Author: sftwr2020

5-109 On the day when Allah will gather together the messengers and say: What was the response you received? They will say: We have no knowledge. Surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen.^a

يَوۡمَ يَجۡمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبۡتُمۡ‌ۖ قَالُواْ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلۡغُيُوبِ (١٠٩)

5-109a: مَاذَآ أُجِبۡتُمۡ – The meaning of اجبت is to accept, as in: أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِىَ ٱللَّهِ  (accept the Inviter to Allah) (46:31). So the meaning here is: بای اجابة اجبتم (with what kind of acceptance were you accepted). The purport is not that there will be a reply otherwise instead of مَاذَآ the word used would have been بماذا .

The major purpose of this section is to narrate the complete absorption of Christians with worldly pleasures. The section however begins with a general statement that on the Day of Judgment all Messengers will be asked in what way did their disciples accept them, that is whether their intention was the pleasure of Allah or did they yearn for worldly things and abandoned the truth. In the next section, this question is directly addressed to Jesus. Even in this verse, the purpose of the statement is to draw attention to the condition of the Christians. As stated further on in the next section, the Christians accept Jesus and exaggerate his status to the point of elevating him from man to God, but their purpose in life is to obtain the world and its pleasures. The demand that the disciples make for food in this section is also meant to draw attention to this. This is the reason why the reply of the Messengers is that they have no knowledge of what their disciples did after they passed away and this information can only be in the knowledge of the Knower of the Unseen. The question poised in this verse is merely as an argument against the followers of the Messengers to show them the reason why the Messengers are sent and the path they are treading. The next section expands on this theme and verses 111 and 112 also manifest this theme. 

5-110 When Allah will say: O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favour to thee and to thy mother, when I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit; thou spokest to people in the cradle and in old age, and when I taught thee the Book and the Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel, and when thou didst determine out of dust (a thing) like the form of a bird by My permission, then thou didst breathe into it and it became a bird by My permission; and thou didst heal the blind and the leprous by My permission; and when thou didst raise the dead by My permission; and when I withheld the Children of Israel from thee when thou camest to them with clear arguments — but those of them who disbelieved said: This is nothing but clear enchantment.

إِذۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ ٱذۡڪُرۡ نِعۡمَتِى عَلَيۡكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَتِكَ إِذۡ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ ٱلۡقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلۡمَهۡدِ وَڪَهۡلاً۬‌ۖ وَإِذۡ عَلَّمۡتُكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَ‌ۖ وَإِذۡ تَخۡلُقُ مِنَ ٱلطِّينِ كَهَيۡـَٔةِ ٱلطَّيۡرِ بِإِذۡنِى فَتَنفُخُ فِيہَا فَتَكُونُ طَيۡرَۢا بِإِذۡنِى‌ۖ وَتُبۡرِئُ ٱلۡأَڪۡمَهَ وَٱلۡأَبۡرَصَ بِإِذۡنِى‌ۖ وَإِذۡ تُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ بِإِذۡنِى‌ۖ وَإِذۡ ڪَفَفۡتُ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ عَنكَ إِذۡ جِئۡتَهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡہُمۡ إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ (١١٠)

5-110a: ڪَفَفۡتُ – The literal meaning of کَفّ is to stop something with the hand (ڪَف) and then the word is genialized to mean to stop by whatever method (R). The use of this word is also cited as an argument to allege that Jesus was lifted to heaven because stopping the Israelites means that they were unable to catch Jesus or to touch him. This is a strange argument because all other prophets suffered afflictions at the hands of their enemies, but Jesus was a novel prophet that his enemies could not touch him. The purport of stopping the Bani Israel is only that they were not successful in carrying out the plan they had crafted against Jesus. Otherwise, the conditions of bearing extreme distress that other prophets suffered were faced by Jesus as well. Despite a promise given to the Holy Prophet in the Quran ٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۗ (Allah will protect thee from men) (5:67), he was wounded and fell from his mount and an Israelite woman poisoned him. The argument therefore that ڪَفَفۡتُ precludes Jesus being caught and hanged from the Cross has no weight.

سِحۡرٌ – For the meaning of سِحۡرٌ see 2-102b. The unbelievers have always termed their prophets enchanters (ساحر ). It is stated about Moses يَـٰٓأَيُّهَ ٱلسَّاحِرُ (O enchanter) (43:49) and the Holy Prophet too was called an enchanter. Accordingly, it is stated in the beginning of Surah Younas: Is it a wonder to the people what We have revealed to a man from among themselves: Warn the people and give good news to those who believe that for them is advancement in excellence with their Lord. The disbelievers say: هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ (This is surely a manifest enchanter) (10:2). In explaining the meaning of سِحۡر Imam Raghib has written that some actions because of their beauty may be called سِحۡر as in: إِنَّ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ لَسِحْرًا (Some speech is as if magic) (Bukhari) and sometimes because of the fine way a thing acts, it may be called سِحۡر . For example, nutrition because of the fine and efficacious way it acts may be called سِحۡر . The teachings of prophets have the same two properties. On the one hand, their attractive and alluring nature inexorably drives people with the right disposition to them and their influence is very fine and efficacious. This is the reason why the unbelievers called the prophets enchanters, and this is the reason why the Jews called Jesus an enchanter.

All the other matters in this verse have previously been discussed in Surah Al Imran. They are repeated here because the real objective of Jesus was to give life to the spiritually dead, heal the spiritually sick and to elevate those who showed a ready and eager disposition from worldly thinking and to make them soar in the heights of spiritual realm, but those people even considered these spiritual affairs to be physical and bent towards the inferior things of life.

5-111 And when I revealed to the disciples, saying, Believe in Me and My messenger, they said: We believe and bear witness that we submit.^a

وَإِذۡ أَوۡحَيۡتُ إِلَى ٱلۡحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ أَنۡ ءَامِنُواْ بِى وَبِرَسُولِى قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَٱشۡہَدۡ بِأَنَّنَا مُسۡلِمُونَ (١١١)

5-111a: وحی – For the meaning of وحی see 4-163a. Revelation to the disciples shows that revelation can be granted to non-prophets. To suggest that the disciples could be prophets is a self-evident contradiction because Jesus was sent for their reformation. Then their statement ahead to ask for food so that they may know that Jesus has spoken the truth shows clearly that they were not prophets. Their revelation was not prophetic revelation and despite the non-prophetic revelation that they received, they did not have complete faith in the truthfulness of Jesus.

5-112 When the disciples said: O Jesus, son of Mary, is thy Lord able to send down food to us from heaven? He said: Keep your duty to Allah if you are believers.^a

 إِذۡ قَالَ ٱلۡحَوَارِيُّونَ يَـٰعِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ هَلۡ يَسۡتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡنَا مَآٮِٕدَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ‌ۖ قَالَ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِن ڪُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ (١١٢)

5-112a: يَسۡتَطِيعُ – استطاعة means strength or ability but some lexicologists have taken يَسۡتَطِيعُ to mean یطیع or یجیب that is to accept.

مَآٮِٕدَة – It is derived from مید whose meaning include giving food as in مادنی اَطۡعَمَنِی (he gave me food) (R). مَآٮِٕدَة means both a table with food on it and food (R) but the meaning here is food as is obvious from عِيدً۬ا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا (an ever-recurring happiness to the first of us and the last of us) (5-114). Some have said that by مَآٮِٕدَة is meant knowledge and knowledge has been called مَآٮِٕدَة because knowledge is food for the soul (R) but this idea has been born out of not keeping in view the concern of Jesus.

This verse turns the attention towards the real subject of the section. Despite the revelation received by the disciples to believe in the Messenger, the condition of the Jews at that time was so abject that they could not get rid of the thought of worldly ease. The disciples were from the ordinary class of people such as fishermen, toll collectors, and the like, and such people usually do not possess high ideals. Hence, they ask for food. Jesus gives them a very exquisite reply and tells them that they claim to be believers, and prophets come to make believers walk in the way of righteousness, and not for fulfilling physical desires. So, if they are believers, they should walk on the path of righteousness which is the purpose of his coming. 

5-113 They said: We desire to eat of it, and that our hearts should be at rest, and that we may know that thou hast indeed spoken truth to us, and that we may be witnesses thereof.

قَالُواْ نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأۡڪُلَ مِنۡہَا وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعۡلَمَ أَن قَدۡ صَدَقۡتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيۡہَا مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ (١١٣)

5-113a: The spiritual condition of the disciples: These words enable us to gauge the real condition of the disciples and why Jesus repeatedly chided them. For example, in the Bible, Jesus tells them that they have no belief and if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed they could have done this or that, and he even called Peter, one of his closest disciples, Satan. This is not without reason. He saw that they were overcome by the desires of this world, and even if they tried to advance somewhat in the way of spirituality, they were unable to leave behind concerns for food and physical desires. The spiritual condition of the followers of both Moses and Jesus appears weak. In contrast, the spiritual perfection of the Companions of the Holy Prophet shines like the bright sun. It is strange that despite receiving revelation, Jesus’ disciples did not have a perfect belief that what Jesus said is the truth. There is also a lesson here for those who hold that Jesus physically pulled out the dead from their graves and gave them life and made birds with clay and made them into real birds because if these miracles had happened why would the disciples demand food to consider Jesus truthful. The coming out of the dead from the graves and converting clay birds into live birds are much greater miracles than receiving food from heaven. Those who saw the alleged miracles could not have been dependent upon receiving food to believe fully. In the very least, according to the Quran, the coming out of the dead from the graves and other miracles cannot be physical.

5-114 Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, our Lord, send down to us food from heaven which should be to us an ever-recurring happiness to the first of us and the last of us, and a sign from Thee, and give us sustenance and Thou art the Best of the sustainers.^a

قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ ٱللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلۡ عَلَيۡنَا مَآٮِٕدَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدً۬ا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةً۬ مِّنكَ‌ۖ وَٱرۡزُقۡنَا وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٲزِقِينَ (١١٤)

5-114a: عِيدً۬ا – It is derived from عود which means to come back or recur and عید is that which recurs. This word has specially become identified with happiness and in religious terminology is used specifically for یوم الفطر and یوم النحر (R).

Jesus’ prays for food: After counseling his disciples once, Jesus at last supplicates and fulfills the wishes of his disciples, just as Moses had bowed before the wish of his disciples: أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهۡرَةً۬ (Show us Allah manifestly) (4:153) and supplicated: رَبِّ أَرِنِىٓ أَنظُرۡ إِلَيۡكَ‌ (My Lord, show me (Thyself)) (7:143). Instead of praying for food that will come just for his disciples, Jesus prays for food that will be an ever-recurring happiness for the first and last of his followers. The present conditions do not leave any doubt about the acceptance of his prayer. In the matter of food there is ever-recurring happiness among the Christians. The difference between the first and last of them is that the first had some concern for the Hereafter along with food but now what is left is just a race for physical needs.

Holy Prophet’s concern for the spirituality of his followers: But is this an envious condition? The prayer that the Holy Prophet made for the pious people of his Ummah is: O Lord make the sustenance of the followers of Muhammad sufficient, that is, that their absorption in worldly affairs should not be so great that they forget the Hereafter. The Holy Prophet is the real spiritual teacher for the world who has concern for the souls of his followers – a concern for that which elevates humans from animals. There is no reflection in this about Jesus. He supplicated in accordance with the inclination of his nation and that period was also such that the necessary perfection of spirituality had not been achieved. Hence the prophets taught in accordance with the conditions of their nations. There is also a great mention of food in the miracles of Jesus, as for example Jesus feeds a multitude of people starting with a few loaves of bread (John 6: 1-14) and in another instance Jesus converted six jars of water to wine sufficient for guests at a wedding to drink until they got drunk (John 2:1-11). The impact of this miracle is still prominent in Europe. If they pray, the prayer that takes precedence is: Give us today our daily bread (Mathew 6:11). So the Christians got both bread and wine. The purpose of a Muslim’s life, however, is to be a teacher of morality and piety. God does provide bread but the truth is that the objective of life is not to eat and drink but ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِن ڪُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ (to keep your duty to Allah if you are believers).

5-115 Allah said: Surely I will send it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you, I will chastise him with a chastisement with which I will not chastise anyone among the nations.^a

قَالَ ٱللَّهُ إِنِّى مُنَزِّلُهَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ‌ۖ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بَعۡدُ مِنكُمۡ فَإِنِّىٓ أُعَذِّبُهُ ۥ عَذَابً۬ا لَّآ أُعَذِّبُهُ ۥۤ أَحَدً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (١١٥)

5-115a: The worldly goods are promised but the punishment for being unthankful is equally severe. The Christian nations have accumulated large stores of wealth and goods of worldly pleasure, but the history of the world is a witness that after a period of great ease begins a period of great distress.

5-101 O you who believe, ask not about things which if made known to you would give you trouble; and if you ask about them when the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be made known to you. Allah pardons this; and Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَسۡـَٔلُواْ عَنۡ أَشۡيَآءَ إِن تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ تَسُؤۡكُمۡ وَإِن تَسۡـَٔلُواْ عَنۡہَا حِينَ يُنَزَّلُ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہَا‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ۬ (١٠١)

5-101a: In the whole of this chapter, shariah is highlighted and its details expounded. In all matters, Quran has emphasized the golden mean and shunned the extremes. In the chapter before last, Quran has stopped one from overdoing in matters of worship. Similarly in this verse Quran stops its votaries from getting into unnecessary details in the matter of the shariah and stops them from asking too many questions. Allah will Himself give out those details that He considers necessary for the guidance of humanity. Just as the absence of shariah is a source of difficulty for people, similarly, commands of shariah in insignificant matters also becomes a source of difficulty. Islamic shariah has adopted the way of temperance. The necessary things have been given but many details are left out so that the door is left open for the exercise of judgment. The Quranic commands cannot be changed but there can be alterations in the matter of judgment based upon changing circumstances. There is no doubt that in matters of detail there is a necessity for change with a change in circumstances. Hence the most efficacious way is for Quranic commands not be given in small matters and to leave those to the exercise of judgment based upon the circumstances. It is also stated in hadiths that people used to question the Holy Prophet regarding minor matters and the Holy Prophet expressed his displeasure with such questions. His attitude was supportive of this verse.

The meaning of عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہَا‌ is that despite the people’s questions about minor matters, Allah did not impose any hardship on them.

5-102 A people before you indeed asked such questions, then became disbelievers therein.^a

قَدۡ سَأَلَهَا قَوۡمٌ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ ثُمَّ أَصۡبَحُواْ بِہَا كَـٰفِرِينَ (١٠٢)

5-102a: When the previous nation is unnamed, the assumption is that it is usually Bani Israel. Many detailed commands are found in their shariah and these could be because of their questions. According to a narration of Ibn Abbas, there is a similarity here with the Christians who asked about whether God could provide them with food but then became unthankful (IJ).

 5-103 Allah has not ordained a bahirah or a sa’ibah or a wasilah or a hami, but those who disbelieve fabricate a lie against Allah. And most of them understand not.^a

مَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَحِيرَةٍ۬ وَلَا سَآٮِٕبَةٍ۬ وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ۬ وَلَا حَامٍ۬‌ۙ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ‌ۖ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ (١٠٣)

5-103a: بَحِيرَةٍ۬ – It is derived from بحر  which means he cut or split. A she camel whose ear was slit was called بَحِيرَةٍ۬ . After a camel had given ten births and if the last was a male, the she camel had her ear split, and she was left free to pasture and was exempted from slaughter and from carrying burdens.

سَآٮِٕبَةٍ۬ – It is derived from ساب which means walked on earth. It was a she camel that was given as an offering or a she camel who had given birth to ten female camels. It was left free and given liberty to pasture or drink water anywhere without any hindrance.

وَصِيلَةٍ۬  – It is from وصل which means he connected or joined. It has been interpreted in different ways. According to some, it was a she goat that gave birth seven times to twins and if in the last set of twins, one was a male and the other a female then it was only the male that drank the mother’s milk. According to Zajjaj, it was a goat which if it gave birth to a male, it was given as an offering to the idols but if there were twins – a male and female – then they were saved. 

حَامٍ – It is from حمی which means he prohibited, or interdicted it or protected or guarded it. It was a stallion camel that was not used for bearing a rider or any burden. Generally, such males whose offspring in the second degree of descent had been fertile or that fathered ten young ones from a single female.

