النص المفهرس

212
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:49-52
وَأَنِ أَحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ هُمْ وَأَحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنْ
بَعْضِ مَآ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكٌ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْ فَأَعْلَمْ أَنََّا يُرِبِدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُصِيَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمٌّ
أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَهِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَّ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ
٤٩
وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ لَفَسِقُونَ
﴿ يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا نَتَّخِذُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَرَى أَوْلِيَةً
حُكْمًا لِقَوْمِ يُوقِنُونَ
بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضَِّ وَمَن يَتَوَلَُّ مِّنَكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمُّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى أَلْقَوْمَ اُلَّلِمِينَ
ج
فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضُ يُسَرِعُونَ فِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَى أَن تُصِيَبَنَا دَابِرَةٌ
We order you to judge between them according to what Allah has sent
down. Do not follow their desires, and beware of them, lest they should
turn you away from some of what Allah has sent down to you. If they turn
away, be assured that Allah intends to make them suffer for some of their
sins. Surely, many of the people are sinners. [49] Is it, then, the
judgement of (the days of) Ignorance that they seek? Who is better in
judgement than Allah, for a people who believe? [50] O you who believe,
do not take the Jews and the Christians for intimate friends. 33 They are
friends to each other. Whoever takes them as intimate friends is one of
them. Surely, Allah does not take the unjust people to the right path. [51]
Now, you see those who have disease in their hearts race towards them
saying, "We apprehend that some misfortune may overtake us." 34
attitude is to obey Him in all His commands, whether or not they accord to
one's habits or desires. When a new prophet comes with a new command, the
people are tested to see whether they will obev it, or whether their love for the
previous ways will prompt them to violate the new command.
33) See note on 3:28
34) The Jewish tribes, despite having a treaty of mutual cooperation with the
Muslims, conspired against them. At the same time, they developed friendship
with some Muslims in order to spy on them. Verse 51, therefore forbade the
Muslims from having close relations with the Jews and the Christians. 'Abdullah
Ibn Ubayy, the chief of the hypocrites, refused to sever his relations with the
Jews, on the pretext that it would be dangerous for him. His real intention was

213
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:53-54
فَعَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِالْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِنْ عِندِهِ، فَيُصْبِحُواْ عَلَى مَآ أَسَرُواْ فِى أَنفُسِهِمْ
﴿ وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَهَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمُواْ بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَِمْ إِنَّهُمْ
نَدٍمِينَ له
حَ يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنَكُمْ
◌َعَكُمْ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَلُهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُواْ خَسِرِينَ
عَنْ دِينِهِ، فَوْفَ يَأْتِىِ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ، أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى
اُلْكَفِرِينَ يُجَهِدُونُ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَآَيِمٍ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِهِ مَن
يَشَدَءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعُ عَلِيمُ
٥٤
So, it is likely that Allah may bring victory or something else from His
own side, 35 whereupon they will become regretful over what they
concealed in their hearts. [52] Those who believe will say, "Are these the
ones who swore their solemn oaths by Allah that they were with you?"
Their deeds have gone to waste, and they became losers. 36 [53]
O you who believe, if anyone from you turns back from his Faith, then Allah
will bring a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble toward the
believers, hard on the disbelievers, who fight in the way of Allah and are
not afraid of the reproach of any critic. That is a grace of Allah. He
confers it on whom He wills. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. [54]
that in case the Jews succeeded in their plans, those who had severed their
relationship with them would face their anger. Verse 52 says that it is more
likely that the Muslims will be victorious, and the hypocrites will regret what
they did. What kind of relationship is allowed with Non-Muslims? For the
answer to this question, please see note on 3:28
35) 'something else from His own side' probably refers to the disclosure made
by Allah about the hypocrites and their designs.
36) This verse depicts the scene in which the Muslims, having come to know
about the duplicity of the hypocrites, will talk about them exclaiming that they are
the same people who declared their Islam on solemn oaths, but because of their
hypocrisy all their deeds have now gone to waste. Their virtuous acts like Salah,
Zakah etc. were wasted as they were devoid of true faith. Likewise, their efforts
to conspire against the Muslims too went to waste because they yielded no results.

214
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:55-60
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوَةَ وَهُمْ
◌َكِعُونَ (٢٥) وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ, وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ
٦
◌َيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوْ لَا نَتَّخِذُواْ الَّذِينَ أَّخَذُواْ دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَبَ
وَإِذَا نَادَيْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَوَةِ
٥٠
مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَالْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَ، وَتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ إِن كُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
٥٨
قُلْ يَأَهْلَ الْكِتَبِ هَلْ
اَتَّخَذُوهَا هُزُوًا وَلَعِبَأْ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ
تَنْقِمُونَ مِنَّ إِلَّ أَنْ ءَامَنَا بِلَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَنَّ أَكْثَكُمْ
قُلّ هَلَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِشَرِّ مِّن ذَلِكَ مَثُوَةً عِندَ اللَّهِ مَن لَّعَنَهُ اللَّهُ وَغَضِبَ
فَسِقُونَ
عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهُمُ الْقِرَدَةَ وَالْخَنَازِيَرَ وَعَبَدَ الطَّغُوتَ أُوْلَكَ شَرٌ مَكَانًا وَأَضَلُّ عَنْ سَوَآءِ
السَّبِيلِ
Your only friend is Allah, then His Messenger and those who believe,
who establish Şa lah and pay Zakah and bow before Allah. [55] Whoever
maintains friendship with Allah and His Messenger and those who
believe (must know that) it is the (members of the) Party of Allah that are
the triumphant. [56] O you who believe, do not take those who have
taken your Faith in jest and fun for friends from those who have been
given the Book prior to you, and the disbelievers. Fear Allah, if you are
believers. [57] When you call for Sa lah, they take it in jest and fun. That
is because they are a people who do not understand. [58] Say, "O People
of the Book, do you accuse us of anything else except that we have
believed in Allah and in what has been sent down to us and what has
been sent down earlier while most of you are sinners (and we do not
follow you in your sins) [59] Say, "Shall I tell you about the ones whose
retribution with Allah is worse than that (which you deem bad)? They
are those whom Allah has subjected to His curse and to His wrath; and
He has turned some of them into apes and swine, those who worshipped
Taghüt (Satan, the Rebel). Those are worse in their situation, and far
more astray from the straight path." [60]

