Surah Al An'aam Notes (152-154)

 (152)And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you testify, be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allah fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember.

(153)And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.

(154)Then We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord they would believe.

(6:152) Ten Commandments continued from ayah 151...

6) The Prohibition of Consuming the Orphan's Property

Those who were guardians of orphans separated their food from the orphans' food and their drink from their drink. When any of that food or drink remained, they used to keep it for the orphan until he or she ate it or it spoiled. This became difficult for the companions and they talked about it to the Messenger of Allah , and Allah sent down the Ayah,
(And they ask you about orphans. Say: "The best thing is to work honestly in their property, and if you mix your affairs with theirs, then they are your brothers.") ﴿2:220

7) The Command to Give Full Measure and Full Weight with Justice

[...and give full measure and full weight with justice...] is a command to establish justice while giving and taking. Allah has also warned against abandoning this commandment.

The word bil-qist [بِالْقِسْطِ] translated as “justice” applies to a transaction in which the giver does not decrease anything from what is due to be received by the other party and the receiver does not take anything more than what is due to come to him from the giver. 
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala has warned about those abandoning this commandment in Surah Mutaffifeen. He said, “Woe to those who give less [than due], Who when they take a measure from people, take in full. But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss. Do they not think that they will be resurrected?” Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala destroyed an entire nation that was accustomed to giving less in weights and measures. They were the people of Sh`uaib `alayhi salaam.

8) The Order for Just Testimony

Every word that we utter whether of praise or advice should be measured. When we are called for witness or to give a judgment nothing should stop us from saying what is right, true and just – no friendship and love, no enmity and hostility. Sometimes when there is a person that we like we keep on sprinkling words of praise about them. On the other hand, when there is someone who we don’t like we exaggerate in their case, and even talk about traits that are not present in them.

9) Fulfill the Covenant of Allah

The ninth command is to fulfill the covenant of Allah and avoid breaking the solemn pledge given. The covenant of Allah could mean the pledge that was taken from every human being at the beginning of life when all human beings were asked: Alastu biRabbikum “Am I not your Lord?” All of us said: Bala meaning there is no doubt that You are our Rabb. This pledge demands that we do not disobey any command given by Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala.

(6:153)
10) The Command to Follow Allah's Straight Path and to Avoid All Other Paths.

“This is Allah’s path, leading straight.” He then drew lines to the right and left of that line and said, “These are the other paths, on each path there is a devil who calls it.” He then recited this Ayah.

Ibn Jareer recorded that a man asked Ibn Mas`oud, “What is As-Sirat Al-Mustaqeem (the straight path)?” Ibn Mas`pud replied, “Muhammad left us at its lower end and its other end is in Paradise. To the right of this Path are other paths, and to the left of it are other paths, and there are men (on these paths) calling those who pass by them. Whoever goes on the other paths will end up in the Fire. Whoever takes the Straight Path, will end up in Paradise.”

“so follow it, and follow not (other) ways…” describes Allah’s path in the singular sense, because truth is one. Allah describes the other paths in the plural, because they are many and are divided.

There is one path that the Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam showed us. That is the path of Allah. And there are many other ways that will deviate a person from the way of Allah.

The sign of being on the correct path is that a person implements the commands of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala.

(6:154) Praising the Tawrah and the Qur'an

We read previously that the commandments mentioned in Ayaat 151 – 153 are the same that were given to Musa `alayhi salaam. The Children of Israel had just come out of slavery of Pharoah

Then Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala called Prophet Musa for an appointment of forty nights at Mount Sinai. Here, He provided him with the Ten Commandments that were essential for realizing their purpose and getting a meaningful direction in life. Later on, Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala sent down the Scripture to provide detailed explanation of all religious matters. It was complete and comprehensive.

This is denoted by the word tamama [تَمَامًا] which is derived from the wordtamaam meaning entire. Here, in the Ayah the word denotes the meaning of “complete”.

And why was Prophet Musa favored with this? Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala says, “…making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good…” As a reward for Musa `alayhi salaam’s doing good and obeying Allah’s commands and orders. This teaches us an important lesson that when one accepts what he has been given by Allah [no matter how much he dislikes it], Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala rewards him with more and better.

The Ten Commandments were the basic principles of the religion, when he accepted them he was given more and it completed the favor of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala.

Here we learn four characteristics of the Torah: (1) tamama it is complete (2)tafseelan explained everything that required an explanation (in the religion) (3)hudan guidance and (4) rahmatan mercy.

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala ends the Ayah by saying, “…that perhaps in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord they wouldbelieve.”

Lessons:

The ten commandments listed in these Ayaat [151 – 153] are:

(1) Not to associate anyone with Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala in belief, deed, worship or obedience;
(2) to be kind to one’s parents;
(3) to not kill children because of poverty;
(4) to stay away from immorality and shameful acts;
(5) to not kill someone unjustly whether a Muslim or non-Muslim;
(6) to not eat up the orphan’s property by false means;
(7) to weigh or measure in full;
(8) to be just in witness, judgment or speech;
(9) to fulfill the covenant of Allah; and
(10) to follow the straight path of Allah and not follow other ways right and left.