All these customs are related to polytheism. Thus, it is made known that although there is considerable flexibility in the shariah but polytheism which is the root of all evils must be uprooted completely. 

Polytheistic customs: Muslims should reflect how strongly Allah has stressed the need to avoid polytheistic customs and how polytheistic customs permeate their own homes and their lifestyles.

5-104 And when it is said to them, Come to that which Allah has revealed and to the Messenger, they say: Sufficient for us is that wherein we found our fathers. What! even though their fathers knew nothing and had no guidance!

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ قَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا مَا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ‌ۚ أَوَلَوۡ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَہۡتَدُونَ (١٠٤)

5-105 O you who believe, take care of your souls — he who errs cannot harm you when you are on the right way. To Allah you will all return, so He will inform you of what you did.

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهۡتَدَيۡتُمۡ‌ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ جَمِيعً۬ا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (١٠٥)

5-105a: Remedy when misguided nations are in majority: According to Ibn Umar, this verse is for future nations. Ibn Masud opines that this verse is for end times (IJ). Their opinion appears to be correct. The words: يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ communicates that when those who have erred are in the majority, one should not think that they can cause one harm as long as one steadfastly remains guided. This does not mean that there is no need to guide them because an essential element of being rightly guided is to call others to the path of truth as well. As stated elsewhere: وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ (and exhort one another to truth) (3:103) and in the process be ready to face all difficulties with patience: وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (and exhort one another to patience) (3:103). This verse is not intended to say that when misguidance is rife around a person, one should only worry about oneself and not call others to the faith. In fact, this verse portrays the condition of Muslims when they will be in an abject state. They are told that when people who have gone astray surround them, the difficulties they face are not because of others. They should worry about themselves and reform themselves and stay steadfast on the truth and then no misguided person will be able to harm them.

One wishes that Muslims reflect on this and instead of blaming others for their condition, focus on reforming themselves. The commentary on this verse by the Holy Prophet as narrated in a hadith reported in Tirmazi also supports this. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said: ائتمرو و ابالمعروف و تناھوا عن المنکر فاذا رایتم شحامُطاعاً و ھَویً متبعًا و اعجاب کل امرئٍ برأیه فعلیکم انفسکم لا یضر کم ضلالة غیرکم (Enjoin good and forbid evil. Then when you see that niggardliness is revered and greed and evil desires are followed and every person is satisfied with his opinion, then worry about your souls. The misguidance of others cannot harm you). The ending part of this hadith contains words from which it appears that this a prediction for a future time. In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal there is a narration of Caliph Abu Bakr that he stated in a sermon: You make an incorrect interpretation of this verse. I have heard the Messenger of Allah say that when people see an evil thing and do not stop them from doing it, Allah will send upon them a chastisement that will include everybody (IK). Another meaning done is: حفظوھا و الزموا صلاحھا (Protect yourself and reform yourself), the last part reform yourself means enjoin good and forbid evil.

5-106 O you who believe, call to witness between you, when death draws nigh to one of you, at the time of making the will, two just persons from among you, or two others from among others than you, if you are travelling in the land and the calamity of death befalls you. You should detain them after the prayer. Then if you doubt (them), they shall both swear by Allah (saying): We will not take for it a price, though there be a relative nor will we hide the testimony of Allah, for then certainly we shall be sinners.

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ شَہَـٰدَةُ بَيۡنِكُمۡ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ حِينَ ٱلۡوَصِيَّةِ ٱثۡنَانِ ذَوَا عَدۡلٍ۬ مِّنكُمۡ أَوۡ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنۡ غَيۡرِكُمۡ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَأَصَـٰبَتۡكُم مُّصِيبَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ‌ۚ تَحۡبِسُونَهُمَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَيُقۡسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ إِنِ ٱرۡتَبۡتُمۡ لَا نَشۡتَرِى بِهِۦ ثَمَنً۬ا وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰ‌ۙ وَلَا نَكۡتُمُ شَہَـٰدَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذً۬ا لَّمِنَ ٱلۡأَثِمِينَ (١٠٦)

 5-106a: It is narrated that this verse was revealed in connection with the incident of Tamim Dari and his brother Adi. However, it is more appropriate to say that the incident falls within the purview of this verse and the verse is general in its application. This law lays down the rules regarding providing testimony in the case of wills. Earlier it was advised that people should refrain from asking questions relating to details on many points which would require a certain practice to be made obligatory. The purpose of bringing this verse here is to show that details of necessary practices, where required, have been given in the Quran itself. In this section, on the one hand all kinds of polytheistic customs have been refuted and on the other hand the necessary details of the rules for protection of wealth have been stated. Further, this verse also shows that the commands regarding bequests given in Surah Baqarah are not abrogated because this verse was chronologically revealed much after the verse 4:11 which is considered to be the abrogating verse regarding bequests in Surah Baqarah. See note 2:180a.

اخَرَانِ مِنۡ غَيۡرِكُمۡ (two others from among others than you) – This permits testimony from others than you, meaning non-Muslims. Thus, the testimony of both Muslims and non-Muslims is admissible.

أَنتُمۡ ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ (If you are travelling in the land) – This gives the procedure for securing testimony in a situation of great necessity. The intent is not that there should not be any witnesses or bequest besides them. 

تَحۡبِسُونَهُمَا – The mention of detaining them in تَحۡبِسُونَهُمَا is for the purpose of making them witnesses and it is stated that this be done after prayer because during prayer a person returns to the remembrance of Allah and the objective circumstances are such that there is danger of dubious testimony. According to Ibn Abbas, by ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ is meant the prayer of the witness prescribed by his faith, that is if the witness is a Christian then the prayer of Christianity. The meaning of ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ here should only be interpreted as prayer.

5-107 If it be discovered that they are guilty of a sin, two others shall stand up in their place from among those against whom the first two have been guilty of a sin; so they shall swear by Allah: Certainly our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two, and we have not exceeded the limit, for then surely we should be unjust.^a

فَإِنۡ عُثِرَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنَّهُمَا ٱسۡتَحَقَّآ إِثۡمً۬ا فَـَٔاخَرَانِ يَقُومَانِ مَقَامَهُمَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَحَقَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلۡأَوۡلَيَـٰنِ فَيُقۡسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ لَشَہَـٰدَتُنَآ أَحَقُّ مِن شَہَـٰدَتِهِمَا وَمَا ٱعۡتَدَيۡنَآ إِنَّآ إِذً۬ا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (١٠٧)

5-107a: عُثِرَ – The meaning of عَثر الرجلُ is he fell down. Then it is also used to describe a person who is imparted information about an affair without his seeking it (R). 

ٱسۡتَحَقَّآ – The meaning of اِسۡتحقّ الشئ is اِسۡتَوجَبَه‘ , that is, made it expedient (LA). So the meaning of ٱسۡتَحَقَّآ إِثۡمً۬ا is that they made it expedient for themselves to sin, that is, they perpetrated a sin.

ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَحَقَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلۡأَوۡلَيَـٰنِ – Here  أَوۡلَيَـٰنِ is the subject of ٱسۡتَحَقَّ and its object is omitted but it is understood, that is اثم which has just gone before. By عَلَيۡہِمُ is meant the aggrieved party against whom the sin has been committed. So the meaning of the sentence is: Two other persons from the aggrieved party against whom the sin has been committed should stand up, the aggrieved party being the heirs of the deceased.

The rule imparted here is that the evidence of the witnesses when there is circumstantial evidence against them can be contradicted. Thus, the Islamic shariah provides remedy against the evidence of false witnesses. The meaning is that if there is circumstantial evidence against the false testimony of the witnesses, the true inheritors of the wealth can produce their witnesses to rebut the false testimony.

5-108 Thus it is more probable that they will give true testimony or fear that other oaths will be taken after their oaths. And keep your duty to Allah and hearken. And Allah guides not the transgressing people.^a

ذَٲلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتُواْ بِٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهَآ أَوۡ يَخَافُوٓاْ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيۡمَـٰنُۢ بَعۡدَ أَيۡمَـٰنِہِمۡ‌ۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقِينَ (١٠٨)

5-108a: عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهَآ – Discharging the evidence عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهَآ means to give true testimony or according to facts. Under this rule every witness will be worried that if he lies, his evidence can be rebutted.

5-94 O you who believe, Allah will certainly try you in respect of some game which your hands and your lances can reach, that Allah may know who fears Him in secret. Whoever exceeds the limit after this, for him is a painful chastisement.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَيَبۡلُوَنَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلصَّيۡدِ تَنَالُهُ ۥۤ أَيۡدِيكُمۡ وَرِمَاحُكُمۡ لِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَخَافُهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ‌ۚ فَمَنِ ٱعۡتَدَىٰ بَعۡدَ ذَٲلِكَ فَلَهُ ۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬ (٩٤)

5-94a: The main topic of this section is the respect and sanctity of the Kabah. The rules regarding hunting are also with respect to it. This topic too has a special relationship with Christianity. In the year of the Prophet’s birth, a Christian monarch planned to destroy the Kabah, details of which are given in Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant). There are clear prophecies present in the Quran and Hadith regarding the domination of Christianity in the end times. It is obvious that the domination of Christianity raises the question of safeguarding the Kabah and therefore this topic is mentioned in what is otherwise a general discussion about Christianity.

The sanctity of Kabah is elevated to such a high level that hunting is prohibited while a pilgrim is in the state of pilgrimage. Even otherwise, hunting when the area is packed with pilgrims can easily result in accidents with consequent mortalities. 

The term reaching with hands means catching the prey with nets and hunting by lance means prey caught after wounding it. Hunting with bows and guns is included in the latter classification. According to Mujahid, reaching with hands means small prey and hunting by lance means large prey (IJ). 

5-95 O you who believe, kill not game while you are on pilgrimage. And whoever among you kills it intentionally, the compensation thereof is the like of what he killed, from the cattle, as two just persons among you judge, as an offering to be brought to the Ka‘bah, or the expiation thereof is the feeding of the poor or equivalent of it in fasting, that he may taste the unwholesome result of his deed. Allah pardons what happened in the past. And whoever returns (to it), Allah will punish him. And Allah is Mighty, Lord of Retribution.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَقۡتُلُواْ ٱلصَّيۡدَ وَأَنتُمۡ حُرُمٌ۬‌ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَهُ ۥ مِنكُم مُّتَعَمِّدً۬ا فَجَزَآءٌ۬ مِّثۡلُ مَا قَتَلَ مِنَ ٱلنَّعَمِ يَحۡكُمُ بِهِۦ ذَوَا عَدۡلٍ۬ مِّنكُمۡ هَدۡيَۢا بَـٰلِغَ ٱلۡكَعۡبَةِ أَوۡ كَفَّـٰرَةٌ۬ طَعَامُ مَسَـٰكِينَ أَوۡ عَدۡلُ ذَٲلِكَ صِيَامً۬ا لِّيَذُوقَ وَبَالَ أَمۡرِهِۦ‌ۗ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ‌ۚ وَمَنۡ عَادَ فَيَنتَقِمُ ٱللَّهُ مِنۡهُ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ۬ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ (٩٥)

5-95a: Hunting prohibited during pilgrimage: This verse further expands on the topic of the last verse and states that hunting is prohibited in the state of pilgrimage. Animals that are predators or dangerous are not included in the prohibition. The punishment for the violators is also specified. The punishment is the sacrifice of an animal within the precincts of Kaabah that is equivalent to the one killed in hunting as decided by two just persons. By just persons are meant persons that have judicial acumen and can compare the rights. The final determination is left to these people and in special circumstances they can decide whether the compensation will be sacrifice or feeding of needy or fasting and the quantity of the punishment imposed. The Quran generally specifies more than one person in decisions of this sort. Two people are specified here, and the same number is specified in case of divorce. The objective is that two people can discuss the matter with each other and can reach the right decision. There is a greater chance of a wrong decision with one person. Having a bench of judges is therefore not a new idea.  

5-96 Lawful to you is the game of the sea and its food, a provision for you and for the travelers^a and the game of the land is forbidden to you so long as you are on pilgrimage, and keep your duty to Allah, to Whom you shall be gathered.

أُحِلَّ لَكُمۡ صَيۡدُ ٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَطَعَامُهُ ۥ مَتَـٰعً۬ا لَّكُمۡ وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ‌ۖ وَحُرِّمَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ صَيۡدُ ٱلۡبَرِّ مَا دُمۡتُمۡ حُرُمً۬ا‌ۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ (٩٦)

5-96a: طعام -طَعۡم  means to eat something for nutrition and طعام is everything that is eaten as food (R). However, as narrated by Caliph Abu Bakr Siddiq, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar and others that صیدہ is that which is caught and killed as a result of fishing and طعام is that which the river throws out on its own or that is left as the river recedes (IJ).

سیارۃ – It is derived from سیر  and means to travel in the land. A party that travels in the land is called سیارۃ as in: وَجَآءَتۡ سَيَّارَةٌ۬ (And there came travelers) (12:19).

Sea food is exempt: Fishing during pilgrimage is allowed. Fishing in the river poses no danger to life of other pilgrims.

5-97 Allah has made the Ka‘bah, the Sacred House, a means of support for the people, and the sacred month and the offerings and the victims with garlands. That is that you may know that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and that Allah is Knower of all things.^a

جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡكَعۡبَةَ ٱلۡبَيۡتَ ٱلۡحَرَامَ قِيَـٰمً۬ا لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّہۡرَ ٱلۡحَرَامَ وَٱلۡهَدۡىَ وَٱلۡقَلَـٰٓٮِٕدَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ لِتَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ (٩٧)

5-97a: ٱلۡكَعۡبَةَ – The ankle is called کعب that is those bones that jut out at the joint of the thigh and the foot, and کَعَبَتِ الۡجاریة is a girl whose breasts have begun to develop. From this concept of elevation, کعب is used in the sense of honor and eminence, as in the hadith: لا یزال کَعۡبك عالیاً which is a prayer for honor and eminence. Lisan al-Arab defines کعب as: و کُلُّ شیءٍ علا وارتفع فھو کعبٌ (Everything that is high and elevated) (LA). The Kabah is so called because it it is high and square (LA). The reality is that it is so called because of its dignity and eminence. The meaning of high and elevated is not its physical height but its elevation in status because this House right from its inception has enjoyed eminence and exaltation. In fact, it can be said that it is named Kabah as a prophecy that it will have honor and eminence in the world, and being square in shape is no great distinction because of which to name this building. 

قِيَـٰمً۬ا لِّلنَّاسِ – Having قیام for a thing means to care for and protect it (R). So, قِيَـٰمً۬ا لِّلنَّاسِ means a way for caring and protecting the people. Assama has taken its meaning to be قائما , that is self-subsisting or one never to be abrogated (R), that is that the Kabah will never be destroyed nor will any new religion come into the world so that the importance of Kabah is abrogated.

God Has made Kabah a place of support: This verse draws attention to the real topic. God has made the Kabah a place of support. In other words, it is a means of safety for the people. It is not just specifically the Arabs who are mentioned here but it is stated to be a place of support for all the people. Hence the meaning cannot only be that it is a means of livelihood for the people of Arabia because it is a center of trade. Instead, the meaning is that just as nutrition is a means of physical existence, the Kabah is a means of people’s spiritual existence, and through it the religious affairs of the world are reformed. It is absolutely true that if the Holy Prophet had not come into this world, monotheism and spirituality would have become extinct in the world. In this way, the Kabah has become the cause of the spiritual life of the world and has thus become a support for the world. It is for this reason that the Kabah is protected from destruction forever because it has been made a manifest sign that truth can never be destroyed. Similarly, قیام is true in its application to the Kabah in both of its meanings. It will remain forever, and no earthly power will be able to destroy it, and the spirituality that it has given birth to will also never be destroyed, and instead will be the means that will give life to this world. 

The mention of the remaining three things is also meant to inform that not only will the Kabah remain standing till end times, but also the things that are associated with it, namely the sacred months in which pilgrimage is performed and the offerings and the victims with garlands that are sacrificed. The purport is that Haj too will continue forever, and the stoppage of Haj will be a sign of the destruction of the people. The pilgrims have not been mentioned here and instead it is the days of pilgrimage and sacrifices that are mentioned. However, when these are protected, it follows that the pilgrims too will be protected. Accordingly, the meaning narrated by Atta is that as long as people continue to perform Haj, they will not be destroyed and when Haj is relinquished, they will be destroyed.

