Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 64–68

5. Al-Maaida · The Table

Madinan120 verses

وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ ۚ غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُوا۟ بِمَا قَالُوا۟ ۘ بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَٰنًۭا وَكُفْرًۭا ۚ وَأَلْقَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ كُلَّمَآ أَوْقَدُوا۟ نَارًۭا لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَسَادًۭا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ

5:64The Jews say, ‘Allah’s hand is tied up.’ Tied up be their hands, and cursed be they for what they say! No, His hands are wide open: He bestows as He wishes. Surely many of them will be increased in rebellion and unfaith by what has been sent to you from your Lord, and We have cast enmity and hatred amongst them until the Day of Resurrection. Every time they ignite the flames of war, Allah puts them out. They seek to cause corruption on the earth, and Allah does not like the agents of corruption.4

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَأَدْخَلْنَٰهُمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

5:65Had the People of the Book believed and been Godwary, We would surely have absolved them of their misdeeds and admitted them into gardens of bliss.

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا۟ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم ۚ مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌۭ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌۭ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ سَآءَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ

5:66Had they observed the Torah and the Evangel, and what was sent down to them from their Lord, they would surely have drawn nourishment from above them and from beneath their feet. There is an upright group among them, but evil is what many of them do.1

۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

5:67O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message, and Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed Allah does not guide the faithless lot.

قُلْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۗ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَٰنًۭا وَكُفْرًۭا ۖ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

5:68Say, ‘O People of the Book! You do not stand on anything until you observe the Torah and the Evangel and what was sent down to you from your Lord.’ Surely many of them will be increased in rebellion and unfaith by what has been sent down to you from your Lord. So do not grieve for the faithless lot.23

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 64

1.Apparently one of them had said this but it is the voice of the whole community of Jews. Their intention is that the whole of earth and entire property come into their hands and if they do not obtain, they say that Allah is helpless and stingy. The Holy Quran has clarified and answered that Allah is Ample giving and not stingy. Allah gives it to whom He pleases. He is not helpless in giving and nor is He provoked by anyone and grants them all in fear.

2.This is complete satisfaction for the faithful persons that they would remain firm in faith and not fear the mischiefs of the Jews as Allah is going to send His help.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 4

    ‘Hands’ does not denote physical limbs, that their opening and being tied should have any effect. Even if the hands of a destitute are free he cannot do anything and if the hands of the gracious are tied the grace will continue to Dow from them ]t is a proverb pointing towards miserliness and its opposite, the opening wide of both the hands signifies generosity.

  2. 1

    This ayat is the proof that bounties and calamities are not preordained. It is the character of man which can make this world the centre of bounties or the abode of calamities. And this is also accomplished collectively. The deeds of one or two people cannot change the destiny of a nation. Rather, these too are enveloped in the prevailing discord. Agama Ahkam indicates that change in the living conditions is not affected by one or two good deeds. It depends upon the fulfillment of all the divine commands. Without which this world cannot become a centre of reformation and salvation.

  3. 2

    This indicates that in the view of the Lord of the Universe religion does not depend upon a few utterances and confessions. It is related to the establishment of all the divine commands that are revealed on them and without which no one can be called religious.

  4. 3

    This ayat also proves that mere recitation of Kalema is not sufficient. Till one does not have true faith. And faith alone is also not sufficient till good deeds do not accompany it.

  5. Benefit

    Another mischievous allegation regarding the verse of proclamation is that the command to proclaim itself indicates that it was revealed at the beginning of the mission in Mecca and hence it has no connection with the incident of Ghadeer. But after this ayat the tone of ‘then you have not proclaimed prophethood’ is the proof that the verse of proclamation was revealed after the proclamation of Prophethood and it has no relation to the initial stages of propagation.