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Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:61-64
وَإِذَا جَآءُوَكُمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَا وَقَدَ دَّخَلُواْ بِالْكُفْرِ وَهُمْ قَدْ خَرَجُواْ بِّ، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُواْ
﴿ وَتَرَى كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ يُسَرِعُونَ فِى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَنِ وَأَكْلِهِمُ السُّحْتَّ
تَكْتُمُونَ
لَوَّلَا يَنْهَنُهُمُ الرَّبَّنِيُّونَ وَالْأَحْبَارُ عَن قَوْلِهِمُ الْإِنْمَ
١٢
لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ
وَقَالَتِ اُلْيُهُودُ يَدُ اللَّهِ مَعْلُولَةُ
وَأَكْلِهِمُ السُّحْتَّ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَصْنَعُونَ
E
غُلَّتْ أَيْدِهِمْ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْ بَلّ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنْفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاءُ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ
كَثْرًا مِنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن ◌َّيِّكَ مُلْغَنَا وَكُفْرَّا وَأَلْفَيَّنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَآءَ
إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَمَّةِ كُلَّمَآ أَوْقَدُواْ نَارًّا لِلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللَّهَ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِى الْأَرْضِ
فَسَادًّا وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
When they come to you, they say, "We believe", while with disbelief they
came in, and with the same (disbelief) they went out. Allah knows best
what they used to conceal. [61] You will see many of them rushing
towards sin and aggression, and (towards) devouring what is unlawful.
Evil indeed is what they have been doing. [62] Why do the Men of Allah
and the Men of Knowledge not forbid them from saying what is sinful
and devouring what is unlawful? Evil indeed is what they have been
working. [63] The Jews said, "Allah's hand is fettered." 37 Fettered are
their own hands, and cursed are they for what they said. In fact, His
hands are outspread. He spends as He wills. What has been sent down
to you from your Lord shall certainly increase many of them in rebellion
and disbelief. We have put enmity and hatred amongst them lasting to
the Day of Doom.38 Whenever they lit the flame of war, Allah puts it out.
They run about on the earth spreading mischief, 39 and Allah does not
like the mischief-makers. [64]
37) In accordance with Arabic idiom, this would mean that Allah is niggardly.
These blasphemous words were uttered by the Jews of Madinah when they
faced decline in their financial resources as a divine punishment for their
rebellious attitude towards the truth.
38) This refers to the mutual disputes of the Jews themselves that were based
on their personal jealousy and sectarian prejudices.
39) This means that they frequently intend to wage war against Muslims, but

216
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:65-68
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ اُلْكِتَبِ ءَامَنُواْ وَأَتَّقَوْ لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَأَدْ خَلْنَهُمْ
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُواْ التَّوْرَةَ وَاَلْإِنِجِيلَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِم مِّن رَّبِهِمْ
10
٦٥
جَنَّتِ النَّعِيمِ
لَأَكَلُواْ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمَّ مِنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَآءَ مَا
﴾ ﴿ يَأَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن ◌َّيٌِّ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ هَا
يَعْمَلُونَ
بَلَغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ، وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسُِّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْكَفِرِينَ
قُلْ يَأَهْلَ الْكِتَبِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ حَتَّى تُقِيمُواْ النَّوْرَنَةَ وَالْإِنِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ
إِلَيْكُمْ مِّن رَّبِّكُمُّ وَلَيَزِيدَنَ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ◌ُغْيَنَا وَكُفْرًّا
فَلَ تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَفِرِينَ
If the People of the Book had believed and feared Allah, We would have
written off their evil deeds and would have surely admitted them to the
Gardens of Bliss. [65] If they had upheld the Torah and the Injil and what
had been sent down to them from their Lord, they would surely have had
plenty to eat from above them and from beneath them. Among them are
moderate people. As for most of them, evil is what they do. [66] O
Messenger, convey all that has been sent down to you from your Lord. If
you do not, then you shall not have conveyed His message (at all). Allah
shall protect you from the people. Surely, Allah does not lead the
disbelieving people to the right path. [67] Say, "O people of the Book,
you have nothing to stand on, unless you uphold the Torah and the Injil
and what has been sent down to you from your Lord."41 What has been
sent down to you from your Lord will certainly make many of them more
persistent in rebellion and disbelief. So, do not grieve over the
disbelieving people. [68]
whenever they do so, Allah frustrates their plans. Then they adopt other ways
to spread mischief, like speaking ill of the Muslims before new converts,
conspiring against them, preventing people from accepting Islam and
presenting distorted version of Torah.
40) This refers to those of them who accepted Islam, like 'Abdullah Ibn Salām.
41) Upholding Torah and Injil means to act upon them, which includes

