referring to Mustadrak al-Hakim, Ibn Kathir cites a similar narra-
tion from Sayyidna Jubayr ibn Nufayr in which he has been reported
to have called upon Sayyidah 'A'ishah 4 Algo, soon after Hajj. She
asked him: "Do you read Surah al-Ma'idah, O Jubayr?" He submitted:
"I do." Sayyidah 'A'ishah then said: "This is the last Surah of the Holy
Qur'an. The injunctions about things lawful and unlawful in it are
Muhkam (of established meaning). The probability of any abrogation
(Naskh) does not exist there. So, be specially particular about them."
Like Surah Al-Nisa', Surah al-Ma'idah too carries many subsidiary
injunctions relating to dealings and contracts. Accordingly, Ruh al-
Ma'ani notices subject homogeneity in Surah al-Baqarah and Al-'Imran
because both of them mostly feature injunctions relating to Principles,
Doctrines, Unicity, Prophethood, Doomsday and similar other basic
concerns of importance. As for subsidiary injunctions, they appear
there as corollaries. Regarding Surah al-Nisa' and Surah al-Ma'idah, it
can be said that they are homogeneous subject-wise because both of

21
Surah Al-Ma'idah : 5 : 1
them describe subsidiary injunctions. Any description of basic princi-
ples appears there by implication. In Surah al-Nisa', emphasis has
been laid on mutual dealings, particularly on rights servants of Allah
have on each other (Huquq al-'Ibad). Then, in it, there are details of
the rights of the husband and the wife, the rights of orphans and the
rights of the parents and other relatives. In the very first verse of Su-
rah al-Ma'idah, there appears the instruction to stand by all dealings
◌َيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ امَنُواْ أَوْفُرًا بِالْعُقُودِ :made and pledges given. The words of the Verse
(O those who believe, fulfill the contracts) command that all such com-
mitments must be met. Therefore, Surah al-Ma'idah is also referred to
as Surah al-'Uqud (Al-Bahr al-Muhit).
This Surah, specially its opening verse, has a special bearing on
matters relating to mutual dealings and contractual agreements.
Therefore, when the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent Sayyidna 'Amru
ibn Hazm as the 'Amil (Governor) of Yaman, he gave him a written de-
cree of appointment at the head of which he had this verse written (Al-
Bahr al-Muķīț).
Commentary
The first sentence of the first verse of this Surah is so comprehen-
sive that its proper discussion would deservedly go beyond thousands
of pages. In fact, Muslim scholars and jurists have done exactly that.
The verse says :ِنَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُود (O those who believe, fulfill the con-
tracts). Here, the very form of address: [&T'EN GG (O those who believe
... ) helps to divert attention to the very crucial nature of the subject for
the command being given here is centrally required by one's faith.
Then comes the command: Bu ggi (fulfill the contracts). The word,
'al-'uqud', used in the Qur'an is the plural form of al-'aqd, the literal
meaning of which is to tie. A contract which ties two individuals or
groups to each other is also known as 'aqd. Thus, al-'uqud takes the
meaning of al-'uhud or contracts.
Commentator Ibn Jarir has reported the consensus of revered exe-
getes among the Sahabah and Tabi'in on this approach. Imam al-
Jassas explains that 'aqd (contract) or 'ahd (pledge) or Mu'ahadah
(pact) are all applied to a transaction in which two parties have placed
the responsibility of doing or not doing something on each other and to
which both of them agree and are bound by. According to our recog-

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Surah Al-Ma'idah : 5 : 1
nized practice, this is what a contractual agreement is. Therefore, the
essential meaning of the sentence is: Take the fulfilling of mutual con-
tracts to be binding and necessary.
Now, we have to determine the nature of contracts meant here.
The interpretations of commentators appear to be different, though
outwardly only. Some say that it refers to the Covenant of Allah un-
der which His created beings are bound to believe in and obey Him, or
they refer to pledges Allah has taken from His created beings regard-
ing His revealed injunctions of things lawful and unlawful. This is
what has been reported from Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas as Ul .»,. Others say
that here it means the contracts people enter into with each other,
such as, the Contract of Marriage and the Contract of Buying and Sell-
ing. Commentators Ibn Zayd and Zayd ibn Aslam have taken this
very line of interpretation. Still others take contracts to mean sworn
alliances and pacts which the tribes of Jahiliyyah entered into with
each other for mutual assistance when needed. This is also the posi-
tion taken by Commentators such as Mujahid, Rabi' and Qatadah. But,
the truth is that there is no contradiction or difference in what they
have said. Instead, all these varied contracts come under the Qur'anic
word, "al-'uqud", appearing in this verse and the instruction to fulfill
all of them comes from the Qur'an itself.
Therefore, Imam Raghib al-Isfahani has said that all kinds of con-
tracts and binding agreements are included under the imperative of
this word. He further divides these into three kinds as given below:
1. The Covenant which human beings have with their Creator who
is Lord of all the worlds, such as, the pledge to believe in Him, to obey
Him, or to observe the restrictions imposed by Him on matters and
things lawful and unlawful.
2. The vow or promise or commitment one enters into with one's
own self, such as, to commit to fulfill a vow (nadhr) for something, or
to bind oneself on oath that something will be done.
3. The contract that one human being enters with another which
includes all contracts which bind two persons or two groups or parties
or governments.
So, in the light of this verse, strict adherence to all permissible pro-