A great prophecy: This is called a great prophecy whose fulfilment evidences that Allah is the knower of the unseen. Such a claim has not been made about any other structure in the world. It is indeed strange that despite thousands of every kind of plots, no person has been successful in harming the Kabah in any way. This is the biggest argument against the Christians because they became the most powerful nations and they exerted the maximum effort to convert the Muslims to Christianity, but they failed. They tried to take over the Muslim lands and they failed in that too. 

5-98 Know that Allah is Severe in requiting (evil) and that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.^a

ٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٩٨)

5-98a: The meaning is that Allah will severely punish anyone who tries to harm the Kabah, but Allah is Forgiving and Merciful and forgives many faults.

5-99 The duty of the Messenger is only to deliver (the message). And Allah knows what you do openly and what you hide.

مَّا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَـٰغُ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا تَكۡتُمُونَ (٩٩) 

5-100 Say: The bad and the good are not equal, though the abundance of the bad may please thee. So keep your duty to Allah, O men of understanding, that you may succeed.^a

قُل لَّا يَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡخَبِيثُ وَٱلطَّيِّبُ وَلَوۡ أَعۡجَبَكَ كَثۡرَةُ ٱلۡخَبِيثِ‌ۚ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَـٰٓأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (١٠٠)

5-100a: The bad are still in the majority much to the amazement of the world, but the good and the bad are not equal and the good will ultimately dominate.

5-87 O you who believe, forbid not the good things which Allah has made lawful for you and exceed not the limits. Surely Allah loves not those who exceed the limits.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُحَرِّمُواْ طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡتَدُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ (٨٧) 

5-87a: In the last section while narrating the Christian nearness to Islam, mention is made in a laudatory fashion of Christian monks but because Islam does not allow a monastic life, Muslims are warned not to get mired in such mistaken practices. Christians think that Allah does not love humans until they give up God given blessings and God given powers. Hence it is stated not to prohibit the good things that Allah has made lawful, such as the relationship with spouse, children, eating, drinking etcetera. Even those who exceed the limit in worshipping exaggerate and Islam does not permit exaggeration. For this reason, the Holy Prophet said: ما بال اقوام حرموا النساء و الطعام و الطیّب و النوم (What is going to be the condition of nations who prohibited women, and food, and perfume, and sleep), and then stated in the end that the monasticism of my followers is jihad. In another hadith, he stated: فمن رغب عن سنتی فلیس منّی (Whoever inclines to other than my sunnah is not from me). In the first cited hadith, there is a clear portrayal of the Christian nation and a warning for the Muslims. 

5-88 And eat of the lawful and good (things) that Allah has given you, and keep your duty to Allah, in Whom you believe.

وَكُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَـٰلاً۬ طَيِّبً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنتُم بِهِۦ مُؤۡمِنُونَ (٨٨)

5-89 Allah will not call you to account for that which is vain in your oaths, but He will call you to account for the making of deliberate oaths; so its expiation is the feeding of ten poor men with the average (food) you feed your families with, or their clothing, or the freeing of a neck. But whoso finds not (means) should fast for three days. This is the expiation of your oaths when you swear. And keep your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His messages that you may give thanks.^a

لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغۡوِ فِىٓ أَيۡمَـٰنِكُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُڪُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلۡأَيۡمَـٰنَ‌ۖ فَكَفَّـٰرَتُهُ ۥۤ إِطۡعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَـٰكِينَ مِنۡ أَوۡسَطِ مَا تُطۡعِمُونَ أَهۡلِيكُمۡ أَوۡ كِسۡوَتُهُمۡ أَوۡ تَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ كَفَّـٰرَةُ أَيۡمَـٰنِكُمۡ إِذَا حَلَفۡتُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱحۡفَظُوٓاْ أَيۡمَـٰنَكُمۡ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ (٨٩)

5-89a: عَقَّدتُّمُ – عَقۡد means to put the two ends of a thing together or to tie a knot and metaphorically it is spoken to emphasize the firmness of a sale, covenant, oath etcetera. Other forms of this word used are عَقَّد – عاقد etcetera (R). In Surah Baqarah where the subject is the same, instead of عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلۡأَيۡمَـٰنَ‌ۖ the words used are: كَسَبَتۡ قُلُوبُكُمۡ‌ۗ (…your hearts have earned) (2:225), that is to perform an act determinately or deliberately and intentionally.

کفارۃ – The meaning of کُفۡر is to cover, hide or conceal and کفّارۃ is that which conceals sin. The expiation of oath or کفارہ is derived from it (R).

أَوۡسَطِ –وَسَط ما اَوۡسط means the middle thing. According to Ibn Jarir, the meaning of وسط here is in between the maximum and minimum and he says that the practice of the Holy Prophet was to give dry rations sufficient for a meal and not necessarily to give cooked food. The maximum the Holy Prophet ordered was to give half Saa (about 1.3 Kg) or two Mudd per needy person and the minimum one Madd (about 0.65 Kg) per needy person.

تَحۡرِيرُ – See 3-35a. It means to free a person.

 رَقَبَةٍ۬ – See 2-177a. When a prisoner was captured, his hands were tied to his neck. Hence رَقَبَةٍ۬ which actually means neck began to be used for a slave.

حَلَفۡتُمۡ – حَلِف originally meant the oath taken from each other at the time of entering into an agreement or pact. Subsequently it began to be used for every oath. For this reason, حلیف  is one with whom one has entered into a pact (R).

لغو قسم – For meaning of لغو قسم or vain oath see 2-225a. This is mentioned here because sometimes people take an oath without thinking and make a thing unlawful for them. For example: By God, I will not eat that thing, etcetera. However, when a person makes an oath with full intention and determination then on breaking that oath an expiation must be given. However, the expiation of an oath does not mean that one can break an agreement at will by paying an expiation when one has entered into a lawful agreement and taken an oath to carry it out. This is not permissible under any circumstance, and it is incumbent to protect the oath. Expiation is for situations where one takes an oath and makes a permissible thing unlawful for himself because making lawful things unlawful is against the command of God. Protection of oaths implies not only that promises should not be broken but also that oaths should not be made lightly.

5-90 O you who believe, intoxicants and games of chance and (sacrificing to) stones set up and (dividing by) arrows are only an uncleanness, the devil’s work; so shun it that you may succeed.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَـٰمُ رِجۡسٌ۬ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (٩٠)

5-90a: رِجۡسٌ۬ – It means filthy or impure. It is anything that a person’s nature, intellect, or shariah declares to be dirty (R). Intoxicants and games of chance are forbidden because they are unclean and devil’s work, as too are stones set up and dividing by arrows.

Mention of أَنصَابُ  and أَزۡلَـٰمُ also occurs in the beginning of this surah. أَنصَابُ are stones that are worshipped and أَزۡلَـٰمُ are the divining arrows used for determining an omen with the arrows labelled yes, no etcetera. See 5-3b. The words of a hadith also point to the equivalence between these things: شارب الخمر کعابد الوثن  (A drinker of wine is like an idol worshipper). The purpose of prohibiting drinking along with idol worshipping is to convey that Muslims should avoid drinking in the same way that they avoid idol worshipping.

These things are prohibited previously as well. The purpose of repetition here is to indicate that the Christians, who had at one point prohibited even lawful things in pursuit of a monastic life, would at a future point become so indulgent in worldly pleasures and become so far removed from the Divine that they will make even prohibited things lawful. Muslims have, therefore, particularly been prohibited from drinking and gambling and even though idol worship and seeking omens is also mentioned, but the mention in the next verse only of the deleterious effects of drinking and gambling shows that the real purpose is to stop Muslims from these two vices. It is proven from authentic hadith that when this verse was revealed, an announcement was made prohibiting drinking and immediately all the wine was emptied out in the streets of Madinah. See 2-219b.

5-91 The devil desires only to create enmity and hatred among you by means of intoxicants and games of chance, and to keep you back from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you then keep back?^a

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٲوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ فِى ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ‌ۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّنتَہُونَ (٩١)

5-91a: Leave alone remember Allah, the nations in which drinking and gambling is common have forgotten the name of Allah. The overt loss is that gambling and drinking create enmity and hatred and the modern-day Europe is a good example of this. It is also revealed in this connection that the pleasure that a drinker seeks in drinking can only be obtained in the remembrance of Allah.

5-92 And obey Allah and obey the Messenger and be cautious. But if you turn back then know that the duty of Our Messenger is only a clear deliverance of the message.^a

 وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَٱحۡذَرُواْ‌ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ فَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلۡبَلَـٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ (٩٢)

5-93 On those who believe and do good there is no blame for what they eat, when they keep their duty and believe and do good deeds, then keep their duty and believe, then keep their duty and do good (to others). And Allah loves the doers of good.^a

 لَيۡسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جُنَاحٌ۬ فِيمَا طَعِمُوٓاْ إِذَا مَا ٱتَّقَواْ وَّءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّأَحۡسَنُواْ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (٩٣)

5-93a: The meaning commonly taken from this verse is that those who died before the prohibition of drinking would not be held responsible for their drinking. It is obvious however that there are plenty of commands that were revealed after some of the early Muslims had died and they are not considered as responsible for not complying with such commands. So, what is the need of such a revelation specifically for this prohibition. Some commentators have opined that if otherwise a person is righteous, then there is no harm in imbibing some wine which is not sufficient to create enmity and hatred. What kind of righteousness is this? Remain a boozer and still do not lose out on paradise! When intoxicants are declared as unclean, when its prohibition is bracketed with the prohibition of idol worship, when it is stated clearly to shun it, then righteousness and boozing cannot coexist together.

So, what is the purport of this verse?  Mention is made in the beginning of this section of self-imposed prohibitions. Hence it is stated here that a person does not become a sinner by eating and drinking so that prohibiting certain things does not take one nearer to God. Accordingly, some of the early commentators have taken the same direction and have stated that this verse is revealed regarding those people who had decided to abstain from eating meat and wanted to lead a monastic life. This verse manifests the mistake of such people. At the same time, the path to achieving nearness to Allah is also stated and the three stages of righteousness are revealed. The first stage is to believe and do good deeds. The second stage is to accept all commands without any reservations, that is to carry out all the commands. The third stage of righteousness is to go above and beyond the call of duty in doing favors to others. A monastic life can at best take one to the first stage of righteousness, that is to believe and to do some acts of goodness but a person leading a monastic life cannot fulfill all the commands of Allah and neither can such a person achieve the third stage of doing favors to others. There is a hadith in Muslim, Tirmazi and Nasai which supports this interpretation. This hadith narrated by Ibn Masud is that when this verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet said that he had been informed that he is from among these, that is that all the three stages of righteousness are found in him.  

5-78 Those who disbelieved from among the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary. This was because they disobeyed and exceeded the limits.^a

لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُ ۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ بِمَا عَصَواْ وَّڪَانُواْ يَعۡتَدُونَ (٧٨)

5-78a: After Moses, the Bani Israel reached the pinnacle of their temporal glory under David and their spiritual greatness with Jesus. Both these prophets have greatly eulogized the Holy Prophet and made frequent reference to his coming. However, both saw that the Bani Israel were progressively becoming hard hearted and increasingly disobedient to the commands of God. Hence, they also mentioned the tribulations that were going to overtake them. This is what is meant by cursed, that is being far removed from the Mercy of Allah. After David, Bani Israel were defeated and enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar, and after Jesus they were destroyed by Titus. As a result of these defeats that were occasioned by their disobedience to God, the Bani Israel nation became debased. This is mentioned in Surah Bani Israel where it is stated: لَتُفۡسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَّتَيۡنِ  (Certainly you will make mischief in the land twice) (17:4) and the punishment that was meted out to them is recorded in verses 17:5 and 17:7.

5-79 They forbade not one another the hateful things they did. Evil indeed was what they did.

ڪَانُواْ لَا يَتَنَاهَوۡنَ عَن مُّنڪَرٍ۬ فَعَلُوهُ‌ۚ لَبِئۡسَ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ (٧٩)

5-79a: A nation progresses as long as there are people within it that stop each other from doing bad things. Unfortunately, this shortcoming is widespread among the Muslims now. They see bad things going on around them, things that are patently against the commands of the Quran and Hadith, and even if they do not participate in them, they prefer to remain silent and say nothing. They keep social interaction with such perpetrators. If they have any sense of honor for their religion, they should socially boycott them and preferably should tell them to desist.

5-80 Thou seest many of them befriending those who disbelieve. Certainly evil is that which their souls send before for them, so that Allah is displeased with them, and in chastisement will they abide.

  تَرَىٰ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّنۡهُمۡ يَتَوَلَّوۡنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ‌ۚ لَبِئۡسَ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ لَهُمۡ أَنفُسُہُمۡ أَن سَخِطَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَفِى ٱلۡعَذَابِ هُمۡ خَـٰلِدُونَ (٨٠)

5-81 And if they believed in Allah and the Prophet and that which is revealed to him, they would not take them for friends, but most of them are transgressors.

وَلَوۡ ڪَانُواْ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلنَّبِىِّ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِ مَا ٱتَّخَذُوهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّنۡہُمۡ فَـٰسِقُونَ (٨١)

5-81a: The word ٱلنَّبِىِّ in the Quran is used for the Holy Prophet. However, some people have taken it here to mean Moses. The reading then becomes that if the Jews had believed in Moses, they would not have befriended the disbelievers. The real purport, however, is that the Jews are friends with disbelievers and polytheists as is stated in the last verse, but this friendliness is not because of neighborliness or being residents of Arabia for if the disbelievers and polytheists become Muslims the friendship will come to an end. In other words, the basis of friendship is mutual enmity of Islam.

5-82 Thou wilt certainly find the most violent of people in enmity against the believers to be the Jews and the idolators; and thou wilt find the nearest in friendship to the believers to be those who say, We are Christians. That is because there are priests and monks among them and because they are not proud.^a

لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ ٱلنَّاسِ عَدَٲوَةً۬ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱلۡيَهُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشۡرَكُواْ‌ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقۡرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً۬ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنۡهُمۡ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهۡبَانً۬ا وَأَنَّهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَڪۡبِرُونَ (٨٢)

5-82a: قِسِّيسِ – The literal meaning of قِسۡ is to seek or strive for something at night and the learned Christian priests are called قِسِّيسِ because they were devout (R).

رُهۡبَانً۬ – It is the plural of راھب and the meaning of رُھب and رَھۡبَ  is fear mixed with precaution and anxiety. رَھبانیة is that worship which is taken to excess because of fear (R) as in وَرَهۡبَانِيَّةً ٱبۡتَدَعُوهَا (And (as for) monkery, they innovated it) (57:27). راھب are those people who withdraw from worldly life and devote themselves only to worship and there were many such people in Christianity.

Nearness of Christianity to Islam: The real purpose of this section is to convey that the Christians despite the exaggeration in their religion are actually close to Islam. So, after mentioning the animosity and hardheartedness of the Jews, the real topic is mentioned, namely that relatively Christians have more love for Muslims because their learned priests are devout, and they even have monks who have given up the world and are engaged in worship which makes the heart soft. The difference between the Jews and the Christians was stark at that time. The Jews were entirely devoted to worldly pursuits and their main focus was to earn wealth particularly through usurious dealings. This made them hardhearted. The Christians by comparison paid more attention to worship and that made them softhearted. Accordingly, in the time of the Holy Prophet, Negus the Emperor of Abyssinia accepted Islam. Heraclius wanted to accept Islam but was dissuaded by the opposition of his nation, and Muqawqis, the Emperor of Egypt, sent gifts to the Holy Prophet in response to his message. The Christian deputation of Najran was so impressed with the Prophet’s arguments that it decided not to have a mubahalah with him. In contrast to this, the Jews remained bitterly hostile. Although the words are general, but the reason given for the softheartedness of the Christians have rendered their meaning specific.