217
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:69-72
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَالَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالصَِّئُونَ وَالنَّصَرَى مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَاَلْيَوْمِ
لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا
اُلْآَخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَلِحًا فَلَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
◌ِشَقَ بَنِىّ إِسْرَِّيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلَّاً كُلَّمَا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا
وَحَسِبُواْ أَلَّا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ
٧٠
تَهْوَىّ أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُواْ وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ
فَعَمُواْ وَصَقُّواْ ثُمَّ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ عَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمَّ وَاللَّهُ
بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ [٠َ لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ
أَبْنُ مَرْيَدٌ وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَنَنِىَ إِسْرَِّيلَ أَعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ رَبِىِ وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ، مَنْ
يُشْرِكِ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَزَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَنُ النَّارِ وَمَا لِلََّلِمِينَ مِنْ
أَنْصَارٍ
Surely, those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Sabians, and
the Christians - whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, and acts
righteously, shall have no fear, nor shall such people grieve. 42 [69]
Certainly We took a pledge from the children of Isra'il and sent
Messengers to them. Whenever a Messenger went to them with what
did not meet their desires, they cried lie to some, and killed others. [70]
They thought that no harm would follow. Therefore, they became blind
and deaf. Then, Allah accepted their repentance, but again they turned
blind and deaf, many of them. Allah is watchful of what they do. [71]
Surely, disbelievers are those who say, "Allah is the Masih, son of
Maryam" while the Masih had said, "O children of Isra'il , worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord." In fact, whoever ascribes any partner to
Allah, Allah has prohibited for him the Jannah (the Paradise), and his
shelter is the Fire, and there will be no supporters for the unjust. [72]
believing in the prophethood of the Holy Prophet , because both divine
books contain detailed instructions about the advent of the Holy Prophet
42) Please see notes on 2:62

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Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:73-77
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةُ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَهِ إِلَّ إِلَهُ
وَحِدٌ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنْتَهُوْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ
٧٣
أَلِيمُ
أَفَلاَ يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَةٌ، وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
مَّا الْمَسِيحُ أَبْثُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ,
٧٤
صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ الطَّعَامُّ أَنْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الْآَيَتِ
قُلْ أَتَعَّبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا
ثُمَّ أَنْظُرْ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ
٧٥
قُلْ يَتَأَهْلَ
٧٦
يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرَّا وَلَ نَفْعًا وَاللَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
اُلْكِتَبِ لَا تَغْلُواْ فِ دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ اُلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوْ أَهْوَاءَ قَوْمٍ قَدْ
ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُواْ كَثِيرًا وَضَلُواْ عَن سَوَاءِ السَّبِيلِ
Surely, disbelievers are those who say, "Allah is the third of the three" 43
while there is no god but One God. If they do not desist from what they
say, a painful punishment shall certainly befall such disbelievers.[73]
Why then do they not turn to Allah in repentance and seek His
forgiveness, while Allah is most forgiving, very merciful? [74] The Masih,
son of Maryam, is no more than a Messenger. There have been
messengers before him. His mother was very truthful. Both of them used
to eat food. Look how We explain signs to them, then see how far they are
turned away. [75] Say, "Do you worship, besides Allah, what has no power
to do you harm or bring you benefit?" Allah is the All-Hearing, the All-
Knowing. [76] Say, O people of the Book, be not excessive in your religion
unjustly, 44 and do not follow the desires of a people who have already
gone astray, misled many and lost the right path. [77]
43) This reference is to the doctrine of the Trinity invented by the Christians.
44) The Christians exceeded the limits in their veneration of the Masih ya and
believed him to be God or the son of God. Moreover, they exceeded the limits
in worship, and ignoring the basic requirements of human nature, invented
monasticism.

219
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:78-82
لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ بَنِىَ إِسْرَءِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُدَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ
مَرْيَدَّ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَواْ وَكَانُواْ يَعْتَدُونَ [١٨ كَانُواْ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَنْ
مُنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ (٣٥) تَرَى كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ
يَتَوَلَّوْنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَنْ سَخِطَ اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ
وَلَوْ كَانُواْ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالنَّبِيِّ وَمَآ
وَفِ اَلْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَلِدُونَ [®
أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا أُتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَةٌ وَلَكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ فَسِقُونَ
﴿ لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَوَةً لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ
وَلَتَجِدَنَ أَقْرَبَهُمِ مَوَدَّةً لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّا نَصَرَىَّ ذَلِكَ
بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
On those who disbelieve from among the children of Isra'il , a curse was
pronounced by Dawūd and 'Īsā, Son of Maryam. All this because they
disobeyed and used to cross the limits. [78] They did not forbid each other
from any evil they committed. Evil indeed is what they have been doing.
[79] You see many of them take the infidels (the pagans) for friends.
Indeed, evil is what they have sent ahead for themselves, for Allah is angry
with them, and they are to remain in torment for ever. [80] If they believed
in Allah, in the prophet, and in what had been sent down to him, they
would have not taken them (the pagans) for friends, but many of them are
sinners. [81] And you will certainly find that the people most hostile
against the believers are the Jews and the ones who ascribe partners to
Allah. You will certainly find that the closest of them in friendship with the
believers are those who say, "We are Christians."45 That is because among
them there are priests and monks,46 and because they are not arrogant. [82]
45) Verses 82 to 85 were revealed when a delegation sent by Negus, the king of
Ethiopia, came to the Holy Prophet . It consisted of seventy people, all
Christian scholars and priests. The Holy Prophet recited the Surah Yasin
(Sūrah 36) before them. As they listened to it, tears began flowing from their
eyes and all of them remarked how similar the discourse was to the one revealed
to Isa , and all of them embraced Islam. When they returned to Ethiopia,
the king too declared his conversion to Islam.
46) Although the verses were revealed specifically about the delegation sent by

