In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful


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Study the Qur'aan in Qur'aanic light to understand Islam in its pristine simplicity, clarity, beauty and purity

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Qur'aanic Studies - Volume XII




by
Mohammad Shafi


PREFACE

Below the Arabic text of every Verse of the Qur'aan, is its transliteration, followed by translation and Chapter Notes, if any, essentially based on the Qur'aan itself. Please remember that the Arabic text is divine and, therefore, sacrosanct, but the transliteration, translation and the Notes are human and, therefore, subject to correction. Please also remember that the human-made Notes cannot, and do not, explain the divine Verses. They seek to explain the human translation only and/or to relate the Verse to present circumstances or to divine explanations given in other Verses of the Qur'aan.

I have adopted the transliteration method employed by the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) of the University of Southern California. And, in this regard, I may usefully quote from their site:

"MSA-USC would like to thank muslimnet.net for making their transliteration of the Qur'an publicly available.

'We would like to emphasize that this [transliteration] text is not a substitute for the original Arabic Qur'an. It is only an attempt to help those who are trying to learn to read the Arabic text, since it is as close to the written text as possible.

It is important to practice pronouncing the letters as directed in the transliteration table, especially the underlined letters, before starting to read. It will be helpful if an Arabic speaker can help you.

This work is free for use to everyone as long as no changes that might distort it are done to it. We request from those who benefit from it to pray for us. We pray to Almighty Allah to help you learn to read the Holy Qur'an, and to do every good thing.'"

I present this humble work in the earnest hope that it will prompt my Readers to try and understand the divine Message in its original Arabic text. They should remember that no translation however meticulously done can ever equal the original Arabic text in its divine grandeur and pristine clarity.

One may wonder why this yet another addition to the existing plethora of Translations and Commentaries! The answer to this question lies in the beauty of the fact that the divine Message of the Qur'aan remains valid for all times and ages since its revelation until the Last Day. The Message therefore needs to be studied from time to time in the changing perspectives of the changing times. It would be absolutely wrong to confine this universal Message for mankind to the circumstances and situations of a particular period in the past. Unfortunately, however, most of the commentators so far have based their understanding of the Qur'aan in the strict perspective of the circumstances and situations prevailing at the time of its revelation way back in 7th century A.D. The Muslim mindset generally has thus got stagnated and therefore unable to cope with the changing situations of the changing times. This humble attempt of mine is to help Muslims generally to come out, Allah willing, of that crippling stagnation.

This Volume of my Qur'aanic Studies is on Al-Maidah Verses 28 to 82.

Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
5th January, 2008


CONTENTS


Chapter 5. Al-Maidah


Verses 28 to 40


Verses 41 to 50


Verses 51 to 60


Verses 61 to 70


Verses 71 to 82




title5

(Al-Maidah)
Chapter 5: The Table Spread With Food

5.28
28. La-in basatta ilayya yadaka litaqtulanee ma ana bibasitin yadiya ilayka li-aqtulaka innee akhafu Allaha rabba alAAalameena

28. 15"If you do raise your hand against me to kill me, I am not going to raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds."

15. This Verse continues with the story of the two sons of Adam, that was started in the preceding Verse (included in Volume XI of these Studies). And the quote here (continued in the next Verse 29 also) is how one son addressed the other, who threatened to kill the former.

5.29
29. Innee oreedu an taboo-a bi-ithmee wa-ithmika fatakoona min as-habi alnnari wathalika jazao alththalimeena

29. "Indeed do I wish that you bear the burden of my sin as well as your sin, and so you be of the inmates of the Fire. And that is the reward of the unjust."