Current Christians and Islam: The early stage of Christianity was undoubtedly such that their scholarly priests were devout and there were among them those who gave up this world to pursue a devout life of worship. However, the later condition of Christianity described in Surah Al Kahf is one of devotion just to worldly life, as in: ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعۡيُہُمۡ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا (Those whose effort goes astray in this world’s life) (18:104). Instead of worshipping God, they started worshipping the deity of wealth and the devil of power and ruling. They, therefore, strayed from the truth and used all their power to oppose the truth. The words of this verse create a hope that these people will revert to Islam. Events too bear testimony to this. Even a small attempt at propagation was so successful that hundreds of educated and intellectual Christians joined Islam. 

5-83 And when they hear that which has been revealed to the Messenger thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of the truth they recognize. They say: Our Lord, we believe, so write us down with the witnesses.

وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰٓ أَعۡيُنَهُمۡ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمۡعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكۡتُبۡنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ (٨٣)

5-83a: Negus and Muslim refugees: Amongst the Christians favorably impressed by the Quran was Negus the Emperor of Abyssinia in whose country several Muslims had sought refuge from the persecution of the Quraish. A delegation of Quraish was sent after them to bring them back. They took gifts with them for the influential persons of the court and requested that the Muslims not be given refuge. Negus rejected their request but in a vile move, they submitted that the refugees did not just badmouth their religion but also the Christian religion of Negus. Whereupon Negus summoned the refugees to his court. Speaking on behalf of the refugees, Jaffer explained the real situation and narrated how they were misguided and steeped in ways of sin and how the Prophet had elevated them from this abject position. Negus then asked what they said about Jesus. Jaffer narrated the verses of Surah Maryam. Negus was so moved by these verses that tears streamed down his face, and he said that the status of Jesus was not a whit more than what the Quran has stated. Subsequently Negus converted and became a Muslim. Similarly, many people joined Islam, but it appears to be fated that it will only be after Christianity reaches its maximum strength that Islam will dominate. Many similar examples of conversion exist even today. A biography of Lord Stanley states that he used to weep profusely in Tahajjad prayer. There are many other European Christians whose heart melts when they read the Quran.

ٱلۡحَقِّ (The truth) which appears in this verse and also in the next seems to point towards the prophecy of Jesus which is in the fourteenth and sixteenth chapters of John where the Promised Prophet is referred to as the Spirit of Truth. 

5-84 And what (reason) have we that we should not believe in Allah and in the Truth that has come to us, while we earnestly desire that our Lord should cause us to enter with the righteous people?

وَمَا لَنَا لَا نُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَنَطۡمَعُ أَن يُدۡخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (٨٤) 

5-85 So Allah rewarded them for what they said, with Gardens wherein rivers flow to abide in them. And that is the reward of the doers of good.

 فَأَثَـٰبَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُواْ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَا‌ۚ وَذَٲلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (٨٥)

5-86 And those who disbelieve and reject Our messages, such are the companions of the flaming fire.

 وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَڪَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ (٨٦)

5-67 O Messenger, deliver that which has been revealed to thee from thy Lord; and if thou do (it) not, thou hast not delivered His message. And Allah will protect thee from men. Surely Allah guides not the disbelieving people.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ‌ۖ وَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٦٧)

5-67a: Meaning of protection of prophets: يَعۡصِمُكَ – The meaning of عصم  is اِمۡساك (R), to restrain or مَنۡع (LA) that is, to protect. Imam Raghib explains وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ as و عِصۡمَةُ الانبیاء حِفۡظُهٗ ایّا ھم اوَّلًا بما خَصَّھُم به من صفاءِا لجَوۡھر اثم بما اَوۡلَاھم من الفضائل الۡجِسۡمِیَّةِ وَ النَّفۡسِیَّةِ ثم بالنُّصرۃ و بِتَثَبُّتِ اقدامھم ثمّ بانزالِ السکینة عَلَیۡھِم و بحِفظ قلوبہم وبالتوفیق (By عِصۡمَةُ الانبیاء is meant to protect them. First, by the clarity of the essence from which prophets are created, that is they are sinless from birth, then by conferring them with spiritual and physical excellence, then by granting them help and steadfastness, then bestowing them with tranquility, then by protecting their heart and awarding them with resources and ability). All these things are included in يَعۡصِمُكَ . In Ruh al-Maani, a saying is recorded in its explanation which states that يَعۡصِمُكَ means that his chest will be safeguarded from sin and in this situation, the purport of مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ is من بین الناس that is that in taking the message to people Allah will protect his chest from sin. It also means that Allah will protect him from the attacks of people.

The connection between preaching the truth and protection: Having talked about the animosity and mockery of the Jews and Christians and after revealing that only a few of them pursue a moderate course while the condition of the majority is grave, it is now stated that the real job of the Messenger and his followers is to deliver the message to them. If the domination of a people or fear of their grandeur and magnificence causes the message not to be delivered to a people, then it is as if the message has not been delivered to any. Messenger here includes his followers who are charged with taking the message to the world after him. In a situation where enemies surround the messenger on all sides, taking a message of reformation to them is fraught with danger. Hence a promise is given that Allah will protect the Holy Prophet and his religion from such enemies. In fact, there is a deep connection between the safety of the mission and the grant of protection from the mischief of the enemies. God creates prophets from a clear essence for a specific objective. If the objective is not fulfilled, then their creation is in vain.  Hence, He grants them protection from the mischiefs and plans of the enemies until such time that he fully delivers the message to the world. So, the protection of the mission and the messenger are codependent, and both are meant here. Some commentators have taken the promise of protection to be just physical protection, that is protection from enemies, and some others have taken it to mean only spiritual protection or sinlessness. The reality is that the words here encompass both types of protection.

The Shia interpretation: The Shia interpretation that the purport of delivering the message is to deliver the message of the caliphate of Ali is a laughable construal of the words. According to them, the purport of مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ is not the message of oneness of God and of leading a pious life but of granting the caliphate of Arabia to Ali. They contend that the Holy Prophet was afraid to mention the caliphate of Ali for fear that the Companions would turn against him. This is the worst charge that can be levied against the Holy Prophet. It is even worse than the Christians contention that the Holy Prophet delivered the Arabs from polytheism, idol worship, drinking, adultery, internecine wars but was unable to dispel from the Arab minds the greatness of the Kabbah.

A hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah is cited under this verse in which he said: “I memorized from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) two vessels (of knowledge). As for one of them, I have disclosed it, but as for the other, if I were to disclose it, this throat would be cut.” This does not mean that there is a branch of religious knowledge that the Holy Prophet did not teach to the ordinary people but secretly mentioned it to Abu Hurairah. Such an idea is the result of lack of understanding the hadith. The entire body of religious knowledge is available in the Quran and Hadith. Abu Hurairah was referring to some ahadith regarding tribulations relating to that period. Accordingly, in line with this there is another hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah in which the following statement occurs: I seek protection in Allah from the seventieth year and the governorship of boys. It was in the seventieth year that Yazid became the Caliph and this marked the beginning of tribulations in the religion. Because these ahadith were not part of religion but only information about events, Abu Hurairah did not present them frequently. As far as not delivering any part of religion, there is a grave warning against it in the Quran: إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلۡهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ‌ۙ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَلۡعَنُہُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلۡعَنُہُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ (Those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance that We revealed after We have made it clear in the Book for men, these it is whom Allah curses, and those who curse, curse them (too)). So, neither the Holy Prophet hid any part of the religion and nor did Abu Hurairah.

It should also be remembered that in Madinah the Holy Prophet’s enemies increased manifold compared to Makkah. In Makkah, there were only the Quraish but in Madinah there were several parties – the hypocrites, the Jews, the Christians, the Arabian tribes and the Quraish who had gathered all their resources with the intention to destroy the Muslims. Hence, there was a special necessity to provide a guarantee of protection. The Holy Prophet’s survival amidst all these enemies who were plotting day and night to kill him is nothing short of a miracle. Because this section deals particularly with the exaggerations of the Christian faith, there is an indication from this that the greatest opposition to the religion of Islam is to come from the Christians and they will be the greatest opponents of the sinlessness of prophets. Hence before taking up the topic of the excesses of their faith, mention is made of the protection of the Holy Prophet so that it will be evidence against the Christians and also so that the Muslims should not be unnerved by their plans.

5-68 Say: O People of the Book, you follow no good till you observe the Torah and the Gospel and that which is revealed to you from your Lord. And surely that which has been revealed to thee from thy Lord will make many of them increase in inordinacy and disbelief; so grieve not for the disbelieving people.^a

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَسۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ‌ۗ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنۡہُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغۡيَـٰنً۬ا وَكُفۡرً۬ا‌ۖ فَلَا تَأۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٦٨)

5-68a: After mentioning the protection of the Holy Prophet, the topic now turns to the arguments against Christianity. In this discussion, they are addressed as Ahl Kitab to draw them into a principled discussion. That is, that they should accept the principles which are found in the Torah and the Gospel and other scriptures that have been revealed to them through their prophets (مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ‌ۗ ). If they do not accept this, then they have totally abandoned the truth. If they do not accept the testimony of their own scriptures, then it would be justifiable to say that they do not believe in anything. Since the argument with the Christians begins here, hence they are told that in this discussion they have nothing in their hand worth reflecting on unless they acknowledge the principles of their holy scriptures and accept the revelation of those whom they accept as their prophets. The meaning of مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ‌ۗ here is the Torah, the Gospel and in addition the Books of other prophets of Israel that form an integral part of the Bible. Where the Quran is referred to here, the words are مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ (what has been revealed to thee). The common teaching in all these Books is the Unity of God, the receipt of a shariah and guidance from God and doing acts of goodness. There is no mention of Trinity or atonement. In the Gospel itself, there is testimony about the Unity of God. The Christians, however, reject these testimonies and manufacture a new religion which is founded on Trinity and atonement, and which is completely contrary to the teachings of the prophets.

5-69 Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians — whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good — they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.^a

 إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـُٔونَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ (٦٩)

5-69a: A statement with very similar wording is met previously in Surah Baqarah where a detailed discussion is carried out (See 2:62a). The purpose for this verse here is to reiterate that God has conveyed the same message to all nations and through all sacred scriptures of the Unity of God and the need to perform righteous acts. Trinity and atonement are contrary to these fundamental principles, and therefore are undoubtedly erroneous.

5-70 Certainly We made a covenant with the Children of Israel and We sent to them messengers. Whenever a messenger came to them with that which their souls desired not, some (of them) they called liars and some they (even) sought to kill.^a

لَقَدۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ وَأَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡہِمۡ رُسُلاً۬‌ۖ ڪُلَّمَا جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولُۢ بِمَا لَا تَهۡوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُہُمۡ فَرِيقً۬ا ڪَذَّبُواْ وَفَرِيقً۬ا يَقۡتُلُونَ (٧٠)

5-70a: The purport in mentioning the covenant to the Bani Israel is to remind them that the entire emphasis in the covenant is on the Unity of God. It is then stated that they have always been slave to their desires to the extent that they rejected prophets if they said something against their wishes. Even now in pursuit of their desires, they are making plans to kill the Holy Prophet. 

5-71 And they thought that there would be no affliction, so they became blind and deaf; then Allah turned to them (mercifully) but many of them (again) became blind and deaf. And Allah is Seer of what they do.^a

وَحَسِبُوٓاْ أَلَّا تَكُونَ فِتۡنَةٌ۬ فَعَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ ثُمَّ تَابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ثُمَّ عَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ ڪَثِيرٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرُۢ بِمَا يَعۡمَلُونَ (٧١)

5-71a: فِتۡنَةٌ۬ – The common meaning of فِتۡنَةٌ۬ is trial, ordeal, affliction, and distress but Ibn Abbas has taken the meaning here to be the setting up of partners with Allah (IJ).

The purport of blind and deaf is that they abandoned the true principles and made their own new rules. This is further clearly explained in the next verse. The first blind and deaf refers to the mischief after Jesus when the Christians abandoned monotheism and shariah, and invented the doctrines of Trinity and atonement. Allah turning to them mercifully is the raising of the Holy Prophet. They still did not come to the righteous path and remained blind and deaf. Over time, they became the majority and the unitarian group among them almost disappeared. Commentators consider this verse as a description of Jews but I consider this to be a mention of the Christians. 

5-72 Certainly they disbelieve who say: Allah, He is the Messiah, son of Mary. And the Messiah said: O Children of Israel, serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates (others) with Allah, Allah has forbidden to him the Garden and his abode is the Fire. And for the wrongdoers there will be no helpers.^a

لَقَدۡ ڪَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ‌ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ مَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَمَأۡوَٮٰهُ ٱلنَّارُ‌ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ أَنصَارٍ۬ (٧٢)

5-72a: The Divinity of Jesus and Trinity: It is elucidated here that the blindness and deafness mentioned in the previous verse is the deviation from monotheism. The Christian belief is presented here and in verse 5:17 by stating: They say Allah, He is the Messiah, son of Mary, and in the next verse 5:73 and in Surah Al-Nisa 4:171, their creed is stated to be a belief in three gods. Some have considered the two statements to be divergent and have explained this by stating that some Christian sects had one belief and some another. The fact is that both these statements are correct, and their outcome is the same. Fundamentally, the Christians believe in the triune – Father, Son and the Holy Ghost but in practical terms, it is only the Messiah who is the functional god because salvation is through him, and the entire relationship is with him. The entire emphasis of the Christians is on proving his Divinity and preaching his godhood to the world. So, both the statements are correct – one is their theoretical belief and the other is their practical belief. The Christian belief is refuted by the saying of Jesus in which he calls people to the worship of God. If Jesus is God, why would he worship God and call people to worship God. In verse 5:74, the ultimate return of the Christians to the truth is mentioned and the Christian nearness to Islam mentioned in the next section is a further corroboration of this. 

5-73 Certainly they disbelieve who say: Allah is the third of the three. And there is no God but One God. And if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement will surely befall such of them as disbelieve.

  لَّقَدۡ ڪَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ۬‌ۘ وَمَا مِنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّآ إِلَـٰهٌ۬ وَٲحِدٌ۬‌ۚ وَإِن لَّمۡ يَنتَهُواْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (٧٣)

5-74 Will they not then turn to Allah and ask His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

 أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٧٤)

5-75 The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger; messengers before him had indeed passed away. And his mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food. See how We make the messages clear to them! then behold, how they are turned away!^a

مَّا ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ۬ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ ۥ صِدِّيقَةٌ۬‌ۖ ڪَانَا يَأۡڪُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ‌ۗ ٱنظُرۡ ڪَيۡفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرۡ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ (٧٥)

5-75a: In contradicting the Divinity of Jesus, the Quran always mentions the name of his mother to show that one born of woman is being turned into a god.

Mention of food: They both used to eat food is mentioned because one who eats food is given to all human processes. One who eats food would need to defecate and urinate, and one who cannot live without food cannot be god. This is a very simple but clear argument. It is a pity that Christians do not reflect on this. But why feel sorry for the Christians when the Muslims, despite this clearly worded statement that Jesus needed food, believe that Jesus is alive in his physical body without the need for food and attended human processes. The Christians take this creed of the Muslims as an argument for the Divinity of Jesus and use it to mislead Muslims. 

5-76 Say: Do you serve besides Allah that which controls for you neither harm nor good? And Allah — He is the Hearing, the Knowing.^a

قُلۡ أَتَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمۡلِكُ لَڪُمۡ ضَرًّ۬ا وَلَا نَفۡعً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٧٦) 

5-76a: Jesus can neither benefit nor harm them and the thinking of the followers of Jesus that their world dominance is because they are the worshippers of Jesus is incorrect. 

5-77 Say: O People of the Book, exaggerate not in the matter of your religion unjustly, and follow not the low desires of people who went astray before and led many astray, and went astray from the right path.^a

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغۡلُواْ فِى دِينِڪُمۡ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَ قَوۡمٍ۬ قَدۡ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبۡلُ وَأَضَلُّواْ ڪَثِيرً۬ا وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَآءِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ (٧٧)

5-77a: This verse states that elevating a mortal to godhood is following the example of previous nations who went astray. This charge is brought against the Christians by the Muslims but even the Christians admit that this statement is correct. Initially the idol worshippers had made a creed in which they called their deities gods and sons of god and today it is an established fact that Paul followed the Greek idol worshippers in developing the Pauline creed. Could an unlettered Arab unaware of the world history have said this. Certainly not. It is the word of God, the Knower of what is hidden Who made this fact manifest to the world. Today, the researchers of Europe have accepted the soundness of this statement. This is clear testimony to the Divine origin of the Quran.