220
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:83-87
وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ مَآ أُنْزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَى أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الذَّمْعِ مِمَا عَرَفُواْ مِنَ
﴿ وَمَا لَنَا لَا نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا
اَلْحَقِّ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَاَ ءَامَنَا فَاكْثُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّهِدِينَ
٨٣
فَأَثَبَهُمُ اللَّهُ
٨٤
جَاءَنَا مِنَ اُلْحَقِّ وَنَطَّمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ اُلْقَوْمِ الصَّلِحِينَ
بِمَا قَالُواْ جَنَاتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَرُ خَلِينَ فِيَأْ وَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ
٨٦
٨٥
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِثَايَتِنَا أُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَبُ الْجَحِيمِ
الْمُحْسِنِينَ
وَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُحَرِّمُواْ طَيِّبَتِ مَا أَحَلَّ الَهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوَأْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ
لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
When they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, you will see
their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have
recognized. They say, "Our Lord, we have come to believe. So, record us
along with those who bear witness. [83] What excuse do we have if we do
not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us, while we hope
that our Lord will admit us to the company of the righteous people?" [84]
So, because of what they said, Allah has awarded them gardens beneath
which rivers flow, wherein they will live forever. That is the reward of
those who are good in their deeds. [85] But those who disbelieved and
denied Our signs, they are the people of the Fire. [86] O you who believe,
do not hold as unlawful the good things that Allah has made lawful for you,
and do not transgress. 47 Verily, Allah does not like the transgressors. [87]
the king of Ethiopia, the generality of their words includes other Christians as
well, and the verse mentions general characteristics found in many of them. The
verse should in no way be understood as condoning priesthood or monasticism.
The sense, however, is that Christian priests and monks, having abandoned
worldly pleasures, are generally free of greed for mundane gains. Since this
greed is the main hurdle in accepting the truth, they are not as arrogant and
hostile to the Muslims as the Jews or pagans.
47) The monasticism practiced by Christians was predicated on the belief that
proximity to Allah cannot be achieved unless one abstains from all worldly
pleasures, including delicious food. Admiration of monks in verse 82 could

221
Sūrah Al-Ma'idah 5:88-89
وَكُلُواْ مِمَا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلًا طَيِّبًا وَأَثَّقُواْ اللَّهَ الَّذِىَّ أَنْتُم بِهِ، مُؤْمِنُونَ
لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِلَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَنِكُمْ وَلَكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدُمُ الْأَيَْنِّ
فَكَفَّرَتُهُ: إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةٍ مَسَكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَو كِسْوَتُهُمْ
أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَنْ لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَضِيَامُ ثَاثَةِ أَيَّامِ ذَلِكَ كَفََّرَةُ أَيْمَنِكُمْ إِذَا
٨٩
حَلَفْتُهُ وَأَحْفَظُواْ أَيْمَنَّكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَتِهِ، لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Eat from what Allah has provided you as good and lawful, and fear Allah
in whom you believe. [88]
Allah does not hold you accountable for your lagh» (ineffectual) oaths, but
He does hold you accountable for the oath with which you have bound
yourself. 48 Its expiation is to feed ten poor persons at an average of what
you feed your family with, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. However,
if someone cannot afford, he has to fast for three days. That is expiation
for the oaths that you have sworn. Take care of your oaths. That is how
Allah makes His signs clear to you, so that you may be grateful. [89]
have been misunderstood as an approval of such abstention. The present verse,
therefore, warns that no one has any right to hold lawful things as unlawful. It
is Allah's exclusive prerogative to declare something lawful or unlawful. Allah's
pleasure cannot be achieved by following self-coined rules and by abstaining
from permissible things against the demands of human nature.
48) Since one way of making something unlawful is to take an oath, the present
verse explains the rules relating to oaths, and their different kinds. Laghw'is an
oath taken without volition, or an oath sworn on a past event by mistake in
realizing a fact. For example, if one swears an oath about a person that he has
died under the belief that the person has actually died, while the fact is
otherwise, this is a lagh» (ineffectual) oath in the sense that it neither carries a
sin, nor does it require any expiation. Another kind of oath is called ghamūs
which is a false oath deliberately sworn on a past event. This is a major sin that
makes one liable to severe punishment in the Hereafter, but no expiation is
prescribed for it. The third kind of oath is called mun'agidah. It is an oath taken
to do or not to do something in future. The words 'the oath with which you
have bound yourself' refers to this third kind. Its violation is a grave sin, and it
also makes one liable to expiation which is mentioned in this verse.