5.30
30. FatawwaAAat lahu nafsuhu qatla akheehi faqatalahu faasbaha mina alkhasireena

30. Then his self incited him to kill his brother, so he killed him. And he became one of those doomed.16

16. This is perhaps the 2nd sin committed in the history of mankind. The first was when Adam went to the tree in Paradise, in disobedience to the express command of Allah Almighty (see Verses 2.35 & 2.36). Adam then had to suffer the ignominy of being ousted from Paradise. [The Muslims today are suffering ignominy also, because they are disobeying various divine commands given in the Qur'aan.] Now this 2nd sin has its genesis in the human trait of jealousy. One of the sons of Adam was jealous of his brother and killed him. And in today's world, jealousy related crimes are aplenty. Allah asked the Prophet to relate to the Children of Israel this story of the two sons of Adam, as a pointer to the Jews' sense of jealousy at someone, other than among themselves, being made a Prophet.

5.31
31. FabaAAatha Allahu ghuraban yabhathu fee al-ardi liyuriyahu kayfa yuwaree saw-ata akheehi qala ya waylata aAAajaztu an akoona mithla hatha alghurabi faowariya saw-ata akhee faasbaha mina alnnadimeena

31. Then Allah sent a crow digging the earth so as to show him how to dispose of the dead body of his brother. He said, "Woe to me! Have I not the competence even to be like this crow to dispose of the dead body of my brother?" And he was ashamed17

17. The incomplete sentence gets completed in the next Verse.

5.32
32. Min ajli thalika katabna AAala banee isra-eela annahu man qatala nafsan bighayri nafsin aw fasadin fee al-ardi fakaannama qatala alnnasa jameeAAan waman ahyaha fakaannama ahya alnnasa jameeAAan walaqad jaat-hum rusuluna bialbayyinati thumma inna katheeran minhum baAAda thalika fee al-ardi lamusrifoona

32. on that ground. We ordained for the Children of Israel that if one killed a person - not in retaliation for killing another person or for spreading mischief on earth - it is as if he/she killed the entire mankind. And one who saved a life, it is as if he/she saved the entire mankind. And certainly Our Messengers came to them with clear signs. Then indeed, thereafter, many of them did commit transgression on the earth.

5.33
33. Innama jazao allatheena yuhariboona Allaha warasoolahu wayasAAawna fee al-ardi fasadan an yuqattaloo aw yusallaboo aw tuqattaAAa aydeehim waarjuluhum min khilafin aw yunfaw mina al-ardi thalika lahum khizyun fee alddunya walahum fee al-akhirati AAathabun AAatheemun

33. The reward for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread mischief on earth is only that they should be killed, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides, or they should be excommunicated.18 This is, for them, a disgrace in this world, and, in the Hereafter, they shall suffer a grave punishment.

18. No eyebrows need be raised at the harshness of the punishments prescribed. All modern-day countries prescribe harsh punishments for those who wage war against the State. But Islam has a mercy clause for those who repent before being overpowered. See the next Verse.

5.34
34. Illa allatheena taboo min qabli an taqdiroo AAalayhim faiAAlamoo anna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun

34. Except for those who repent before you overpower them. So be aware that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

5.35
35. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ittaqoo Allaha waibtaghoo ilayhi alwaseelata wajahidoo fee sabeelihi laAAallakum tuflihoona

35. O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek means of approach to Him and struggle in His Path, so that you get salvation.19

19. The Arabic word alwaseelata (means of approach) has been grossly misunderstood by many Muslims of today. They think that in the light of this Verse, they can invoke the good offices of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and other dead pious men, for conferring of wordly benefits to them and for redressal of their worldly woes. Attention of such Muslims is invited to Verses 17.56 and 17.57 wherein the futility of invoking anyone other than Allah, is clarified. And in Verse 35.22, the Qur'aan categorically tells mankind, "And you are in no position to make those to hear who are in the graves." The 'means of approach' to Allah are those means which were employed by those great men themselves. They had persistently struggled in Allah's Path as indicated at the end of this Verse itself. 'Struggling in Allah's Path' is therefore the means. And 'struggling in Allah's Path' does not mean suicide attacks on soft targets as some may mistakenly believe! It is, on the other hand, to "believe, and do righteous deeds, and admonish with the Truth and admonish with Patience" as enunciated in Surah 103. And 'righteous deeds' are deeds that Allah Almighty commands mankind to do through His Message, the Qur'aan.