5-57 O you who believe, take not for friends those who take your religion as a mockery and a sport, from among those who were given the Book before you and the disbelievers; and keep your duty to Allah if you are believers.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَكُمۡ هُزُوً۬ا وَلَعِبً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ وَٱلۡكُفَّارَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ (٥٧)

5-57a: Friendship with Ahl Kitab: It is categorically allowed to make pacts of assistance with Ahl Kitab who do not desire to destroy the religion of Islam and do not mock it and it is permitted to give assistance to them and to take assistance from them. Because the term used here is Ahl Kitab and not Jews and Christians, Ahl Kitab can include all those nations in which prophets came and this presumably means all the nations of the world. It follows that Muslims can only make friends with nations that do not mock the religion of Islam. In distinguishing ٱلۡكُفَّارَ (disbelievers) from the rest, the aim is to single out the disbelievers who were at that time bent upon eradicating Islam. Because this section deals with the condition of Jews and Christians, their mockery of the religion of Islam is a testimony to their internal condition because the teachings of Islam contain nothing else except how to lead a moral and pious life. Thus, mockery of Islam is nothing else but disdain of virtuosity. Deriding Islam is commonplace among the Christians today.

5-58 And when you call to prayer they take it as a mockery and a sport. That is because they are a people who understand not.^a

  وَإِذَا نَادَيۡتُمۡ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱتَّخَذُوهَا هُزُوً۬ا وَلَعِبً۬ا‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَوۡمٌ۬ لَّا يَعۡقِلُونَ (٥٨)

5-58a: لعب – It is derived from لُعاب meaning saliva that trickles out. Hence لَعِبَ means an act that is done for no good purpose (R).

It is mentioned that they even mock the call to prayer and consider it absurd. The call to prayer is given so much importance here that it is included in those essential elements of Islamic practice whose mockery is considered mockery of Islam. This is as it should be because the call to prayer is the announcement of an essential principle of Islam. It is a distinguishing feature of Islam that its principle is announced loudly in the world five times a day so that all the people are informed of this principle of Islam. The call to prayer is also a testimonial to the truth of Islam because unless one is fully convinced of the truthfulness of a matter, one cannot have the courage to announce it repeatedly and loudly to the public. It is well known that the call to prayer is one of the magnificent components of Islam although the text of the call was revealed to Caliph Umar and to another Companion of the Holy Prophet but its authentication by the Holy Prophet caused it to be included as a component of Islam. 

5-59 Say: O People of the Book, do you find fault with us for aught except that we believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to us and that which was revealed before, while most of you are transgressors?^a

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ هَلۡ تَنقِمُونَ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنۡ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَأَنَّ أَكۡثَرَكُمۡ فَـٰسِقُونَ (٥٩)

5-59a: تَنقِمُونَ –نَقِمَ منه means considered it obnoxious or found fault with it either verbally or by inflicting punishment (R). In فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ فَأَغۡرَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ (So we exacted retribution from him…) (7:136), the word is used in its second meaning of inflicting punishment. In Al-Nihayah the meaning is given as considered something so bad that his wrath descends on the perpetrator.

It is stated that another reason for their mockery is their animosity towards Islam. So, the questions is poised as to why they consider the Muslims bad when they do not deem the disbelievers to be so bad. The only difference between the Muslims and the disbelievers is that Muslims believe in Allah and His revelation. The real reason the Ahl Kitab consider the Muslims to be bad is because the Ahl Kitab themselves are not righteous and obedient to the commands of Allah and most of them are transgressors. If the current situation in Europe is analyzed, their negative view of Muslims and Islam is because of their own condition of moral depravity. Hence, they are not worried as much about other nations as they are about suppressing Muslims.

5-60 Say: Shall I inform you of those worse than this in retribution from Allah? They are those whom Allah has cursed and upon whom He brought His wrath and of whom He made apes and swine, and who serve the devil. These are in a worse plight and further astray from the straight path.^a

قُلۡ هَلۡ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ۬ مِّن ذَٲلِكَ مَثُوبَةً عِندَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ مَن لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ وَغَضِبَ عَلَيۡهِ وَجَعَلَ مِنۡہُمُ ٱلۡقِرَدَةَ وَٱلۡخَنَازِيرَ وَعَبَدَ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ شَرٌّ۬ مَّكَانً۬ا وَأَضَلُّ عَن سَوَآءِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ (٦٠)

5-60a: بِشَرٍّ۬ مِّن ذَٲلِكَ –ذَٲلِكَ refers to those who found fault with Muslims.

قِرَدَةَ is used metaphorically here for the violators of the Sabbath and خَنَازِيرَ is used metaphorically for the disciples of Jesus at whose behest Jesus prayed for food (RM). The violators of the Sabbath trespassed the sanctity of the Sabbath, a day reserved for worship, by indulging in worldly pursuits and abandoning worship. Similarly, those who demanded food formed that section of the followers of Jesus who dedicated their life to chasing the daily bread and for whom the reality of religion became only satisfying their desires. Just as by becoming an ape is meant the metamorphosis of the heart, similarly by making them swine can mean acquiring the attributes of swine (R). See 2:65a.

The Promised Messiah and the killing of the swine: It is stated about the Promised Messiah in the Hadith: یکسر الصّلیب و یقتل الخنزیر  (He will break the Cross and kill the swine). The meaning is that he will break the dominance of Christianity. The work of a reformer cannot be to go into the jungle and hunt for swine. The purport only is to remove the dominance of Christianity and put an end to the swine like attributes which had spread in a nation fond of eating the swine.

وَعَبَدَ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ‌ – Its coordinating conjunction is on the relative pronoun مَنۡ , that is there were people from among them who worshipped the devil. By devil here is meant arrogant chiefs and leaders. The masses start following them as if they worship them.

5-61 And when they come to you, they say, We believe, and surely they come in unbelief and they go forth in it. And Allah knows best what they conceal.^a

وَإِذَا جَآءُوكُمۡ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَقَد دَّخَلُواْ بِٱلۡكُفۡرِ وَهُمۡ قَدۡ خَرَجُواْ بِهِۦ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡتُمُونَ (٦١)

5-61a: The mention here is of the visits to the Holy Prophet of the people called as apes and swine in the previous verse. Mention is also made of their hypocritical attitude.

5-62 And thou seest many of them vying one with another in sin and transgression, and their devouring illegal gain. Certainly evil is that which they do.

وَتَرَىٰ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنۡہُمۡ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٲنِ وَأَڪۡلِهِمُ ٱلسُّحۡتَ‌ۚ لَبِئۡسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (٦٢)

5-63 Why do not the rabbis and the doctors of law prohibit them from their sinful utterances and their devouring unlawful gain? Certainly evil are the works they do.

لَوۡلَا يَنۡہَٮٰهُمُ ٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلۡأَحۡبَارُ عَن قَوۡلِهِمُ ٱلۡإِثۡمَ وَأَكۡلِهِمُ ٱلسُّحۡتَ‌ۚ لَبِئۡسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَصۡنَعُونَ (٦٣)

5-63a: The next verse refers specifically to the Jews by name which shows that here it is both the Jews and the Christians that are meant. According to Hassan, the ربانی scholars are the scholars of Gospel and أَحۡبَارُ are the scholars of the Torah. This lends further confirmation to the conclusion that there is an indication in قِرَدَةَ to the disobedient among the Bani Israel and in خَنَازِير to the lascivious among the Christians.

5-64 And the Jews say: The hand of Allah is tied up. Their own hands are shackled and they are cursed for what they say.^a Nay, both His hands are spread out. He disburses as He pleases.^b And that which has been revealed to thee from thy Lord will certainly make many of them increase in inordinacy and disbelief.^c And We have cast among them enmity and hatred till the day of Resurrection. Whenever they kindle a fire for war Allah puts it out, and they strive to make mischief in the land. And Allah loves not the mischief-makers.^d

 وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَہُودُ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ مَغۡلُولَةٌ‌ۚ غُلَّتۡ أَيۡدِيہِمۡ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْ‌ۘ بَلۡ يَدَاهُ مَبۡسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيۡفَ يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنۡہُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغۡيَـٰنً۬ا وَكُفۡرً۬ا‌ۚ وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا بَيۡنَہُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٲوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۚ كُلَّمَآ أَوۡقَدُواْ نَارً۬ا لِّلۡحَرۡبِ أَطۡفَأَهَا ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ وَيَسۡعَوۡنَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَسَادً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (٦٤)

5-64a: مَغۡلُولَةٌ‌ۚ – غُلَّ means قُیّدبهٖ (handcuffed) as in: خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ (Seize him, then fetter him) (69:30). Derived from it is اغلال (shackles), and metaphorically مغلول الید means a niggardly person, as in لَا تَجۡعَلۡ يَدَكَ مَغۡلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ (Make not thy hand to be shackled to they neck) (17:29) (R). This verse gives an example of how the Jews mocked the Muslims. The Christians of today mock Islam even more than this. The Jews made the financial difficulties of the Muslims as the butt of their mockery and said that the God of Muslims has become niggardly. The Christians say that if Islam is a true religion, it would not have declined politically. The reply given to this in: غُلَّتۡ أَيۡدِيہِمۡ (Their own hands are shackled) is a prophecy that in their opposition to Islam, their hands will be tied so that they will not be able to oppose it.

5-64b: يَدَاهُ مَبۡسُوطَتَانِ – یَدۡ means hand and its plural is اَیۡدِی . Metaphorically, یَدۡ is sometimes spoken for a blessing, and sometimes for custody and for country. An example of its use is: أَوۡ يَعۡفُوَاْ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ عُقۡدَةُ ٱلنِّكَاحِ‌ (in whose hand is the marriage tie) (2:237) where the purport is custody, just as in: مالی بهٖ یَدان  (R). A hadith about Gog and Magog says: لایدان لاحد بقتالھم (no one has the power to fight them), and ید ٱللَّهِ is a metaphor for protection and defense. The meaning of  علی الجماعة يَدُ ٱللَّهِ is that the party of the followers of Islam will be accorded  protection of Allah (LA). The meaning of یَدُہٗ مُطۡلَقَةٌ is granting blessings and derived from it is: يَدُہٗ  مَغۡلُولَةٌ meaning niggardness and holding back the hand (R). اَیَّدَہٗ means support as in: أَيَّدۡنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلۡقُدُسِ‌ (strengthened him with the Holy Spirit) (R). بَسۡط یَدۡ means generous.

In the early period of Islam, the Muslims were poor. The Jews mocked them by asking why is it that Allah does not give to His servants. The response given here is that both His hands are free, that is that He will give His worshippers both kinds of blessings, religious and temporal. This is a prophecy, but the words used are such that there is a reply in it also of what the Christians say. Attributing the word یَدۡ to Allah is in its real meaning of power because it is the hands which are the source of power in a person.

5-64c: Noah’s saying elsewhere is very similar: لَمۡ يَزِدۡهُمۡ دُعَآءِىٓ إِلَّا فِرَارً۬ا (my call has only made them flee the more). The meaning here is that they keep on increasing in opposition as more and more of the Quran is revealed.

5-64d: Enmity between the Jews and Christians: The pronoun in بَيۡنَہُمُ (among them) stands for the two groups of the Ahl Kitab, the Jews and the Christians, because the real address is to these two groups of the Ahl Kitab as is obvious from: لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلۡيَہُودَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۘ (take not the Jews and Christians for friends) (5:51). This shows that there will be Jews and Christians till the end of the world and their enmity too will persist till that time. The belief that everyone will at some point believe in Jesus runs counter to what is stated in the Quran.

أَوۡقَدُواْ نَارً۬ا لِّلۡحَرۡبِ – It is stated in Ruh al-Maani that it was a custom in Arabia that when they wanted to make a declaration of war, they would light a huge fire on the top of a nearby mountain or other elevated place and this was called نار الحرب . The reference to putting out the fire is to extinguish the mischief of the opponents of Islam, and the meaning of حرب here is the intention to wage war or to make some other mischief against the Holy Prophet and Islam.

5-65 And if the People of the Book had believed and kept their duty We would certainly have removed from them their evils, and made them enter gardens of bliss.

وَلَوۡ أَنَّ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ لَڪَفَّرۡنَا عَنۡہُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتِہِمۡ وَلَأَدۡخَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ (٦٥)

5-66 And if they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which is revealed to them from their Lord, they would certainly have eaten from above them and from beneath their feet. There is a party of them keeping to the moderate course; and most of them — evil is that which they do.^a

وَلَوۡ أَنَّہُمۡ أَقَامُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡہِم مِّن رَّبِّہِمۡ لَأَڪَلُواْ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَمِن تَحۡتِ أَرۡجُلِهِم‌ۚ مِّنۡہُمۡ أُمَّةٌ۬ مُّقۡتَصِدَةٌ۬‌ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ سَآءَ مَا يَعۡمَلُونَ (٦٦) 

5-66a: The purport of مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡہِم مِّن رَّبِّہِمۡ is the Quran. Accordingly, in the last verse instead of أَقَامُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡہِم there is ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ that is if they had believed and kept their duty, where by belief is meant belief in the Holy Prophet. The necessity of also mentioning the observance of the Torah and Gospel with that which is revealed is because of the clear prophecies in the Torah and Gospel of the coming of the Holy Prophet.

لَأَڪَلُواْ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَمِن تَحۡتِ أَرۡجُلِهِم (they would certainly have eaten from above them and below their feet): The food from above is heavenly blessings and from below their feet is earthly blessings. The meaning is that these people have stooped only towards the food that is below their feet, that is the life of this world. If only they had accepted the Quran, they would have been blessed both with spiritual and physical blessings.

مِّنۡہُمۡ أُمَّةٌ۬ مُّقۡتَصِدَةٌ۬ : مُّقۡتَصِدَةٌ۬ – The meaning of قَصۡد is to be steadfast on the path and derived from it is اِقۡتِصاد which has dual meaning. One اِقۡتِصاد (moderation) is praiseworthy under all conditions and this is so in those affairs where there are two extremes of excess and deficit (and one who avoids the two extremes is called مقتصد ( a moderate)). For example generosity is between niggardness and spendthrift, and in the Quranic statement: وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِى مَشۡيِكَ (And pursue the right course in thy going) (31:19), اِقۡتِصاد  is used in this sense. The other use of اِقۡتِصاد is in the sense of middling between good and bad, as for example something between justice and oppression or something between near and far. The example of use in the first sense is: فَمِنۡهُمۡ ظَالِمٌ۬ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ وَمِنۡہُم مُّقۡتَصِدٌ۬ (so of them is he who wrongs himself, and of them is he who takes a middle course) (35:32) and of the use in the second sense is: وَسَفَرً۬ا قَاصِدً۬ا (a short journey) (9:42), that is a journey which is not very long (R).

Islam accepts that other religions have some goodness in them, and this expansiveness of thought is found only in Islam. There is no doubt however that a major portion of the moderate group mentioned in this verse joined Islam. Even now, it is people in this group who are moving towards and joining Islam.  

5-51 O you who believe, take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends of each other. And whoever amongst you takes them for friends he is indeed one of them. Surely Allah guides not the unjust people.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلۡيَہُودَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۘ بَعۡضُہُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٍ۬‌ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمۡ فَإِنَّهُ ۥ مِنۡہُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٥١)

5-51a: Friendship with Ahl Kitab: See 2:257a for what is meant by اولیاء . In verse 3:28 there is a general order prohibiting the believers from taking disbelievers as friends but there is a condition imposed that the said friendship is in preference to a friendship with a Muslim for which see 3:28a. Apparently, the words here are unconditional that Jews and Christians are not to be befriended, that is believers should not seek help from them nor give them help. The next verse shows that the hypocrites sought refuge with Jews and Christians out of a fear that if Islam is eliminated, they will get destroyed as well and so as a precautionary measure they kept good relations with the Jews and Christians. In the next section, this topic is repeated and particular mention is made of those Ahl Kitab who mocked Islam (5: 57), of the enmity of the Ahl Kitab (5:59) and of their efforts to spread mischief and to initiate hostilities against Islam (5:64). This context shows clearly that Muslims are prohibited from making friends with those Jews who were inimical to Islam and desired to destroy Islam and incited people against Islam.