222
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:90-93
◌َّأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَقُّرِ وَاُلْمَيْسُِ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَوْلَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَنِ
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ
فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
وَالْبَغْضَآءَ فِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَوَّةِ فَهَلْ أَنْثُم مُّنَهُونَ
وَأَطِيعُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأَحْذَرُواْ فَإِن ◌َوَلَّيْتُمْ فَأَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَا
لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّلِحَتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيَمَا طَعِمُواْ
الْبَلَغُ الْمُبِينُ
إِذَا مَا أَتَّقَواْ وَءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَِّلِحَاتِ ثُمَّ أَتَّقَواْ وَءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ أَتَّقَوْ وَأَحْسَنُواْ وَاللَّهُ
يُحِبُّ الْحْسِنِينَ
O you who believe! Wine, gambling, altars and divining arrows49 are filth,
made up by Satan. Therefore, refrain from it, so that you may be
successful. [90] Satan wishes only to plant enmity and malice between you
through wine and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of
Allah and from Salah. Would you, then, abstain? [91] Obey Allah, obey
the Messenger, and be heedful. If you still turn back, be assured that the
duty of Our Messenger is only to convey the Message clearly. [92] There
is no sin, for those who believe and do good deeds, in what they might
have partaken earlier,50 if they fear Allah, and believe, and do good deeds;
and again fear Allah, and believe, and still again fear Allah and do good
deeds. 51 Allah loves those who are good in their deeds. [93]
49) 'Altars' mean idols on which the pagans used to offer their sacrifices, and
'divining arrows' mean the arrows by which they used to draw lots. For detail
see note on verse 5 above.
50) There was a doubt in some minds about the fate of the Muslims who used
to drink wine and to eat out of what they earned from gambling. This verse
clarifies that the prohibition has no retrospective effect, and such Muslims
would not be held accountable for what they did before the prohibition.
51) 'Fearing Allah' is the literal translation of Taqwa (explained in note 52 of
Surah 3), a term frequently used by the Holy Qur'an for 'refraining from what
is prohibited by Allah'. Repetition of this term here alludes to the fact that there

223
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:94-95
◌َأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَيَبْلُوَنَّكُمُ اللَّهُ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ الصَّيْدِ تَنَالُهُ: أَيْدِيكُمْ وَرِمَاحُكُمْ لِيَعْلَمَ
(ف ◌َأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
اللَّهُ مَن يَخَافُّهُ, ◌ِالْغَيْبِ فَمَنِ أَعْتَدَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ، عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
ءَامَنُوْ لَا نَقْتُلُواْ الصَّيْدَ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌّ وَمَن قَلَهُ، مِنكُم مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاءٌ مِّثْلُ مَا قَلَ مِنَ
النَّعَمِ يَحْكُمُ بِهِ، ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِّنَكُمْ هَدْيَا بَلِغَ الْكَعْبَةِ أَوْ كَفَّرَةٌ طَعَاءُ مَسَكِينَ أَوْ
عَدْلُ ذَلِكَ صِيَامًا لِيَذُوقَ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِ، عَفَا اَللَّهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَّ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَيَنْثَقِمُ اللَّهُ
٩٥
مِنْهُ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيُ ذُو أَنْتِقَامٍ
O you who believe, Allah shall certainly test you with some of the game
coming in the range of your hands and spears, so that Allah may know
those who fear Him, even though He is Unseen. 52 Whoever transgresses
the limit after all this, for him there is a painful punishment. [94] O you
who believe, do not kill game when you are in Ihram (state of consecration
for Hajj or Um rah). If someone from among you kills it deliberately, then
compensation (will be required) from cattle equal to what one has killed,
according to the judgement of two just men from among you, as an
offering due to reach the Ka'b ah, or an expiation, that is, to feed the poor,
or its equal in fasts, 53 so that he may taste the punishment of what he did.
Allah has forgiven what has passed, but whoever does it again, Allah shall
subject him to retribution. Allah is Mighty, Lord of Retribution. [95]
are certain levels of taqwa, and after reaching a particular level, the true believers
should always try to attain a higher level.
52) Verse 87 has declared that it is Allah only who can make something unlawful.
The present verse mentions that Allah has prohibited the hunting of a game
animal when one is in the state of Ihram for performing Hajj or Umrah. Hunting
is also prohibited when one is in the precincts of the Haram around Makkah, even
though one is not in the state of Ihram. The verse states that when you are in the
state of Ihram or within the precincts of the Haram, some animals of game may
come in the range of your arrows or spears, which may tempt you to hunt them.
But it is a test from Allah whether you violate the prohibition or refrain from
hunting in obedience to Allah's command. See also notes on verses 1 and 2 above.
53) These are the rules of expiation for those who have violated the prohibition