5.36
36. Inna allatheena kafaroo law anna lahum ma fee al-ardi jameeAAan wamithlahu maAAahu liyaftadoo bihi min AAathabi yawmi alqiyamati ma tuqubbila minhum walahum AAathabun aleemun

36. Indeed, if those who suppress the Truth had all that is in the earth, and the like of it besides, to offer as ransom against the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, it shall not be accepted from them. And, for them, a painful punishment.

5.37
37. Yureedoona an yakhrujoo mina alnnari wama hum bikharijeena minha walahum AAathabun muqeemun

37. They will long to go out of the Fire, and they shall find no way out therefrom. And, for them, a lasting punishment.

5.38
38. Waalssariqu waalssariqatu faiqtaAAoo aydiyahuma jazaan bima kasaba nakalan mina Allahi waAllahu AAazeezun hakeemun

38. And cut off the hand each of the man who steals and the woman who steals, as an exemplary punishment from Allah for what they have earned. And Allah is Almighty, Wise.20

20. In view of the next Verse, this punishment is to be meted out only to such an incorrigible thief who is unrepentent for his crime or indulges in it repeatedly despite declaring his repentance of earlier crimes. The punishment to such a thief has necessarily to be exemplary, so that seeing his amputated arm, others are effectively discouraged from committing the crime. Modern-day governments, in the name of humanitarianism, have very light penal provisions of imprisonment for a limited period. A hardened criminal takes it in his stride, goes to prison, and duly resumes his criminal activity afresh after being released. And, with his ill-gotten wealth, he may grease the palms of the police, and thus evade imprisonment again. And seeing his apparent prosperity, others may emulate him. Allah-given law is always better than man-made laws.

5.39
39. Faman taba min baAAdi thulmihi waaslaha fa-inna Allaha yatoobu AAalayhi inna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun

39. And he who repents after he has committed his crime and reforms himself, then, indeed, Allah will accept his repentance. And Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful.

5.40
40. Alam taAAlam anna Allaha lahu mulku alssamawati waal-ardi yuAAaththibu man yashao wayaghfiru liman yashao waAllahu AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun

40. Don't you know that to Allah belongs the sovereignty over the heavens and the earth? He punishes whom He wills and forgives whom He wills. And Allah has power over all things.

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5.41
41. Ya ayyuha alrrasoolu la yahzunka allatheena yusariAAoona fee alkufri mina allatheena qaloo amanna bi-afwahihim walam tu/min quloobuhum wamina allatheena hadoo sammaAAoona lilkathibi sammaAAoona liqawmin akhareena lam ya/tooka yuharrifoona alkalima min baAAdi mawadiAAihi yaqooloona in ooteetum hatha fakhuthoohu wa-in lam tu/tawhu faihtharoo waman yuridi Allahu fitnatahu falan tamlika lahu mina Allahi shay-an ola-ika allatheena lam yuridi Allahu an yutahhira quloobahum lahum fee alddunya khizyun walahum fee al-akhirati AAathabun AAatheemun

41. O Messenger! Let not those make you sad, who are quick in suppressing the Truth from among those who say, with their mouths, "We believe" and their hearts do not believe, and from among those who are Jews. They listen to falsehood. They listen to others who do not come to you. They transpose the word out of its context, saying, "If you are given this, take it, and if you are not given this, be cautious". And if Allah wills to put anyone to distress and hardship, you can do nothing for him against Allah. Allah does not want to purify the hearts of such people. Disgrace, for them, in this world. And a grave punishment, for them, in the Hereafter.

5.42
42. SammaAAoona lilkathibi akkaloona lilssuhti fa-in jaooka faohkum baynahum aw aAArid AAanhum wa-in tuAArid AAanhum falan yadurrooka shay-an wa-in hakamta faohkum baynahum bialqisti inna Allaha yuhibbu almuqsiteena

42. They listen to falsehood. They eat what is forbidden. So if they come to you, judge between them or ignore them. And if you ignore them, they won't do any harm to you. And if you judge, judge between them fairly. Indeed, Allah loves those who are just.