In a description of the conditions which led to the revelation of this verse, mention is made of how Ubadah ibn al-Samat was disgusted with cooperating with the Jews, and the refusal of the hypocrite Abdullah bin Ubay to abandon cooperating with the Jews (IJ). In another tradition, the violation of the treaty by the Jewish tribe of Bani Qurayza is mentioned as the reason for the revelation of the verse (IJ). Ibn Jarir prefers the interpretation of this verse which holds that the friendship prohibited is the one مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۖ that is against the Muslims or that will harm the Muslims because he states that the narrations about the rationale for this verse are not categorically correct and keeping the common Quranic words in view, this is the most appropriate meaning. 

Islam has neither the narrow mindedness to prohibit its followers from meeting others or stops them from necessary interaction that occur in the normal course. In fact, it permits marriages with the chaste women of the Ahl Kitab which results in the normal feeling of love between the spouses. During the administration of Caliph Umar, the Ahl Kitab fought in the ranks of Muslim forces against the Iranians. Further Islam teaches to keep justice and equity in mind even when dealing with the enemy and to show kindness and to deal justly with those who do not fight and do not help those who fight Muslims (60:8). However, Islam is a very wise religion and strictly stops the Muslims from doing things that will cause harm even if a utopian philosopher who has not practically fashioned a nation may not appreciate this necessity and may criticize it. Islam has taught us to distinguish between these people those who are the enemies of our religion and those who are not. There is also no doubt that those who will keep a connection with them will get influenced by their thinking and will become one of them. This is what is meant by فَإِنَّهُ ۥ مِنۡہُمۡ‌ۗ . If on the one hand, it is correct that if a nation becomes the enemy of Islam, individual friendships with its members should not be maintained, and on the other hand, it is also true that Muslims cannot consider the Jews and the Christians nations as a friend because they do not want Islam to spread in the world. Therefore, to have any expectation of assistance from them is meaningless. The important thing towards which attention is drawn is that Muslims should abandon any idea of getting assistance from them. 

5-52 But thou seest those in whose hearts is a disease, hastening towards them, saying: We fear lest a calamity should befall us. Maybe Allah will bring the victory or a commandment from Himself, so they will regret what they hid in their souls.^a

فَتَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِيہِمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَخۡشَىٰٓ أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَآٮِٕرَةٌ۬‌ۚ فَعَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأۡتِىَ بِٱلۡفَتۡحِ أَوۡ أَمۡرٍ۬ مِّنۡ عِندِهِۦ فَيُصۡبِحُواْ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَسَرُّواْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ نَـٰدِمِينَ (٥٢)

5-52a: دَآٮِٕرَة – The meaning of دَوۡر is to go around or to rotate. A house is called دار because the wall surrounds it and because دار is a place of rest, a town is also called دار . Further دار is combined to form the compound words دار دنیا (earthly abode) and دار آخرت  (heavenly abode), and paradise is called دار السلام and hell is called دار البوار , that is the house of peace and the house of destruction. دائرہ  is a line that goes around and encircles and metaphorically it refers to accidents and calamities because they encircle a person, as in: عَلَيۡهِمۡ دَآٮِٕرَةُ ٱلسَّوۡءِ‌ (On them is the evil turn) (9:98). Its plural is دوائر as in يَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ ٱلدَّوَآٮِٕرَ‌ۚ (they wait for an evil turn of fortune for you) (9:98). دَآٮِٕرَة is used in disliked affairs just as دَولة is used in liked affairs.

Prevalence of unbelief is no cause to be frightened: By disease is meant weakness of faith or hypocrisy (See 2-10a and 2-184b). Hypocrites, like Abdullah bin Ubay mentioned in the previous comment, kept secret relations with the disbelievers and Jews out of fear that the Muslims will ultimately be vanquished but their friendship with the disbelievers will save them. In the current times, there are several Muslims who see Islam surrounded by difficulties and seek to find refuge with the Christians. If they had faith in God’s promises, they would have had their trust in God and would not have sought friendship with people who are bent upon the destruction of Islam. Two things are stated here as a consolation. Either God will grant Muslims victory against their opponents, that is a clear victory in battle as happened in the time of the Holy Prophet, and that is why this is mentioned first or if this does not happen then Allah may create some other conditions that result in the dominance of Islam. So, even if the Muslims suffer defeat instead of gaining victory, Allah can create conditions that result in the dominance of Islam. In the current defeated state, these words provide consolation and good news that Allah will cause Islam to dominate in some other way. 

5-53 And those who believe will say: Are these they who swore by Allah with their most forcible oaths that they were surely with you? Their deeds will bear no fruit, so they will be losers.

وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقۡسَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ جَهۡدَ أَيۡمَـٰنِہِمۡ‌ۙ إِنَّہُمۡ لَمَعَكُمۡ‌ۚ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَـٰلُهُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ خَـٰسِرِينَ (٥٣)

5-54 O you who believe, should anyone of you turn back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers, mighty against the disbelievers, striving hard in Allah’s way and not fearing the censure of any censurer. This is Allah’s grace — He gives it to whom He pleases. And Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.^a

  يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَن يَرۡتَدَّ مِنكُمۡ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوۡفَ يَأۡتِى ٱللَّهُ بِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُحِبُّہُمۡ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ ۥۤ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ يُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوۡمَةَ لَآٮِٕمٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٲسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ (٥٤)

5-54a: أَذِلَّةٍ – It is the plural of ذلیل and ذُلّ from which it is derived means to be overcome or humiliated (R) but being ذلیل or overcome before one’s own people means to assume extreme degree of lowness or humbleness like a person who is defeated and overcome. For example, it has been stated about treatment of parents to lower to them : جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ (wing of humility) out of mercy (17:24) where the meaning of ذُلّ is extreme softness and humbleness. The meaning of أَذِلَّةٍ here is those who are humble in their dealings. In another place, the same idea has been expressed as: رُحَمَآءُ بَيۡنَہُمۡ‌ (compassionate among themselves) (48:29). So the meaning of أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ is to be humble with the believers like a person who bends down in humility after being overcome. There can be no greater relationship of love and affection than this.

أَعِزَّةٍ – It is the plural of عزیز and عِزَّة  is the name of the condition when a person is not overcome. It is derived from ارض عَزَاز which means firm ground and عزیز is one who overpowers and is not overcome, that is: الذی یُقۡھِر و لا یُقۡھَرُ (R).

Meaning of not overcome before an enemy: The meaning of not overcome before an enemy is not to absorb the influence of the enemy. In another place, it is stated as: أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِ (firm of heart against the disbelievers). Muslims have had to live under the rule of non-Muslims somewhere right from the time of the Holy Prophet to the present day and so أَعِزَّةٍ does not imply physically not being overcome but what is meant is not being overcome morally and spiritually. In fact, when one has to live under non-Muslim rulers, the need to manifest this attribute of عزیز is more than ever because the condition is one of: الناس علےٰ دین ملوکھم والا . People tend to lean towards the religion, habits and traits of the ruler and are so overawed by them that they leave the path of truth. Muslims are taught that even if they are physically overcome, they should overpower the rulers morally and they should not adopt a lowliness before them which will have an adverse effect on their morals, religion and spirituality.

After the mention of such people who take their enemies as friends to benefit in this life of a few days, it is now stated that sometimes they are so overawed by their rulers that they reject their own faith under their influence. Along with this, Allah gives the glad tidings that if someone wants to apostatize, they may but Allah will cause such strong willed and firm of faith people to be born in Islam who will not care for any censure and will work tirelessly in the cause of Islam regardless of the conditions. There also seems to be an indication that if a person apostatizes, Allah will cause other people to join in his place who are true to their faith.

Cases of apostasy in early Islam: During the time of the Holy Prophet, apostasy, if it took place at all, was very rare. Abu Sufyan in his testimony before Heraclius, the Roman Emperor, stated that no Muslim apostatized after getting disappointed with the religion. The biggest mischief of apostasy raised its head during the administration of Caliph Abu Bakr. In the closing days of the Holy Prophet’s life Aswad al-Ansi, Musailma the liar, and Tulayha al-Asadi falsely claimed to be prophets and their tribes namely Banu Mudlej, Banu Hanifa and Banu Asadwan apostatized. Caliph Abu Bakar nipped this mischief in the bud. Apart from these, the following tribes apostatized after the death of the Holy Prophet: Banu Fazara, Ghatafan, Banu Salim, Banu Yarbu, the people of the false prophetess Sajjah who married Musailma, Kundah, and Banu Bakr bin Dayal. Caliph Abu Bakr remained steadfast and firm, much like prophets, during this mischief and all these tribes rejoined Islam. Truly, Abu Bakr and the companions are deserving of the epitaph: یحبّہم و یحبونه that is, God loved them and they loved God. This testimony of the Quran is sufficient to rebut the impudent charges made by the followers of the Shia sect. In the late nineteenth century, there was an increase in apostatizing when Muslims started converting to Christianity. This was stemmed after a short period which coincided with the appearance of the Mujaddid of the fourteenth century, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. The principles that stopped the mischief of apostatizing are the ones taught by him. One wishes that the Muslims had reflected on this Movement and strengthened it for then they would have seen how Islam would have dominated the world. 

5-55 Only Allah is your Friend and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and they bow down.^a

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمۡ رَٲكِعُونَ (٥٥)

5-55a: The Muslims are advised not to befriend Jews and Christians, that is not to rely on their assistance. They are now told who to rely upon. They should consider Allah as their helper and befriend the Prophet and the believers. This is made clear by stating وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ that is, your real patron and helper is Allah. It is important to note that the wording of the statement is not: اولیاء کم ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ because the purport is that the Messenger and the believers are your friends only because they obey the commands of Allah.

Caliph Ali and the story of giving the ring: It is narrated that Caliph Ali, while in the prayer posture of bowing (ruku), gave his ring to a petitioner and this verse is revealed for him because he gave the poor-rate while bowing in prayer. First, this action by itself is not commendable that a person while saying his prayers gives away his ring to a petitioner. Acts of greater merit and sacrifice were performed by Caliph Abu Bakr who donated his entire wealth on several occasions both in Makkah and in Madinah. Second, people come to the mosque to pray not to pay the poor-rate. Third, the verse talks about those who pay the poor rate and Caliph Ali’s giving away his ring was not poor rate because the poor rate is paid into the national treasury. The meaning of هُمۡ رَٲكِعُونَ is just that they obey the commands of Allah. Prayer and poor rate are two great acts of obeying Allah and hence they are mentioned separately. To deduce the excellence of Caliph Ali from this is a foolish proposition. 

5-56 And whoever takes Allah and His Messenger and those who believe for friend — surely the party of Allah, they shall triumph.^a

وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فَإِنَّ حِزۡبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ (٥٦)

5-56a: حِزۡب – Is a party that is vehement, and its plural is أَحۡزَابَ as in: لَمَّا رَءَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابَ (when the believers saw the allies) (33:22). In this and other uses of the word in the Quran, the meaning is those tribes who formed an alliance to wage war against the Holy Prophet (R). The definition of أَحۡزَابَ in Lisan al-Arab is parties that join to wage war against the Holy Prophet. The meaning of حِزۡب الرجُل is اَصۡحَبُه‘ و جندہ الذین علی رَأیه (His friends and his army who are of the same opinion as him) (LA). In accordance with this meaning, the disbelievers and hypocrites are حزب الشیطان and the believers are حِزۡب ٱللَّه  because they follow the commands of Allah. The glad tidings given here is that those who trust in the help of Allah do not fail and they will certainly overcome their enemies. This is a clear prophecy of the dominance of Islam and the Muslims.

5-44 Surely We revealed the Torah, having guidance and light.^a By it did the prophets who submitted themselves (to Allah) judge for the Jews, and the rabbis and the doctors of law, because they were required to guard the Book of Allah, and they were witnesses thereof.^b So fear not the people and fear Me, and take not a small price for My messages. And whoever judges not by what Allah has revealed, those are the disbelievers.^c

إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَا ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ فِيہَا هُدً۬ى وَنُورٌ۬‌ۚ يَحۡكُمُ بِہَا ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلۡأَحۡبَارُ بِمَا ٱسۡتُحۡفِظُواْ مِن كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ وَڪَانُواْ عَلَيۡهِ شُہَدَآءَ‌ۚ فَلَا تَخۡشَوُاْ ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱخۡشَوۡنِ وَلَا تَشۡتَرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنً۬ا قَلِيلاً۬‌ۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَحۡكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (٤٤)

5-44a: In the last section, there is mention of the internal disputes among the Jews which the Holy Prophet adjudicated in accordance with the Torah. In this section, the discussion turns from their internal disputes to their differences with Islam, and in fact after mentioning the differences of all the religions with Islam, it is stated that the Quran has been revealed to adjudicate these differences. The Torah was revealed with light and guidance but because of tampering some parts of this light and guidance has been destroyed, but without a doubt there is still some guidance and light in it. The real purpose of this section is to invite them to believe in the Quran which is the guardian of all previous books (See 5:48). The indication in light and guidance is to the prophecies about the advent of the Holy Prophet that are still found in them.

5-44b: ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡلَمُواْ – All the prophets were perfectly obedient to God and hence all of them are called Muslims. Here those prophets are meant who came after Moses as is apparent from verse 5:46.

أَحۡبَارُ – It is the plural of  حِبۡر or حَبۡر and the meaning of حِبۡر is ink (LA) or a beautiful drawing (R). Thus, in فِى رَوۡضَةٍ۬ يُحۡبَرُونَ (…they will be made happy in a garden) (30:15), the purport is that they will be happy and the effect of the blessings will manifest on their faces. The meaning of تَحبیر is adornment, and derived from it is حِبۡر meaning a scholar. According to Hassan by ربانی is meant scholars of the Gospel and by أَحۡبَارُ scholars of the Torah.

Safeguarding the Torah: ٱسۡتُحۡفِظُواْ – اِسۡتَحۡفَظۡتُه‘ means I asked him that he should keep an eye on him or to safeguard him (LA). The use of this word is to show that unlike the Quran, God has not taken the responsibility of safeguarding the Torah Himself. About the  Quran, Allah has stated: إِنَّا لَهُ ۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ (We are its Guardians) (15:9) but the responsibility to safeguard the Torah is given to the Jewish rabis and scholars. It is because of the difference between Divine protection and human safeguarding that the Quran is untampered, but the Torah has been tampered.

This section mentions the eminence that God granted to the Torah so that prophets, rabis and scholars adjudicated according to its commands. Thus, decisions of the Bani Israel were made based on the shariah given in the Torah because this is foundational for the Bani Israel. How is it then that this Torah is being thrown behind their back now, and there is no consideration to its prophecies? Is it because the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet is manifested by them, as is indicated clearly in the last part of this verse.

Do the words of this verse show that the Torah is untampered or that it is protected? This is the claim of the Christians based on this verse. It is strange however how they interpret the meaning of this verse against the facts and clear statements of the Quran in other places alleging the tampering of the Torah, as in: يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلۡكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ (They alter the words after they are put in their (proper) places) (5:41), and many other similar statements where the tampering of the Torah is stated. There is even a statement that they write the Book with their hands and then say this is from Allah (2:79). The tampering of the Torah is an established fact that is now admitted by the Christians. The Quranic statement here is only that the rabis and the scholars were required to guard the Book of Allah but there is no mention anywhere that they in fact did so. On the contrary, the words of the verse strongly suggest that the Torah was tampered because Allah did not take on the protection of the Torah Himself but asked humans to guard it. To conclude from this that the Torah is protected is like concluding that the Jews never associated partners with God, never committed any theft, nor killed anybody unjustly, because they are commanded not to take any partners with God, not to steal etcetera. Those parts of the Torah that were put into use survived tampering because decisions were made according to them, and the prophecies too survived to a certain extent because they contained information about an awaited condition of the nation and hence, they gained wide prevalence in the public.

