Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 83–89

5. Al-Maaida · The Table

Madinan120 verses

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰٓ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ

5:83When they hear what has been revealed to the Apostle, you see their eyes fill with tears because of the truth that they recognize. They say, ‘Our Lord, we believe; so write us down among the witnesses.1

وَمَا لَنَا لَا نُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

5:84Why should we not believe in Allah and the truth that has come to us, eager as we are that our Lord should admit us among the righteous people?’

فَأَثَٰبَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا۟ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

5:85So, for what they said, Allah requited them with gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them [forever], and that is the reward of the virtuous.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

5:86But those who are faithless and deny Our signs—they shall be the inmates of hell.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحَرِّمُوا۟ طَيِّبَٰتِ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ

5:87O you who have faith! Do not prohibit the good things that Allah has made lawful to you, and do not transgress. Indeed Allah does not like the transgressors.2

وَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَٰلًۭا طَيِّبًۭا ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنتُم بِهِۦ مُؤْمِنُونَ

5:88Eat the lawful and good things Allah has provided you, and be wary of Allah in whom you have faith.

لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلْأَيْمَٰنَ ۖ فَكَفَّٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَٰكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّٰرَةُ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ۚ وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

5:89Allah shall not take you to task for what is frivolous in your oaths; but He shall take you to task for what you pledge in earnest. The atonement for it is to feed ten needy persons with the average food you give to your families, or their clothing, or the freeing of a slave. He who cannot afford [any of these] shall fast for three days. That is the atonement for your oaths when you vow. But keep your oaths. Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may give thanks.*

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 83

1.In the early period of Islam, the infidels saw their interests in danger and started oppressing the Muslims. So the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) ordered the Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia and appointed Ja’far at-Tayyar as their leader. This migration was an escape from trouble and on the other hand it was the best support of propagation of Islam and it was not possible without assembling. Ja’far-e-Tayyar took protection in Abyssinia and infidels sent Amr Aas etc. to bring them back. They presented gifts to the ruler and asked him to send them back. The ruler questioned Ja’far at-Tayyar, who said: We are not their slaves or debtors. We have not killed anyone and fled here. We have come to take shelter from their tyranny. Our fault is that we believe in the last Prophet (s.a.) and his message. Hearing this the ruler of Abyssinia was surprised that this message is exactly like the message of Is a (a.s.). He then requested him to recite the Holy Quran. Ja’far-e-Tayyar (a.s.) recited the verses of Surah Maryam. Tears came to his eyes and he slapped Amr Aas and drove them out. The Muslims stayed there for a long time peacefully and with satisfaction. This was the victory of Ja’far (a.s.). When he returned at the time of Khyber, Holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s.) said: On what should I express my happiness more, for the victory of Khyber or for the return of Ja’far (a.s.)? And the fact is that, this occasion was very delightful when the soul of Abu Talib (a.s.) was enraptured that two conquerors of Islam were together again. One of his sons has subdued Jewish war front and another had conquered the Christian front. One showed his bravery by his physical strength and the other showed the power of speech. One expressed the grandeur of Quran and the other expressed the dignity of the Progeny of the Prophet (s.a.). One lowered the courage of infidels and the other increased the dignity of Islam, and all this happened exactly according to their expectation and desires.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    This verse is revealed for Negus and his people.

  2. 2

    This concerns the people who had adopted the way of renunciation and made the permissible things prohibited for themselves. Allah did not like their attitude and chastised them that they should not prohibit what He had permitted. Neither should they exceed the limits in what is allowed, that it should become haraam, which is the way of many unfamiliar and selfish people.

  3. *

    3, This ‘Fee’ is in the meaning of ‘Min’-from. Muakhaza means the worldly penalty and expiation etc. Aqd-e-Imaan means those vows and oaths that are taken with true intention. Expiation (Kaffarah) is the action that veils the sins and remove its apparent effects. Hifz-e-Imaan is to act according to the vow and to keep it safe from non-fulfillment. According to some people the word Awsat means moderation, while others think that it means high. Awsat and Aala is used in reference to grades and Awsat also the elements of time and place must be kept in mind.