224
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:96-98
أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ اٌلْبَحْرِ وَطَعَامُهُ، مَتَعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِلسَّيَّارَّةِ وَحُرِمَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَيْدُ أُلْبَرِّ مَا
جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ
97
دُمْتُمْ حُرُمًا وَأَتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ الَّذِىَ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَمًا لِلنَّاسِ وَالشَّهَ اُلْحَرَامَ وَاَلْهَدْىَ وَالْقَلَبِدَ ذَالِكَ لِتَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهُ
يَعْلَمُ مَا فِ اُلَّمَوَتِ وَمَا فِىِ الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيهُ لْاْ أَعْلَمُواْ
91
أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Made lawful for you is the game of the sea and eating thereof, as a benefit
for you and for travellers. But the game of the land has been made
unlawful for you as long as you are in the state of Ihram. Fear Allah (the
One) towards Whom you are to be brought together. [96] Allah has made
the Ka'b ah, the Sacred House, a source of stability for people, 54 and also
the sacred month and the sacrificial animal and the garlands. 55 All this
is because you may learn that Allah knows what is in the heavens and
what is in the earth. Allah is All-Knowing in respect of everything. [97]
Be sure that Allah is severe in punishment and that Allah is Very-
Forgiving, Very-Merciful. [98]
mentioned above. In summary, if someone has undertaken a prohibited hunt,
he should first assess the value of the animal killed. For this assessment, two
honest experts should be consulted. Once the value is assessed, there are three
options for the hunter. He may offer an animal of sacrifice, equal to the
assessed value, to be slaughtered in the area of Haram. Secondly, he may use the
price so assessed in feeding the poor. (Every poor person should be given 1.75
Kg of wheat or its equivalent.) The third option is to fast for as many days as
the number of the poor persons who could be fed according to the formula
mentioned above.
54) According to some exegetes, this means that the stability of the whole
world depends on the Ka'bah in the sense that the world will exist only as long
as the Ka'bah exists and is held in reverence and honour. There are some"
exegetes who explain the verse to mean that Ka'bah was the source of stability
for the Arabs. They were respected because of their service to the Ka'bah, and
were never attacked even by the militant tribes of the peninsula.
55) For an explanation, please see notes on verses 1 and 2 above.

225
Surah Al-Mā'idah 5:99-102
قُل لَّا
مَّا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلَّ الْبَلَغُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ
٩٩
يَسْتَوِى الْخَبِيثُ وَاُلَِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ الْخَبِيثِ فَأَتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ يَتَأُوْلِ
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَسْئَلُواْ عَنْ أَشْيَآءَ
اُلْأَلْبَبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
إِن تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ وَإِن تَسْئَلُواْ عَنْهَا حِينَ يُنَزَّلُ الْقُرْءَانُ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهَّاً
قَدْ سَأَلَهَا قَوْمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحُواْ بِهَا
وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
كَفِرِينَ
The duty of Our Messenger is only to convey the Message. Allah knows
what you disclose and what you conceal. [99]
Say, "The evil and the good are not equal, even though the abundance of
(what is) evil may attract you. So, fear Allah, O people of understanding,
so that you may be successful." [100]
O you who believe, do not ask about things which, if disclosed, would
displease you. If you ask about them while the Qur'an is being revealed,
they will be disclosed to you. 56 Allah has pardoned you for it. Allah is
Most-Forgiving, Forbearing. [101] People before you asked such
questions, and then, as a result, became disbelievers. [102]
56) This verse condemns unnecessary curiosity in matters of religion and in the
matters not relevant to practical life. When Hajj was obligated, a Sahabi 4% of
the Holy Prophet _ asked him, "Is it obligatory to perform Hajj every year?"
The Holy Prophet # stayed silent. Even when he asked the same question for
a second time, he did not answer. When asked for the third time, he said, "Pity
on you! If I had answered your question as 'Yes', it would have been obligatory
for you to perform Hajj every year, and then you would not have been able to
fulfill the obligation". (Bukhari and Muslim) The present verse was revealed on
that occasion. In Surah Al-Baqarah, the story of Israelites was narrated to give
an example of such unnecessary questioning. (See 2: 67 to 71)

226
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:103-105
مَا جَعَلَ اَللَّهُ مِنْ بَحِيَرَةٍ وَلَا سَائِبَةٍ وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ وَلَ حَامِ وَلَكِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ
يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبِّ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ (٨٢) وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَواْ إِلَى
مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ قَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ
ءَابَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ لَْ يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ
لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا أُهْتَدَيْتُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا
١٠٥
كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Allah has made no Bahirah, no Sā'ibah, no Wașilah and no Hāmī (names
of animals dedicated to idols on different grounds). 57 But those who
disbelieve coin a lie against Allah, and most of them do not understand.
[103] When it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has sent down, and
to the Messenger;" they say, "Sufficient for us is that on which we have
found our forefathers." Is it so, even though their forefathers knew
nothing, and had no guidance either? [104] O you who believe, take care
of your own selves. The one who has gone astray cannot harm you, if you
are on the right path. 58 To Allah all of you have to return. Then He will
tell you what you have been doing. [105]
57) According to Said Ibn Musayyab (s)
, Bahirah was the name of the animal
whose milk was dedicated to the idols. No one could drink it. As a sign of
dedication, the animal's ear was cut in a particular way. Another animal named
Sa'ibah was released in the name of idols. Nobody was allowed to use it for any
purpose whatsoever. Wasilah was a she-camel giving birth to female calves
consecutively without a male in between. She was also released in the name of
the idols. Hami was a male camel having copulated with a particular number of
she-camels. He was also released in the name of idols. Mention is made of these
animals in the context that no one has any right to hold something unlawful
unless he is so commanded by Allah Ta'ālā.
58) This means that every person is accountable for his own deeds. Therefore
one should be more careful to correct his own conduct, rather than confining
himself to criticizing others. For, even if others are going astray, their deeds will
not harm him. What will harm him is his own bad deeds.

