Verses 10–13
5. Al-Maaida · The Table
Madinan120 verses
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
5:10As for those who are faithless and deny Our signs, they shall be the inmates of hell.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ هَمَّ قَوْمٌ أَن يَبْسُطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَكَفَّ أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
5:11O you who have faith! Remember Allah’s blessing upon you when a people set out to extend their hands against you, but He withheld their hands from you, and be wary of Allah, and in Allah let all the faithful put their trust.1
۞ وَلَقَدْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنْهُمُ ٱثْنَىْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًۭا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ ۖ لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَيْتُمُ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَءَامَنتُم بِرُسُلِى وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ ۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
5:12Certainly Allah took a pledge from the Children of Israel, and We raised among them twelve chiefs. And Allah said, ‘I am with you! Surely, if you maintain the prayer and give the zakat and have faith in My apostles and support them and lend Allah a good loan, I will surely absolve you of your misdeeds, and I will surely admit you into gardens with streams running in them. But whoever of you disbelieves after that has certainly strayed from the right way.’2
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَٰقَهُمْ لَعَنَّٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَٰسِيَةًۭ ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ ۙ وَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّۭا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآئِنَةٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّنْهُمْ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
5:13Then, because of their breaking their covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard: they pervert words from their meanings, and have forgotten a part of what they were reminded. You will not cease to learn of some of their treachery, excepting a few of them. Yet excuse them and forbear. Indeed Allah loves the virtuous.34
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 12
1.Providence has a system in every age and it has demanded some things from the believers and also given some promises. The Bani Israel were also given the promise of help subject to some conditions: (i) They should keep up prayer. (ii) Pay the poor rate. (iii) Believe in the Prophets. (iv) Assist the Prophets. (v) Give loans to people and help them financially. After implementing these terms Allah promised forgiveness of their sins and promised them Paradise and gardens. But if they do not implement these, Allah will curse them and make them stonehearted. Through this the Muslims have been warned that they should also follow these laws otherwise they will not even see the gardens and will be liable for curse and chastisement.
Verse 13
2.Embezzlement is in the very nature of Jews; in all times and in all ages; wherever they live they remain as frauds and we cannot expect any good from them. Abdullah Bin Salaam and some others came to the straight path. This was only due to the power of Allah and an expression of the reality that good and evil are not natural compulsions. In any case human will has a role in it. Otherwise the Jewish temperament is criminal and faithless and it is continuously observed since the past fourteen centuries.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
- 1
The Almighty Allah has helped the believers in all times and under every circumstances. As mentioned about the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), when he was resting on way to the battle of Ghatfan. The chief of the opposing party intended to attack him with a sword. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) woke up suddenly and the chief asked who could save him at this point. “My Lord’” said the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.). On hearing this prompt reply the sword slipped from the hand of the infidel and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) picked it up quickly. Then he asked, “Now who can save you?” “Your mercy and kindness,” he replied at once and became a Muslim.
- 2
Naqibs are the caretakers of the community. They are the chiefs of their tribe or group etc.
- 3
The Jews have indulged in both types of interpolation. They have changed the words of the divine book and also distorted its meaning.
- 4
This indicates the perpetual presence of cheaters (Khayanat) among the Jews. And the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is aware of all of them. There are only a few exceptions and they are the very less number of people who converted to Islam. And the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is appointed to ignore and overlook about every person.
Benefit
Tawakkul is not idleness. It is complete reliance on Allah after doing ones utmost. And it is also the ultimate aim of piety.