5.43
43. Wakayfa yuhakkimoonaka waAAindahumu alttawratu feeha hukmu Allahi thumma yatawallawna min baAAdi thalika wama ola-ika bialmu/mineena

43. And how do they make you a judge and they have the Torah wherein is Allah's judgment, and yet they turn away thereafter? And such as these are no believers!21

21. Had the Jews really believed in the Torah, they need not have come to the Prophet. They would have got Allah's judgement therein itself. This should not be construed to mean that the Jews did not need to believe in Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a duly accredited Prophet of Allah and in His last Message, the Qur'aan. The Torah itself contains such clear evidence about the coming of Prophet Muhammad, that true belief in the Torah would automatically lead to belief in Prophet Muhammad and in the Qur'aan. That is why the Qur'aan says in Verse 6.20 that those who were given the Book earlier, know about the Prophet or about the Qur'aan as they know about their own sons.

5.44
44. Inna anzalna alttawrata feeha hudan wanoorun yahkumu biha alnnabiyyoona allatheena aslamoo lillatheena hadoo waalrrabbaniyyoona waal-ahbaru bima istuhfithoo min kitabi Allahi wakanoo AAalayhi shuhadaa fala takhshawoo alnnasa waikhshawni wala tashtaroo bi-ayatee thamanan qaleelan waman lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu faola-ika humu alkafiroona

44. We did indeed send down the Torah, with guidance and light therein. Therewith, the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah, and the Rabbis and the doctors in religious law, required to guard part of the Book of Allah and be witnesses thereto, judged for the Jews. Therefore fear the people not and fear Me, and do not buy a small benefit in exchange for My Verses/signs.22 And they, who judge not by what Allah has sent down, are the suppressors of Truth.

22. This divine directive is not just for the Jews or for the Prophet. It is for every human being who has to make a decision or a judgement.

5.45
45. Wakatabna AAalayhim feeha anna alnnafsa bialnnafsi waalAAayna bialAAayni waal-anfa bial-anfi waalothuna bialothuni waalssinna bialssinni waaljurooha qisasun faman tasaddaqa bihi fahuwa kaffaratun lahu waman lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu faola-ika humu alththalimoona

45. And We ordained for them therein that life is for life, and eye for eye, and nose for nose, and ear for ear, and tooth for tooth, and a wound is a retaliation for a wound. But if one foregoes the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation. And they, who judge not by what Allah has sent down, are the oppressors.

5.46
46. Waqaffayna AAala atharihim biAAeesa ibni maryama musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi mina alttawrati waataynahu al-injeela feehi hudan wanoorun wamusaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi mina alttawrati wahudan wamawAAithatan lilmuttaqeena

46. And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming what was before him of the Torah. And We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, and confirming what was before it of the Torah and guidance and admonition for those who fear Allah.

5.47
47. Walyahkum ahlu al-injeeli bima anzala Allahu feehi waman lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu faola-ika humu alfasiqoona

47. And the followers of the Gospel ought to judge by what Allah revealed in it.23 And they, who judge not by what Allah has sent down, are the transgressors.

23. And had the followers of Gospel judged by what was revealed in it, they would have believed in the Qur'aan when it came to them, and acted thereupon.

5.48
48. Waanzalna ilayka alkitaba bialhaqqi musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi mina alkitabi wamuhayminan AAalayhi faohkum baynahum bima anzala Allahu wala tattabiAA ahwaahum AAamma jaaka mina alhaqqi likullin jaAAalna minkum shirAAatan waminhajan walaw shaa Allahu lajaAAalakum ommatan wahidatan walakin liyabluwakum feema atakum faistabiqoo alkhayrati ila Allahi marjiAAukum jameeAAan fayunabbi-okum bima kuntum feehi takhtalifoona

48. And We have sent down to you the Book with the truth, to confirm what has come before it of the Book and to act as an authority thereupon. So judge among them by what Allah has sent down, and follow not their vain desires which deviate from the truth that has come to you. For all of you, We have generated social customs and ways of life. And had Allah so willed, He would have made you a single community, but He wanted to test you in what He has given you, so compete with one another in doing good deeds.24 To Allah is the return of all of you. He will then explain to you what you differed in.