227
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:106-108
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ شَهَدَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ حِينَ الْوَصِيَّةِ أَثْنَانِ
ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِّنَكُمْ أَوْ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْكُمْ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ ضَرَبُّمْ فِىِ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصَبَتَّكُمْ
مُصِيبَةُ الْمَوْتِّ تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِنْ بَعْدِ الصَّلَوْةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللَّهِ إِنْ أَرْتَبْتُمْ لَا نَشْتَرِى
بِهِ ثَمَنَا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبٌ وَلَا تَكْتُمُ شَهَدَةَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا إِذَا لَّمِنَ الْأَثِمِينَ [َ فَإِنْ
عُثِرَ عَى أَنَّهُمَا أُسْتَحَقًّا إِثْمًا فَاخَرَنِ يَقُومَانِ مَقَامَهُمَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُسْتَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ
اُلْأَوْلَيَنِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللَّهِ لَشَهَدَنْنَا أَحَقُّ مِنْ شَهَدَتِهِمَا وَمَا أَعْتَدَيْنَا إِنَّا إِذَا لَّمِنَ
الظَّالِمِينَ
(َِ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَ أَن يَأْتُواْ بِالشَّهَدَةِ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا أَوْ يَخَافُواْ أَنْ تُرَدَّ أَعْمَنُ
١٠٨
بَعْدَ أَيْمَنِهِمُّ وَأَتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَسْمَعُواْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفَسِقِينَ
O you who believe, 59 when death draws near one of you, that is, at the
time of making a will, the evidence (recognized) between you shall be of
two witnesses from among you, or of two others not from you, 60 if you are
travelling on the earth and the trauma of death visits you. (Then) you shall
detain them after the prayer, if you have some doubt, 61 and they shall
swear by Allah, "We shall not take a price for it, even if there be a relative;
and we shall not conceal the evidence (as due) of Allah, otherwise we
should certainly be among the sinners." [106] Then, if it is discovered that
the two had rendered themselves liable to a sin, then, in their place shall
stand two others, closest of those whose right has been taken away, 62 and
they shall swear by Allah, "Our evidence is more truthful than their
evidence, and we have not transgressed; otherwise we should be among
the unjust." [107] Thus, it is more likely that the former people (i.e. the
executors of the bequest) will bear witness in its proper way, or they will
fear that oaths will be taken in rebuttal of their oaths. Fear Allah and
listen. Allah does not lead sinning people to the right path. [108]
59) The event in the background of these verses is that a Muslim named Budayl,
accompanied by Tamim and 'Adiyy, who were Christians at that time, travelled
to Syria on a business trip. After reaching Syria, Budayl became sick. He
made out a list of his belongings in writing, and put it in his baggage. He did

228
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:106-108
not inform his companions about it. When his sickness became serious, he
called his Christian companions and made a will before them that they should
deliver everything to his heirs. When they returned, they delivered everything
to them. But, they took out, from the belongings, a silver bowl with gold inlay
work on it. When the heirs found the list of things in the baggage left for them
by the deceased, they asked the executors of the will if the deceased had sold
something from the property, or whether his sickness compelled him to make
unusual expenses. They answered in the negative. Finally, the case came up
for hearing before the Holy Prophet . Since the heirs had no witnesses, the
two Christians were placed under oath. They declared that they had neither
committed any breach of trust in what belonged to the deceased, nor had they
hidden any of his things. Based on the oath, the verdict was given in their
favour, and they were released of the liability of the golden bowl. After the
passage of some time, it was found that the two of them had sold that bowl to
a goldsmith in Makkah. When asked, they said that they had bought it from
the deceased. They pleaded that since they had no witnesses at the time of
purchase, they did not mention it earlier lest they be declared false. The heirs
of the deceased appealed in the court of the Holy Prophet . Now, contrary
to the earlier situation, the executers of the will were claiming to have
purchased the missing item while the heirs were denying it. In view of the
absence of evidence, two persons closest to the deceased gave a sworn
statement that the bowl was owned by the deceased and that the two Christians
were false in their oath. So, the amount of money for which they had sold it
(1,000 Dirhams) was made to be handed over to the heirs. Verses 106 to 108
were revealed to lay down the rule about such a situation.
60) The sense is that if one does not find a Muslim to execute one's will, a non-
Muslim may be appointed as executer of the will.
61) This means that if the truthfulness of the executers is doubted, and the heirs
of the deceased raise a claim against them while they have no proof against
them, then the executers of the will may be required to swear an oath,
preferably after a prayer because it will be embarrassing for them to swear a
false oath before such a gathering.
62) When the bowl was recovered from the goldsmith in the case mentioned
above, the situation was totally changed. The executors of the will claimed that
they had bought the bowl from the deceased, while they could not produce any
proof of purchase. The oath, therefore, was to be given to the closest of the
heirs of the deceased as mentioned above.