23
Surah Al-Ma'idah : 5 : 1
visions and conditions which have been mutually agreed upon is man-
datory and all parties must observe and fulfill these. This covers all
international pacts and treaties between governments, bilateral agree-
ments, all commitments, alliances, charters between groups and par-
ties, also all sorts of contracts and deals between two human beings
ranging from marriage, business, partnership, leasing, gift deed to
many other bi-partite human dealings. Please note that the restric-
tion of 'permissible' imposed a little earlier has a reason, for entering
into a contract against the dictates of the Shari'ah, or accepting it, is
not permissible for anyone.
The Logic of the Lawful
After the initial declaration of the general rule in the first sentence
of the verse, its particular details appear in the second sentence where
it has been said: ◌ِأُحِلَتْ لَكُمْ بَهِيْمَهُ الانْعَام (The cattle have been made lawful for
you ... ). The word, 'bahimah'(+) used here is applied to animals usu-
ally considered to be devoid of understanding because people usually
do not understand their speech which thus remains obscure. Imam al-
Sha'rani says: The name 'bahimah' is not given to an animal just be-
cause it has no sense and everything sensible remains obscure for it -
as people commonly think. But, the truth is that no animal or beast,
not even trees and rocks, can be taken to be devoid of sense as such - of
course, subject to the difference in its degrees. They do not have the
same measure of sense as human beings do. This is the reason why
human beings have been obligated to observe the percepts and injunc-
tions revealed for them. Animals have not been so obligated, other-
wise Allah has given to every animal sense and awareness within the
limits of its needs - even to all trees and rocks, for that matter. This is
why everything glorifies Allah in its own way: 5 2- 02- 253 : That
is, 'there is nothing which does not but glorify Him with His praise'
(17:44). How then, without sense, would it have ever recognized its crea-
tor and master and how would it have, thus, been able to engage in the
act of glorifying Allah?
The word, 'al-An'am', used in the text is the plural form of na'am
(grazing livestock). Eight kinds of domestic animals or cattles such as
the camel, the cow, the buffalow, the goat which have been described
in Surah al-An'am are called the An'am. Since the word, 'bahimah'

24
Surah Al-Ma'idah : 5 : 1
(animal) was general, the word, 'Al-An'am' (the cattle) has made it
particular. So, the meaning of the verse comes to be that 'eight kinds
of domestic animals have been made lawful for you.' Under the discus-
sion about the word, 'al-'uqud', you have already read a little earlier
that it includes all kinds of contracts. One of these is the pledge Allah
Almighty has taken from His created beings that they would observe
the restrictions of the lawful and the unlawful. The present sentence
is refering to this particular pledge when it says that Allah has made
the cattle lawful for you and they can be eaten after having been
slaughtered in accordance with the Islamic manner.
Thus believers have been exhorted to obey this injunction by stay-
ing within its limits. They should not take it upon themselves, as do
the fire-worshippers and the idolators, to declare the very slaughter of
these animals as absolutely unlawful, for this is raising an objection
against the wisdom of the Creator and certainly an open ingratitude
for His blessing. Nor should they become like some other meat-eating
people who would, totally unfettered, go about eating all sorts of ani-
mals. Rather than do something like that, believers must eat from an-
imals Allah Almighty has made lawful to eat under the Law given by
Him. Similarly, they should abstain from animals which have been de-
clared unlawful to eat. The reason is that Allah Almighty is the Crea-
tor of the Universe. He knows the nature and the properties of all ani-
mals and He is also aware of the effects they bring about when in the
human body. He, in His grace, makes what is good and pure openly
lawful for human consumption, things which leave no ill effects on
physical health and moral strength. Similarly, He forbids unclean and
impure animals which are either harmful for human health or contrib-
ute metabolically into the generation of evil morals. Therefore, there
are a few things exempted from this general rule. These are as fol-
lows:
1. The first exemption is contained in :ُإِلَّ مَا يُتُلى عَلَيْكُم It means: Ex-
cept animals which have been declared unlawful in the Qur'an, that is,
dead animal or the swine.
2. The other exemption appears in:غَيْرٌ مُحِلّى الصَّيْدِ وَاَنْهُمْ مُهُم .It means:
Quadruped animals are lawful for you and wild game too. But, in the
state when you have entered into the garments of Ihram with the in-