24. This Verse makes it clear that different customs and ways of life matter not, provided the broad divine commands are adhered to. Adhering to divine commands is what good deeds are all about.

5.49
49. Waani ohkum baynahum bima anzala Allahu wala tattabiAA ahwaahum waihtharhum an yaftinooka AAan baAAdi ma anzala Allahu ilayka fa-in tawallaw faiAAlam annama yureedu Allahu an yuseebahum bibaAAdi thunoobihim wa-inna katheeran mina alnnasi lafasiqoona

49. And so you do judge among them by what Allah has sent down, and follow not their vain desires, and be cautious of them lest they tempt you away from some part of what Allah has enjoined upon you. If they then turn away, know that it is Allah's Will to afflict them with hardship for some of their sins. And a great number of the people are indeed the transgressors.

5.50
50. Afahukma aljahiliyyati yabghoona waman ahsanu mina Allahu hukman liqawmin yooqinoona

50. Is it then that they desire the rule of the times of ignorance? And who is better to rule, for a people who are firm in Faith, than Allah?

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5.51
51. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tattakhithoo alyahooda waalnnasara awliyaa baAAduhum awliyao baAAdin waman yatawallahum minkum fa-innahu minhum inna Allaha la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena

51. O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians for close, intimate friends25. They are close to one another. And whoever amongst you is close to them, then indeed he is one of them. Indeed Allah does not guide the wrong-doers.

25. The Arabic term, which is translated here as 'close, intimate friends', is awliya. For the comprehensive Qur'aanic meaning of wali (singular of awliya) please refer footnote 2.154 of these Studies.

5.52
52. Fatara allatheena fee quloobihim maradun yusariAAoona feehim yaqooloona nakhsha an tuseebana da-iratun faAAasa Allahu an ya/tiya bialfathi aw amrin min AAindihi fayusbihoo AAala ma asarroo fee anfusihim nadimeena

52. And you will see those, in whose hearts is a disease, to be active in their company. They say, "We fear a turn of fortune afflicting us." And it may well be that Allah will bring about victory or such event, by His Will, that they become ashamed of their secret feelings.

5.53
53. Wayaqoolu allatheena amanoo ahaola-i allatheena aqsamoo biAllahi jahda aymanihim innahum lamaAAakum habitat aAAmaluhum faasbahoo khasireena

53. And those who believe say, "Are these the people who swore intensely by Allah that they were indeed with us? Their deeds have been in vain, and they are doomed."

5.54
54. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo man yartadda minkum AAan deenihi fasawfa ya/tee Allahu biqawmin yuhibbuhum wayuhibboonahu athillatin AAala almu/mineena aAAizzatin AAala alkafireena yujahidoona fee sabeeli Allahi wala yakhafoona lawmata la-imin thalika fadlu Allahi yu/teehi man yashao waAllahu wasiAAun AAaleemun

54. O you who believe! If there be any from among you who turns back from his religion, then, in place of such people, Allah will bring a people whom He will love and who will love Him, humble with the believers, stern with those who suppress the Truth. They will strive in Allah's Path and will not fear the criticism of any critic. That is Allah's Favour. He gives it to whom He wills, And Allah is Generous, Wise.

5.55
55. Innama waliyyukumu Allahu warasooluhu waallatheena amanoo allatheena yuqeemoona alssalata wayu/toona alzzakata wahum rakiAAoona

55. Your only close friends are Allah, His Messenger and those who believe, establish prayers, give charity and bow down in submission to Allah.

5.56
56. Waman yatawalla Allaha warasoolahu waallatheena amanoo fa-inna hizba Allahi humu alghaliboona

56. And the one who seeks closeness to Allah, His Messenger and those who believe, may rest assured that it is Allah's group that shall indeed be triumphant.26

26. Had the majority of the Muslims today been so rest assured, they wouldn't find themselves in the unenviable position they are in.