229
Surah Al-Mā'idah 5:109-110
يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ اَللَّهُ الرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا أُجِبْتُمْ قَالُواْ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَّاً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّهُ
إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَنْعِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى وَلِدَتِكَ
اُلْغُيُوبِ
1.9
إِذْ أَيَّدَتُكَ بِرُوجِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِى الْمَهْدِ وَكَهَلَّا وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ
اُلْكِتَبَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالنَّوْرَةَ وَاَلْإِنِيلِّ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الْعِينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الَّيْرِ
بِإِذْنِ فَتَنْفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِى وَتُبْرِىُّ الْأَكْمَةَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِىّ
(Be mindful of) the day when Allah will assemble the messengers and
will say to them, "How were you responded to?" They will say, "We have
no knowledge. 63 Surely You alone have the full knowledge of all that is
unseen." [109] (Call to mind the time) when Allah will say, "O 'Īsā, son
of Maryam, remember My blessing upon you and upon your mother;
when I supported you with the Holy Spirit. 64 You spoke to people while
you were still in the cradle and when you grew to middle age. I taught
you the Book and the Wisdom, the Torah and the Injil. You created from
clay something in the shape of a bird, then you blew on it, and it became
a bird by My leave. You cured those born blind and lepers by My leave.
63) Verses 109 and 110 depict the scene on the Day of Judgment as a reminder
that everyone will be held responsible for the way he responded to Allah's
commands delivered to him by the prophets. The prophets themselves will be
asked how people responded to their teachings. The answer of the prophets will
be that they have no knowledge. The purport of this answer is that they were
aware only of the outward response of their people, but they did not know what
their hearts truly contained, or whether or not their outward reactions
conformed to their real intentions.
The initial question will be put to all the prophets in general. Then certain
prophets will be addressed individually, out of whom special reference is made
in the following verses to Isa de as a warning to the Christians who pretend to
follow him.
64) 'Holy Spirit' refers to the angel Jibra'il ) (Gabriel) who used to
accompany 'Isa ti to protect him from the evil designs of his enemies. See
also 3:45 to 51.

230
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:111-114
وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْنَى بِإِذْنِى وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِىّ إِسْرَّءِيلَ عَنكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُم
وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ
بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَذَا إِلََّ سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ لَهـ
إِلَى الْحَوَارِبْنَ أَنْ ءَامِنُواْ بِى وَبِرَسُولِ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَا وَأَشْهَدْ بِأَنََّا مُسْلِمُونَ
إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِبُونَ يَعِيسَى أَبْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَنْ يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا
قَالُواْ نُرِيدُ أَنْ
مَآيِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ قَالَ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُؤْمِنِينَ
نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَيِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَنْ قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيَّهَا مِنَ
الشَّهِدِينَ [َْ قَالَ عِيسَى أَبْنُ مَرْيَمَ الَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآيِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ
١٤
تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةً مِّنْكٌ وَأَرْزُقْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّزِقِينَ لـ
You raised the dead by My leave. I kept the children of Isra'il away from
you when you came to them with clear signs, and the disbelievers among
them said, "This is nothing but a clear magic." [110]
When I enjoined upon the disciples (of 'Īsā ), "Believe in Me and in My
Messenger," they said, "We believed. Bear witness that we are the
submitting ones."[111] When the disciples said, "O 'Isa, son of Maryam,
can your Lord send down to us a repast from the heavens?" He said,
"Fear Allah if you are believers."> [112] They said, "We wish that we eat
from it, and our hearts be satisfied, and we may know for sure that you
have told us the truth, and we may become witnesses to it." [113] Īsā
son of Maryam said, "O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a repast from
heaven which may be a happy occasion for us, for all our generations
present and future, and a sign from You, and give us provisions. You
are the best Giver of Provisions." [114]
65)This reply suggests that a believer is not supposed to make demands for
showing miracles, because it sounds like he is raising doubt about powers of the
Divine. The disciples of 'Īsa
were true believers, and the purport of their
answer reported in the next verse is that the request was not based on any
doubt, but they asked for it in their eagerness to receive a blessing from Allah,
and as an additional satisfaction to their hearts.

231
0
Sūrah Al-Mā'idah 5:115-118
قَالَ اللَّهُ إِنِّى مُنَزِّلُهَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بَعْدُ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ أُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا لَّآ أُعَذِّبُهُ:
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَنْعِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ◌َأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ
أَحَدًا مِّنَ اُلْعَلَمِينَ
١١٥
اَتَّخِذُونِ وَأُفِىَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَنَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِّ أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا
لَيْسَ لِ بِحَقِّ إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ، فَقَدْ عَلِّمْتَهُ، تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَّ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِى
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَمَرْتَنِى بِهِ: أَنِ أَعْبُأُ وأ
نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّمُ اٌلْغُيُوبِ
اللََّ رَنِى وَرَبَّكُمْ وَكُنْتُ عَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمٍّ فَلَّا تَوَفَيْتَنِى كُنْتَ أَنْتَ
الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمَّ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ ﴿ إِن تُعَذِّبُهُمْ فَإِنَهُمْ عِبَادُكٌّ وَإِن
(١١٨
تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Allah said, "I am going to send it down to you; but whoever among you
disbelieves after that, I shall give him such a punishment as I shall not
give to anyone else in all the worlds." 66 [115] And when Allah said, "O
'Īsā, son of Maryam, did you say to the people: 'Take me and my mother
as gods beside Allah?" He said, "Pure are You, it does not behoove me
to say what is not right for me. Had I said it, You would have known it.
You know what is in my heart, and I do not know what is in Your's. You
alone have full knowledge of all that is unseen. [116] I have not said to
them anything but what You have ordered me to say, that is, 'Worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord' and I was a witness over them as long as
I was with them. But when You recalled me, You were the One watching
over them. You are a witness over everything. [117] If You punish
them, they are Your slaves after all, but if You forgive them, You are the
Mighty, the Wise." [118]
66) Whether or not the requested repast was sent down is a question that
cannot be answered with certainty. There are some reports that it was sent
down, while others say that the disciples had withdrawn their request after
hearing the warning given in verse 115.