Another question that has been raised is that when the prophets of Bani Israel adjudicated according to the Torah, it follows from it that they were not given separate Books and neither were any increments, decrements or changes made in the shariah given in the Torah. Both these conclusions are incorrect. Definitive proof of separate Books being given to these prophets is met in verse 5:46 where there is mention of one of them, namely Jesus being given the Gospel, and another David being given the Psalms. There is also mention in the Quran of Books being given to all the prophets: فَقَدۡ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ جَآءُو بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُنِيرِ (so indeed were rejected before thee messengers who came with clear arguments and scriptures and the Illuminating Book) (3:184). In 3:184, as in the current verse, the mention is of prophets in the Bani Israel as the context shows, from which it is clear that all of them brought Books and these Books are subjoined with the Torah and are an integral part of the Old Testament. The reality is that a shariah is given to the Bani Israel in the Torah, but the prophets that were raised from time to time kept on completing this sharia and concurrently kept on deciding cases with what is in the Torah. These two matters are not contradictory to each other because changes in accordance with current conditions does not invalidate the foundational shariah and so decisions are made according to it despite the tampering. Further, just as it is stated that the Torah has guidance and light, it is also stated that: We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light (5:46), which makes it clear that the quality and nature of the Torah and the Gospel is the same, just as it is of the Books revealed to the other prophets of Israel. However, the coming of a revealed book after the Quran is an impossibility and counter to the verse:  أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ (I have perfected for you, your religion) (5:3). For this reason, there is no prophet after the revelation of the Quran because there is no need for light and guidance after the Quran, unlike the case of the Bani Israel where despite the presence of the Torah there was need for further guidance and light. In the Muslim Ummah now, the need for reformation is done by mujaddids (reformers) for which see also 5:46a.

5:44c: The words here clearly accuse the Jewish scholars who kept the worldly kingdom in view and refused to accept the truth. Attention is first drawn to the light and guidance in the Torah and now they are advised that they should not turn their back to the prophecies in their scriptures for fear of the populace or to benefit from the temporary life of this world. If they do not accept the truth in accordance with the prophecies in their scriptures, then they are disbelievers. This subject is dealt with very adeptly in Surah Baqarah: وَءَامِنُواْ بِمَآ أَنزَلۡتُ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا مَعَكُمۡ وَلَا تَكُونُوٓاْ أَوَّلَ كَافِرِۭ بِهِۦ‌ۖ وَلَا تَشۡتَرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنً۬ا قَلِيلاً۬ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱتَّقُونِ (And believe in that which I have revealed, verifying that which is with you, and be not the first to deny it; neither take a mean price for My messages; and keep your duty to Me, Me alone) (2:41). An alternative interpretation is that by مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ here and in verses 5:45 and 5:47 is meant the Quran, which has just been revealed by Allah and adhering to it is now incumbent. This does not contradict what is said in the last verse because in this verse people are invited to accept all the decisions of the Quran and the Quran has been declared to be the adjudicator and guardian over all while in the last verse, it is stated that the internal differences of the Jews should be settled according to the Torah. 

5-45 And We prescribed to them in it that life is for life, and eye for eye, and nose for nose, and ear for ear, and tooth for tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoes it, it shall be an expiation for him. And whoever judges not by what Allah has revealed, those are the wrongdoers.^a

  وَكَتَبۡنَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ فِيہَآ أَنَّ ٱلنَّفۡسَ بِٱلنَّفۡسِ وَٱلۡعَيۡنَ بِٱلۡعَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَنفَ بِٱلۡأَنفِ وَٱلۡأُذُنَ بِٱلۡأُذُنِ وَٱلسِّنَّ بِٱلسِّنِّ وَٱلۡجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ۬‌ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦ فَهُوَ ڪَفَّارَةٌ۬ لَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَحۡڪُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ (٤٥)

5-45a: Life as a retaliation for life is also a principle stated in the Quran: كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِصَاصُ فِى ٱلۡقَتۡلَى‌ۖ (retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain…) (2:178) but retaliation for wounds, or tooth for a tooth etcetera is not in the Quran and is only found in the Torah. The mention of these commands here is because this is the basis of the Mosaic shariah and also because it is desired to convey that light and guidance is not just the name of the prophecies. The last words of this verse are a repetition of the last words of the previous verse except that those who do not accept are called disbelievers there and wrongdoers here. They are called disbelievers because they reject the truth and wrongdoers because they apply the prophecies to wrong places, and wrongdoing is the name of: وضع الشئ فی غیر محلهٖ (misapplication of a thing). 

5-46 And We sent after them in their footsteps Jesus, son of Mary, verifying that which was before him of the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, and verifying that which was before it of the Torah, and a guidance and an admonition for the dutiful.^a

  وَقَفَّيۡنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةِ‌ۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ ٱلۡإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدً۬ى وَنُورٌ۬ وَمُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةِ وَهُدً۬ى وَمَوۡعِظَةً۬ لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٤٦)

5-46a: Jesus has been mentioned separately because he is the last in the line of Israelite prophets, but it is made clear that he came in the footsteps of the previous prophets. Hence the position that the other prophets have in the Mosaic dispensation or shariah is the same as that of Jesus. The takeaway from giving the Gospel to Jesus is that the previous prophets too were given Books in their own time. Accordingly, the Quran speaks very clearly in another place that previous messengers too came with clear arguments and scriptures and the illuminating Book (3:183).

The statement that the Gospel is revealed containing guidance and light is to show that it is the same kind of Book as the Torah because just as the Torah is the revelation of a prophet, the Gospel too is a revelation of a prophet. As it is necessary for every prophet to bring guidance, the words used in the description of the Gospel are the same as are used in the description of the Torah and it is conveyed that the Gospel is not just the name of prophecies but there is guidance in it along with the light of the prophecies. It is then stated that it is a guidance and an admonition for the righteous, that is that Allah has kept some details, advise and admonition in it as well. 

5-47 And let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah has revealed in it. And whoever judges not by what Allah has revealed, those are the transgressors.^a

وَلۡيَحۡكُمۡ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡإِنجِيلِ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ‌ۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَحۡڪُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ (٤٧)

5-47a: لۡيَحۡكُمۡ – The meaning can be either that the followers of the Gospel were told after giving them the Gospel that they should decide by whatever Allah has revealed in it or alternatively the Christians of the time of the Holy Prophet are being addressed and told that the Gospel contains prophecies about the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet then why do they reject the prophecies and not accept the truthfulness of the Holy Prophet.

At the end of the verse, the same words are repeated as in the previous verses but instead of كَـٰفِرُونَ and ظَّـٰلِمُونَ ,the word used is فَـٰسِقُونَ , that is that such people are transgressors because Jesus has clearly prophesied the coming of Paraclete after him and has commanded them to verify him. For disobeying the command, they are called transgressors. The Jews and Christians are referred to as disbelievers, wrongdoers and transgressors – disbelievers because of the rejection of the truth, wrongdoers because of misapplying the prophecies, and transgressors because of disobeying the command.

Even though it is the Ahl Kitab who are addressed in the previous verses but by using the words disbelievers, wrongdoers, and transgressors at the end of the verses for those who do not decide matters according to the commands of Allah, the Muslims are made aware that if they do not act according to the commands in the Quran then they too would come under the same condemnation. Ibn Jarir mentions narrations by virtue of which these verses hold true in respect of the Muslims except that disbelief is taken to be of a lower kind and so too wrongdoing and transgressions. Accordingly, the saying of Ibn Abbas is recorded as: لیس کمن کفر باللّٰه و مٰلئکته و کتبه و رسله that is, this disbelief is not the same as the rejection of Allah, the angels, the Books and the messengers.

5-48 And We have revealed to thee the Book with the truth, verifying that which is before it of the Book and a guardian over it,^a so judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their low desires,^b (turning away) from the truth that has come to thee. For everyone of you We appointed a law and a way.^c And if Allah had pleased He would have made you a single people, but that He might try you in what He gave you. So vie one with another in virtuous deeds.^d To Allah you will all return, so He will inform you of that wherein you differed;^e

وَأَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ وَمُهَيۡمِنًا عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ فَٱحۡڪُم بَيۡنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ لِكُلٍّ۬ جَعَلۡنَا مِنكُمۡ شِرۡعَةً۬ وَمِنۡهَاجً۬ا‌ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَڪُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِى مَآ ءَاتَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۖ فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ‌ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرۡجِعُڪُمۡ جَمِيعً۬ا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ (٤٨)

5-48a: By the first ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ is meant the Quran and by the second ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ is meant all previous Books, the word being used in a generic sense for all prior scriptures.

مُهَيۡمِن – According to some, its root is هَيۡمِن which means to be the watcher or protector and hence its meaning is guardian, and according to others, its root is امن and the meaning of مُهَيۡمِن is trustworthy or custodian (LA). The purport of being the guardian or custodian of previous Books is the same, that is, the correct and necessary teachings of the previous Books have been preserved.

Quran is the verifier and guardian of previous scriptures: After discussing the Torah and the Gospel, the subject now turns to the revelation of the Quran and its two glorious aspects are mentioned, that is that it first verifies the previous scriptures by which is meant that the Quran accepts that they have been revealed by Allah and by fulfilling their prophecies substantiates their truth. Second, it is a guardian of all the previous scriptures by which is meant that it protects their real teachings and holds false the tampered parts and, in this way, also decides the interreligious disputes. The Gospel has been called the verifier of the Torah but is not stated to be its guardian. The Quran, however, is stated to be a guardian over all the previous Books. By using the word مُهَيۡمِن (guardian) for the Quran, a verdict is given that the Torah, the Gospel and other Books have been tampered but this will never be the case with the Quran. Further, by using this word, a verdict is given that previous shariahs or laws are annulled because the teaching that will prevail in the world now is the one that incorporates and protects within itself all the true teachings of the previous scriptures necessary for humans. By calling the Quran مُهَيۡمِن after the mention of the Torah and Gospel shows clearly that the Gospel too has some teachings which like some of the teachings of the Torah are worthy of being safeguarded.

5-48b: After mentioning that previous scriptures are abrogated but their true teachings are preserved in the Quran, it is now stated that the correct decisions among the various faiths will be given by the Quran, and the command is given to decide the disputes between religions according to it. The discussion here is not about court cases but about religious disputes and clear testimony to this effect is given by the text that follows which states that Allah has appointed a law and a way for every nation and the statement at the end of the verse that Allah will inform about that in which there were differences, and these differences are of belief and not about judicial cases. The address here is not just to the Jews but to both the Christians and Jews and by implication all nations are included because the Quran is called مُهَيۡمِن not only in respect of the Torah and Gospel but: مَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ (…that which is before it of the Book), that is the Quran is a guardian over all previous revealed Books. So, the mention is of disputes in belief with any religion for which the Quran has all the arguments to adjudicate the contentions, as is clearly mentioned in another place: وَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ‌ (And We have not revealed to thee the Book except that thou mayest make clear to them that wherein they differ…) (16:64). There is the same indication in the statement: follow not their low desires.

5-48c: شِرۡعَةً۬ – مِنۡهَاجً۬ – نھج means a clear way or a wide path, and مِنۡهَاجً۬ is derived from it. شَرۡع is to walk on the clear way, and a wide path is called شَرۡع and شریعة,  and metaphorically, this word is used for the way of Allah, that is the way that Allah has revealed (R). Imam Raghib states that the use of these two words indicate there are two kinds of laws of God. Those which humans are compelled to follow in order to meet the needs of human beings and to organize a social structure, and those which humans adopt through choice, i.e. the religions sent by Allah in which the laws or sharia are different, In this connection, he cites Ibn Abbas that شِرۡعَة is that which the Quran has informed and مِنۡهَاجً۬ is that which the Holy Prophet’s practice or sunnah has informed. Ibn Jarir has cited Qatadah and stated that سبیل (way), and سنّت (practice; tradition; way of life), and سنّتین (practices) are different in different religions. There is a shariah of the Torah, a shariah of the Gospel, and a shariah of the Quran and Allah declares as prohibited in them what He chooses and permits what He chooses. The religion, however, is one, and is based on Unity of God and purification of the soul. The saying of Ibn Abbas on this topic is the strongest principled explanation on the subject because the mention here is of religion and the way to achieve the objective of religion. There are only two things that relate to the coming of the prophet, one is the shariah or way that his Book shows and the other is the way that his practice shows. Both are manifest ways and acting according to both is necessary and has always been required. In accordance with this meaning, every prophet is the recipient of a shariah whether he has brought a new shariah to act upon or not.

These words have also been interpreted to mean that only one shariah and one sunnah has now been decreed for all the nations, that is obedience to the religion of Muhammad. Another interpretation is that the purport of the words is that every nation has been given a separate shariah and a separate way to practice it. There is a shariah and a sunnah for the followers of Torah, and a separate shariah and sunnah for the followers of the Gospel and this is the correct meaning given the context because first mention is made of the Torah and its followers, then of the Gospel and its followers and then of the Quran and its followers and by saying لکلٍ (for all), the statement has been made general, that is for every nation a shariah and a sunnah is established like it is for the ones mentioned by name. Because the Torah and the Gospel are mentioned by name, there is also an indication in this that their sunnah is no longer valid for practice. Neither the strict prescriptions of the Torah nor the laxity of the Gospels are practical prescriptions to act upon. Facts bear testimony that these practices were temporary and there is only one practice that can be followed, which is the one that has been revealed through the Holy Prophet.

5-48d: These words clearly show that this verse deals with the disputes between religions because the correctness of religious disputes will be decided on the Day of Judgment, that is it is only there that it will be known who is wrong and who is right.

5-49 And that thou shouldst judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their low desires, and be cautious of them lest they seduce thee from part of what Allah has revealed to thee. Then if they turn away, know that Allah desires to afflict them for some of their sins. And surely many of the people are transgressors.^a

 وَأَنِ ٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَہُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ وَٱحۡذَرۡهُمۡ أَن يَفۡتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعۡضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَہُم بِبَعۡضِ ذُنُوبِہِمۡ‌ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَـٰسِقُونَ (٤٩)

5-49a: يَفۡتِنُوكَ – The meaning of فِتن has been explained in 2-191b. In respect of its literal meaning of putting in the fire, the purport here is the visitation of trials and tribulations. یُوۡقِعُوۡنكَ فی بَلِیّةٍ و شِدّۃٍ (putting in affliction and hardship) (R). This verse also shows clearly that the decision mentioned relates to religious differences because the digression from principles referred to here are the ones revealed to the Holy Prophet and which are an integral part of the religion of Islam.

Following the desires of the Ahl Kitab: Assuming from the statement follow not their low desires and be cautious of them lest they seduce thee, that the Holy Prophet followed their low desires is totally idiotic. The question that arises is whether there is any need for this advice to the Holy Prophet. The kind of difficulties that the Holy Prophet faced in his dealings with these people were of a magnitude that no other person could have combated them without his footsteps faltering. This advice shows the high station of the Holy Prophet because the conditions he faced were beyond human endurance but the station to which God had elevated the Holy Prophet made it possible for him to meet the high bar set for him. In addition, this verse is directed to all the Ummah and the Ummah is certainly in need of this advice. There are many Muslims today who have not been able to save themselves from following the low desires of the Ahl Kitab. The glitter and glamor of the Christian civilization is turning away Muslims from the truth and in reality seducing them from what Allah has revealed. This will eventually be problematic for them even if they do not understand it now. 

5-50 Is it then the judgment of ignorance that they desire? And who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure?^a

أَفَحُكۡمَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبۡغُونَ‌ۚ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكۡمً۬ا لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُوقِنُونَ (٥٠)

5-50a: Desiring the judgment of ignorance: The meaning is that the Jews do not pay any attention to the things of wisdom that Allah has revealed in the Quran. It is possible that in this last verse of this section attention is drawn again to the subject of the last verse of the previous section where it is shown that in disputes among the Jews, they desire that decisions be given as in the days of ignorance in which the rights of the strong were superior to the rights of the weak. This principle prevailed in the Jewish tribes of Bani Qurayza and Bani Nazir. Bani Nazir were stronger than Bani Qurayza and the blood money that Bani Qurayza had to pay was double of what they received from Bani Nazir.     