5.57
57. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tattakhithoo allatheena ittakhathoo deenakum huzuwan walaAAiban mina allatheena ootoo alkitaba min qablikum waalkuffara awliyaa waittaqoo Allaha in kuntum mu/mineena

57. O you who believe! Do not consider persons - from among those who were given the Book before you, and from among the suppressors of Truth - who take your religion for a mockery and fun, as your close friends. And fear Allah if you do believe.

5.58
58. Wa-itha nadaytum ila alssalati ittakhathooha huzuwan walaAAiban thalika bi-annahum qawmun la yaAAqiloona

58. And when you make a call for prayer they take it but as a mockery and fun. They do so, because they are a people who understand not.

5.59
59. Qul ya ahla alkitabi hal tanqimoona minna illa an amanna biAllahi wama onzila ilayna wama onzila min qablu waanna aktharakum fasiqoona

59. Say, "O people of the Book! Do you take revenge on us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah and in what has been sent down upon us and in what was sent down before, and that most of you are transgressors?"

5.60
60. Qul hal onabbi-okum bisharrin min thalika mathoobatan AAinda Allahi man laAAanahu Allahu waghadiba AAalayhi wajaAAala minhumu alqiradata waalkhanazeera waAAabada alttaghooti ola-ika sharrun makanan waadallu AAan sawa-i alssabeeli

60. Say, "Shall I inform you of a worse retribution than this from Allah? Those whom Allah has cursed and bestowed His wrath upon, and those of them whom He made apes and pigs, and those who worshipped the false god - those are the people in a worse position, and further astray from the Right Path."

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5.61
61. Wa-itha jaookum qaloo amanna waqad dakhaloo bialkufri wahum qad kharajoo bihi waAllahu aAAlamu bima kanoo yaktumoona

61. And when they came to you, they said, "We believe", and they in fact came in, suppressing the Truth and they in fact went out, doing the same. And Allah knows what they were hiding.

5.62
62. Watara katheeran minhum yusariAAoona fee al-ithmi waalAAudwani waaklihimu alssuhta labi/sa ma kanoo yaAAmaloona

62. And you see many of them vie with one another in sin and hostility, and in their eating of what is unlawful. What they are doing is certainly bad.

5.63
63. Lawla yanhahumu alrrabbaniyyoona waal-ahbaru AAan qawlihimu al-ithma waaklihimu alssuhta labi/sa ma kanoo yasnaAAoona

63. Why did the Rabbis and the Priests not prohibit them from their sinful utterances and their eating unlawful things? What they are bringing about is certainly bad.

5.64
64. Waqalati alyahoodu yadu Allahi maghloolatun ghullat aydeehim waluAAinoo bima qaloo bal yadahu mabsootatani yunfiqu kayfa yashao walayazeedanna katheeran minhum ma onzila ilayka min rabbika tughyanan wakufran waalqayna baynahumu alAAadawata waalbaghdaa ila yawmi alqiyamati kullama awqadoo naran lilharbi atfaaha Allahu wayasAAawna fee al-ardi fasadan waAllahu la yuhibbu almufsideena

64. And the Jews say, "Allah's hand is fettered!" Their hands are fettered and they are cursed for what they said. Nay, both His hands are spread out, He expends as He pleases. And what has been sent down to you from your Lord will certainly make many of them more steeped in insolence and suppression of Truth. And We have put enmity and hatred amongst them until the Day of Resurrection. Every time they kindled the fire for war, Allah extinguished it.27 And they strive for mischief on earth. And Allah does not love the mischief-makers.

27. Allah does thus control the activities of human beings. Had He left them to do as they pleased, the human race itself would have long back been destroyed.

5.65
65. Walaw anna ahla alkitabi amanoo waittaqaw lakaffarna AAanhum sayyi-atihim walaadkhalnahum jannati alnnaAAeemi

65. And if the people of the Book had indeed believed, and feared Allah, We would certainly have cleared their bad deeds from them and We would certainly have made them enter gardens of bliss.

5.66
66. Walaw annahum aqamoo alttawrata waal-injeela wama onzila ilayhim min rabbihim laakaloo min fawqihim wamin tahti arjulihim minhum ommatun muqtasidatun wakatheerun minhum saa ma yaAAmaloona

66. And had they only stood by the Torah and the Gospel and that which is sent down to them from their Lord, they would certainly have got provision to eat, from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them are people who keep to the right course. And what many of them do, is bad.

5.67
67. Ya ayyuha alrrasoolu balligh ma onzila ilayka min rabbika wa-in lam tafAAal fama ballaghta risalatahu waAllahu yaAAsimuka mina alnnasi inna Allaha la yahdee alqawma alkafireena

67. O Messenger! Deliver what has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not do so, then you have not delivered His Message. And Allah will guard you against the men. Indeed, Allah guides not people that suppress the Truth.

5.68
68. Qul ya ahla alkitabi lastum AAala shay-in hatta tuqeemoo alttawrata waal-injeela wama onzila ilaykum min rabbikum walayazeedanna katheeran minhum ma onzila ilayka min rabbika tughyanan wakufran fala ta/sa AAala alqawmi alkafireena

68. Say, "O followers of the Book! You stand on no basis till you stand by the Torah and the Gospel and that which is sent down to you from your Lord." And what has been sent down to you28 from your Lord will certainly make many of them more steeped in insolence and suppression of Truth. Grieve not therefore for the people, who suppress the Truth.

28. I.e. to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

5.69
69. Inna allatheena amanoo waallatheena hadoo waalssabi-oona waalnnasara man amana biAllahi waalyawmi al-akhiri waAAamila salihan fala khawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoona

69. Indeed, those who believe, the Jews, the Saabioon and the Christians - whosoever believed in Allah and in the Last Day, and acted righteously - fear then shall overpower them not; nor shall they grieve!29

29. This Verse is almost verbatim the same as Verse 2.62. Please therefore refer the study notes thereunder.

5.70
70. Laqad akhathna meethaqa banee isra-eela waarsalna ilayhim rusulan kullama jaahum rasoolun bima la tahwa anfusuhum fareeqan kaththaboo wafareeqan yaqtuloona

70. We did take the Covenant of the Children of Israel30 and We sent to them Messengers. Whenever a Messenger came to them with what their hearts did not like, he was either contradicted or killed.

30. Please see Verses 2.63, 2.83 and 2.84 to know what the Covenant was about.

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5.71
71. Wahasiboo alla takoona fitnatun faAAamoo wasammoo thumma taba Allahu AAalayhim thumma AAamoo wasammoo katheerun minhum waAllahu baseerun bima yaAAmaloona

71. And they thought that there would be no retribution, so they became blind and deaf. Then Allah forgave them, and thereafter too, many of them became blind and deaf. And Allah is watchful over what they do.

5.72
72. Laqad kafara allatheena qaloo inna Allaha huwa almaseehu ibnu maryama waqala almaseehu ya banee isra-eela oAAbudoo Allaha rabbee warabbakum innahu man yushrik biAllahi faqad harrama Allahu AAalayhi aljannata wama/wahu alnnaru wama lilththalimeena min ansarin

72. They did certainly suppress the Truth, who said, "The Messiah, son of Mary, is indeed Allah." And the Messiah said, "O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever indeed associates others with Allah in his worship, then Allah has forbidden to him the Garden31, and his abode is the Fire. And there shall be none to help the unjust.

31. It's a tragic paradox that the very Prophet who thus strongly advocated against association of anyone with Allah, himself got associated with Allah by his own so-called followers, the Christians! They are blissfully unaware that the Garden is forbidden to them in terms of what their own Prophet said. And they think that their Jesus has already given them their passports to Paradise!