5-35 O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and seek means of nearness to Him, and strive hard in His way that you may be successful.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱبۡتَغُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡوَسِيلَةَ وَجَـٰهِدُواْ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (٣٥)

5-35a: وَسِيلَةَ – Imam Raghib says that وَسِيلَةَ means to affectionately reach out to something: التَّوَصُّلُ الی الشئ برغبة . Further he writes that it is like قربة (nearness), and واسل is someone who affectionately reaches out to Allah. Lisan al Arab states that وَسِيلَةَ is the name of rank, status and nearness, and وَسَّل فلان الیٰ اللّٰه وَسِيلَةَ   means acted in a way with which he achieved nearness to Allah and then writes that وَسِيلَةَ means to reach, and nearness. In the hadith which gives the prayer to be recited after hearing the adhan, the following statement occurs: اٰتِ محمد^ن الوسیلة where the meaning is القرب من اللّٰه تعالیٰ  , that is nearness to Allah (N). There is a hadith in Sahih Muslim that the Holy Prophet after teaching the prayer said after the adhan stated that وَسِيلَةَ is the highest rank in the Paradise, and that is its meaning here.

Achieving nearness to Allah: The real discussion is about Ahl Kitab who had abandoned religion and restricted their horizon only to this world and instead of strict monotheism had incorporated polytheistic ways. The last verse of the previous section mentioned a class of people who despite professing Islam committed dacoities, spread mischief in the land and openly opposed Allah and His Prophet. Hence this section opens with a statement about what is the real work of a believer. The first counsel given is to be righteous, that is to safeguard rights and to ensure that no one is wronged. It is then stated that too much emphasis should not be put on pursuing temporal wealth and that instead a yearning should be created in the heart to achieve nearness to Allah because this is the real purpose of a person’s life. However, this purpose cannot be achieved unless one strives for it, and hence the third advise is to carry on waging jihad (keep on striving) so that one becomes successful: وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَہۡدِيَنَّہُمۡ سُبُلَنَا‌ (And those who strive hard for Us, We shall certainly guide them in Our ways ) (29:69). The next verse mentions very clearly that this worldly wealth with which the Ahl Kitab has fallen in love and for which they have abandoned truth, veracity, and God, can perhaps help them a little in this worldly life but will be of no use to them in the next. Thus, the basic advise of this verse is that one should not abandon the real purpose of life by going excessively after collecting worldly wealth by fair and foul means, and instead should work to create a yearning in one’s heart for nearness to Allah, which is the meaning of وَسِيلَةَ . The Quran also provides testimony for this meaning: أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ يَبۡتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمُ ٱلۡوَسِيلَةَ (Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to their Lord) (17:57) that is, those that people call upon thinking that they would remove their distress never claimed that they are able to do so, and they themselves seek nearness to Allah. Ibn Jarir has explained the meaning of: وَٱبۡتَغُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡوَسِيلَةَ as: اطلبوا القربة الیه (beseech His nearness) and in support has presented a verse from Untra: ان الرجال لھم الیك وَسِيلَةَ . Hassan, Mujahid and Qatadah have given its meaning as nearness and do not offer any other meaning.

Making another an agent: Even if the meaning of وَسِيلَةَ is taken to be: ما یتوصل به (the means to reach), its meaning would be to walk in ways that will allow you to reach Allah, that is to achieve nearness to Allah. To take this to mean that those who have died should be taken as agents is an absurd interpretation of وَسِيلَةَ . To ask someone to pray for you is not associating him with Allah. Even the Holy Prophet reportedly said to Caliph Umar: لا تنسنا یا اخی من دعائك (O Brother! Do not forget us in your prayers). However, asking those who have died for help is outright polytheist. It is incumbent that one faces in the direction of the Kabah even when offering prayer on the tomb of the Holy Prophet so that the grave is to the left or right of the one praying. The prayer must not be offered with the grave in front. According to Imam Abu Hanifa the prayer should be offered with the grave at the back. There are categorical orders in the Quran that it is not permissible to pray to anyone except Allah, as in: إِن تَدۡعُوهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُواْ دُعَآءَكُمۡ وَلَوۡ سَمِعُواْ مَا ٱسۡتَجَابُواْ لَكُمۡۖ (If you call on them, they hear not your call; and if they heard, they could not answer you) (35:14); and: لَهُ ۥ دَعۡوَةُ ٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسۡتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىۡءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيۡهِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ (To Him is due the true prayer. And those to whom they pray besides Him giv them no answer, but (they are) like one who stretches forth his two hands towards water…) (13:14).

In view of this overwhelming evidence, it is polytheistic to class the holy personalities of Islam as وسیلے or agents and through them to ask for fulfilment of needs, or to go and pray on their graves, or to beseech Allah in their names. The mediation by holy and pious people through their prayers is only during their lifetimes. This is exemplified by a saying of Caliph Umar when during a drought, he asked Abbas to lead the congregational prayer for rain and submitted to Allah: We used to ask the Holy Prophet to mediate for us (that is, asked him to pray for us) and O Allah You used to bless us with rain. Now we ask Your Prophet’s uncle to mediate for us, (that is, ask him to lead the prayer). So bless us with rain. Thus, mediation by holy people is permissible only during their lifetime, and they can be asked to pray for a particular person or outcome.

5-36 Those who disbelieve, even if they had all that is in the earth, and the like of it with it, to ransom themselves therewith from the chastisement of the day of Resurrection, it would not be accepted from them; and theirs is a painful chastisement.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ لَوۡ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمِثۡلَهُ ۥ مَعَهُ ۥ لِيَفۡتَدُواْ بِهِۦ مِنۡ عَذَابِ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا تُقُبِّلَ مِنۡهُمۡ‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬ (٣٦)

 5-37 They would desire to come forth from the Fire, and they will not come forth from it, and theirs is a lasting chastisement.^a

 يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنۡہَا‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ مُّقِيمٌ۬ (٣٧)

5-37a: Coming out of the fire: There is a clear distinction in the mention of paradise and hell in the Quran. The mention of paradise is followed by وَمَا هُم مِّنۡہَا بِمُخۡرَجِينَ (…nor will they be ejected therefrom) (15:48), while in the mention of hell, it is stated: وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنۡہَا‌ (…and they will not come forth from it) (5:37) which is explained elsewhere as: كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓاْ أَن يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡہَآ أُعِيدُواْ فِيہَا (Whenever they desire to go forth from it, they are brought back into it…) (32:20). The statement in the hadith: So He will take out a handful from the fire and bring out a people who have never done any good, is not contradictory to this verse because the inmates of hell will not come out based on their own desire but will come out because of the mercy of Allah.

5-38 And (as for) the man and the woman addicted to theft, cut off their hands as a punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.^a

وَٱلسَّارِقُ وَٱلسَّارِقَةُ فَٱقۡطَعُوٓاْ أَيۡدِيَهُمَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَـٰلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ۬ (٣٨)

5-38a: The last section discusses the safeguarding of life and property in the context of deliberations about the Jews. This verse is a supplement to it and between these two verses, there are some advisory verses for the Muslims. After the mention of dacoits who forcibly rob the wealth of others, this verse mentions thieves who take the wealth of others by stealth.

The purport of cutting off the hand: The punishment of theft is given as cutting off the hand. Metaphorically, cutting off the hand can mean to stop their hand, as in: تَقۡطَعُونَ ٱلسَّبِيلَ (29:29) where the meaning is not to cut the path but to stop the wayfarers. Similarly, the term قطع رحم is used metaphorically to mean mercilessly. قَطَعَ لِسَنه‘ means to silence him. It is stated in one hadith that a poet recited some verses of his poetry, and the Holy Prophet said: اَقۡطَعُواعَنِّی لِسَنه‘ (Give him something and silence him) (LA). So, the meaning of قطع ید (cut hand) can metaphorically be to prevent them from stealing.

Taking its literal meaning, Imam Shafai sets the value of the money taken to be more than a quarter dinar before this punishment kicks in, Imam Abu Hanifa sets the minimum value as ten dirham, and some others at five dirhams. If the value of the theft is less than these amounts, then the punishment of cutting off the hand is not applicable. It is conceivable that cutting the hand is the maximum punishment for stealing, and the judge has the power to give a lesser punishment. The reason for this is that in a previous verse the judge has been given wide discretionary powers in imposing sentence on a dacoit varying from death by crucifixion to imprisonment. Since these two verses compliment each other, it follows that just as the maximum punishment for dacoity is death, the maximum punishment for theft is cutting off the hand. There is nothing in the precedent of the Companions that negates this interpretation because when it is permissible to punish a dacoit who takes away assets by force by imprisoning him, then why not a thief. Setting up an equivalence between the punishment for dacoity and theft, the severest punishment for dacoity is death or crucifixion, this severest punishment is left out for theft. A grade below in severity is the punishment of cutting of a hand and foot for a dacoit. The equivalent punishment for a thief is just cutting off the hand and this is the maximum punishment for theft. A grade below this in severity is the punishment of imprisonment in the case of dacoity. Although not specified, it stands to reason this can be given to a thief as well. 

Apart from this, another thing worth considering is that in the Ubbi reading of the Quran instead of سارق the reading is  سَرِّقand instead of سارقة the reading is سَرِّقة   which words are in the superlative tense. So conceivably the punishment of cutting off the hand is a required punishment for a habitual thief. This is the reason that there is a provision for repentance, otherwise if the hand is cut off at the first offence of theft, then where is the provision for repentance. When leniency can be exercised if a dacoit repents, then why should a thief not get some leniency as well. So, the mandatory punishment for a habitual thief is cutting off the hand but it is the maximum punishment for a first time offender. The judge has the discretion to punish a first-time offender only with imprisonment. Further, cutting off the hand is stated to be an exemplary punishment, and this shows that it is the maximum punishment. In determining the punishment, the judge can also keep in view the present situation, and the national conditions. For this reason, under certain national and regional conditions, the punishment of cutting the hand can be given even for the first offence of stealing. In the present times and given the national conditions, it would be acceptable if cutting off the hand is kept as the punishment for a habitual thief and imprisonment for a first-time offender. It is also true that there can be no more effective punishment for a habitual thief than cutting off the hand. If the objective is reform, long imprisonments are not efficacious and also have a very deleterious effect on the moral condition of inmates. Cutting off the hand not only stops crime but is an effective way to reform.

5-39 But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, Allah will turn to him (mercifully). Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

فَمَن تَابَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ظُلۡمِهِۦ وَأَصۡلَحَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ (٣٩)

5-40 Knowest thou not that Allah is He to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth? He chastises whom He pleases, and forgives whom He pleases. And Allah is Possessor of power over all things.

 أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُ ۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَغۡفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ (٤٠) 

5-41 O Messenger, let not those grieve thee who hasten to disbelief, from among those who say with their mouths, We believe, and their hearts believe not, and from among those who are Jews — they are listeners for the sake of a lie, listeners for another people who have not come to thee. They alter the words after they are put in their (proper) places, saying: If you are given this, take it, and if you are not given this, be cautious. And he for whom Allah intends temptation, thou controllest naught for him against Allah. Those are they whose hearts Allah intends not to purify. For them is disgrace in this world, and for them a grievous chastisement in the Hereafter.^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحۡزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡكُفۡرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ وَلَمۡ تُؤۡمِن قُلُوبُهُمۡ‌ۛ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ‌ۛ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلۡڪَذِبِ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِقَوۡمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمۡ يَأۡتُوكَ‌ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلۡكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ‌ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنۡ أُوتِيتُمۡ هَـٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمۡ تُؤۡتَوۡهُ فَٱحۡذَرُواْ‌ۚ وَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ فِتۡنَتَهُ ۥ فَلَن تَمۡلِكَ لَهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔا‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمۡ‌ۚ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا خِزۡىٌ۬‌ۖ وَلَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ (٤١)

5-41a: سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلۡڪَذِبِ -It can be interpreted in two ways. One is that they believe lies because one of the meanings of سمع is to accept, and the other is listeners for the sake of lying. Similarly, the meaning of سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِقَوۡمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ can be interpreted in two ways. One is accepting the talk coming from another nation and the other is listening for another people. 

The text reverts here to the real topic and the hypocrites are added to the mention of Jews. In the same vein as hypocrites, a group of Jews were also acting in a deceitful manner, and are referred to here. They did not accept the commands of the Holy Prophet and instead listened to what their tribal chiefs said. They adhered firmly to what their tribal chiefs said and accepted things only to the extent that their chief told them to and rejected anything beyond that. Under the terms of the agreement that the Jews had made with the Holy Prophet when he migrated to Madinah, the final decision in their matters was to be made by the Holy Prophet, and the Holy Prophet made these decisions in accordance with the Torah. Once an adulterous Jewish couple was brought before the Holy Prophet and he ordered them to be stoned to death in accordance with the punishment prescribed in the Torah. However, when the Jews were asked what is prescribed in their Book, they replied that the faces of the couple should be blackened, and they should be publicly shamed. The Jews were asked to bring the Torah and asked to read it publicly and they had to admit that the punishment is stoning to death. The presence of this punishment in the Torah is proven till the time of Jesus. Accordingly, it is stated in the Gospel by John that the Pharisees said: Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned, but what sayest thou? (John 8:4-5). Stoning to death is not part of the present Torah which proves that the Torah has been tampered with.

There were other similar incidents as well. The Jews would accept the Prophet’s decisions only to the extent that their priests told them to accept. For this reason, the Prophet is granted the leeway in the next section to refuse to make their decisions if he wanted.

There is another point worth remembering here. Nowhere in the Quran is the Holy Prophet addressed as: یا محمد or یا احمد although other prophets have been so addressed as: یٰا اٰدم – یا موسٰی  –  یا عیسٰی –  یا داؤد- یا ابراھیم – یا نوح . The Holy Prophet, however, has been addressed only as: یٰایھا الرسول or یٰایھا النبی , that is by the names النبی and الرسول and the reason for this is firstly as a mark of respect and secondly he is addressed as النبی and الرسول because there is not going to be a prophet and messenger after him, and thirdly because he embodied the perfection of all previous prophets, no other prophet deserved this epitaph of being addressed as the prophet and the messenger. 

5-42 Listeners for the sake of a lie, devourers of forbidden things, so if they come to thee, judge between them or turn away from them. And if thou turn away from them, they cannot harm thee at all. And if thou judge, judge between them with equity. Surely Allah loves the equitable.^a

سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلۡكَذِبِ أَڪَّـٰلُونَ لِلسُّحۡتِ‌ۚ فَإِن جَآءُوكَ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَہُمۡ أَوۡ أَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡہُمۡ‌ۖ وَإِن تُعۡرِضۡ عَنۡهُمۡ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۖ وَإِنۡ حَكَمۡتَ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَہُم بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ (٤٢)

5-42a: سحت – There is a sense of extermination or to stamp out found in this word, as in: فَيُسۡحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍ۬‌ (…destroys you by punishment) (20:61). سحت is the name for ill gotten wealth or goods that is a source of shame for the earner because that person is demolishing his religion. Bribery is also called سحت (R). Despite all the mischief of the Jews, the Holy Prophet is commanded to decide matters between them justly if he chooses to decide. The Prophet has been elevated to a very high moral and ethical standard. 

5-43 And how do they make thee a judge and they have the Torah wherein is Allah’s judgment? Yet they turn away after that! And these are not believers.^a 

وَكَيۡفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةُ فِيہَا حُكۡمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوۡنَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٲلِكَ‌ۚ وَمَآ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٤٣)

5-43a: Jews reject decisions made on the basis of Torah: The Islamic jurisprudence is easier and more lenient in many respects compared to the Judaic laws, and for this reason, the Jews repaired to the Holy Prophet to get a more favorable decision. That is why it is stated that how can the Jews make the Holy Prophet a judge while remaining a Jew. The Divine commands for them are present in the Torah and if they consider it to be the true Divine Law and they do not accept Islam then they should be judged based on their scriptures. It is strange that they want to keep their religion as Judaism but not accept the Torah as the basis of judgment. The indication in مَآ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ is that they neither believe in the Torah nor do they accept the Quran. A statement of Caliph Ali is narrated in Ruh al Maani,  in which he says that if he is the ruler, then he will judge the Jews according to the Torah and the Christians according to the Gospel. What a great difference is there under فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَہُم بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ (And if you judge, judge between them with equity) that the Quran requires that the followers of the Torah be judged according to the Torah and the followers of the Gospel be judged according to the Gospel and this is not acceptable to their followers but the Muslims want to be judged by the Quran but this is not available to them.