5.73
73. Laqad kafara allatheena qaloo inna Allaha thalithu thalathatin wama min ilahin illa ilahun wahidun wa-in lam yantahoo AAamma yaqooloona layamassanna allatheena kafaroo minhum AAathabun aleemun

73. They did certainly suppress the Truth, who said, "The third of the Trinity, is indeed Allah." And there is none worthy of worship but the One Allah, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful punishment shall afflict those among them who suppress the Truth.

5.74
74. Afala yatooboona ila Allahi wayastaghfiroonahu waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun

74. Will they not then turn to Allah in repentance and ask for His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

5.75
75. Ma almaseehu ibnu maryama illa rasoolun qad khalat min qablihi alrrusulu waommuhu siddeeqatun kana ya/kulani alttaAAama onthur kayfa nubayyinu lahumu al-ayati thumma onthur anna yu/fakoona

75. The Messiah, son of Mary, was but a Messenger. Messengers did come and pass away before him. And his mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food. See how We make the Verses/signs clear to them. Then see how they are turned away.

5.76
76. Qul ataAAbudoona min dooni Allahi ma la yamliku lakum darran wala nafAAan waAllahu huwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu

76. Say, "Do you worship, besides Allah, that which is incapable of inflicting any harm on you, or conferring any benefit? And Allah - He is the One listening, knowing.

5.77
77. Qul ya ahla alkitabi la taghloo fee deenikum ghayra alhaqqi wala tattabiAAoo ahwaa qawmin qad dalloo min qablu waadalloo katheeran wadalloo AAan sawa-i alssabeeli

77. Say, "O people of the Book! Commit no unjust excesses in your religion, and follow not the vain desires of people who went astray before, and who led many astray and went astray from the Right Path."32

32. At the time of revelation of the Qur'aan, this divine directive was addressed to the Jews and the Christians. But now, it is eaually applicable to the Muslims. They too are the people of the Book and they too are committing unjust excesses in their religion, as do the Christians and the Jews. Through the ahaadeeth and through the "learned" books of the fuqaha they have unjustly made additions to and subtractions from their Religion, and have thus polluted the pristine purity, clarity and beauty of Qur'aanic Islam.

5.78
78. LuAAina allatheena kafaroo min banee isra-eela AAala lisani dawooda waAAeesa ibni maryama thalika bima AAasaw wakanoo yaAAtadoona

78. Cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary, were those who suppressed the Truth from among the Children of Israel. That was because they disobeyed and were transgressors.

5.79
79. Kanoo la yatanahawna AAan munkarin faAAaloohu labi/sa ma kanoo yafAAaloona

79. They were not forbidding one another from the forbidden things they did. What they did was certainly bad.33

33. This Verse, just as the preceding Verse, is about the Jews. But it is applicable to most Muslims of the present age also. They too do things that are forbidden in the Qur'aan. And they are not forbidding one another from doing those forbidden things. And, I am afraid, the next two Verses too are applicable to many a Muslim today!

5.80
80. Tara katheeran minhum yatawallawna allatheena kafaroo labi/sa ma qaddamat lahum anfusuhum an sakhita Allahu AAalayhim wafee alAAathabi hum khalidoona

80. You see many of them being close to those who suppress the Truth. What their sensual selves have sent ahead for them is certainly so bad that Allah is displeased with them. And in punishment shall they abide.

5.81
81. Walaw kanoo yu/minoona biAllahi waalnnabiyyi wama onzila ilayhi ma ittakhathoohum awliyaa walakinna katheeran minhum fasiqoona

81. And had they believed in Allah, in the prophet and in what is sent down to him, they would not have taken them for close friends. But most of them are transgressors.

5.82
82. Latajidanna ashadda alnnasi AAadawatan lillatheena amanoo alyahooda waallatheena ashrakoo walatajidanna aqrabahum mawaddatan lillatheena amanoo allatheena qaloo inna nasara thalika bi-anna minhum qisseeseena waruhbanan waannahum la yastakbiroona

82. You will certainly find the Jews and the polytheists to be the most bitter people in hostility towards those who believe. And you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe, to be those who say, "We are Christians." That is because there are priests and monks among them who do not behave proudly.

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