Surah Al Ma'ida Notes (82-86)

(5:82) The reason behind revealing these Ayah

Said bin Jubayr, As Suddi and others said that these ayah were revealed concerning a delegation that An-Najashi (King of Ethiopia) sent to the Prophet in order to hear his words and observe his qualities. When the delegation met with the Prophet and he recited the Quran to them, they embraced Islam, cried and were humbled, Then they returned to An- Najashi and told him what happened. Ata bin Abi Rabah commented, "They were Ethiopians who embraced Islam when the Muslims who migrated to Ethiopia resided among them. Qatadah said, "They were some followers of the religion of Isa, the son of Maryam, who when they saw Muslims and heard the Quran, they became Muslims without hesitation.

(...Verily you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers...) This describes the Jews, since their disbelief is that of rebellion, defiance, opposing the truth, belittling other people and degrading the scholars. This is why the Jews - may Allah's continued curse descend on them until the day of Resurrection - killed many of their Prophets and tried to kill the Messenger of Allah several times, as well as performing magic spells against him and poisoning him. They also incited their likes among the polytheists against the Prophet.

(and you will find the nearest in love to the believers those who say: "We are Christians".) refers to those who call themselves Christians, who follow the religion of Messiah and the teachings of Injil. These people are generally more tolerant of Islam and it's people, because of the mercy and kindness that their hearts acquired through part of the Messiah's religion.

The Priests and Monks among them are not proud, which describes them with knowledge, worship and humbleness, along with following the truth and fairness.

(5:83) [And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized.] This refers to the good news that they have about the advent of Muhammad.

(5:84) [And why should we not believe in Allah and in that which has come to us of the truth and we wish that our Lord will admit us in paradise along with other righteous people.]

(5:85) Allah rewards them for embracing the faith, recognizing and believing the truth.

(5:86) [ But those who disbelieved and belied Our Ayah, they shall be the dwellers of the Hell. 

Surah Al Ma'ida Notes (78-81)

Allah cursed the disbelievers among the Children of Israel

(5:78 & 79) Allah states that He has cursed the disbelievers among the Children of Israel long ago, and revealed this fact to His Prophets Dawud and Isa, son of Maryam. He cursed them because they disobeyed Allah and transgressed against his creatures. Al Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said, "They were cursed in the Tawrah, The Injil, The Zabur and The Furqan. Allah then states that during their time, their habit was that, they did not forbid each other from committing sins and the prohibitions.
Allah admonished them for this behavior, so that their behavior would not be imitated.

Hadiths that order enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil

• Hudhayfah bin Al Yaman said that the Prophet said, "By He in whose hands is my soul! You will enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, or Allah will send a punishment on you from Him. Then, you will supplicate to Him, but he will not accept your supplication. - Imam Ahmad

• Messenger of Allah said, " He among you who witnesses an evil, let him change it with his hand, If he cannot do that, then by his tongue, If he cannot do even that, then with his heart and this is the weakest faith. - Muslim

• The Prophet said, "When sin is committed on the earth, then whoever witnesses it and hates: forbids it, will be like those who did not witness it. Whoever was absent from it and agreed with it will be like those who witness it. - Abu Dawud

• Messenger of Allah gave a speech once and said, "Behold! Fear of people should not prevent one from saying the truth if he knows it. - Ibn Majah

Censuring the Hypocrites

(5:80) Hypocrites gave their loyalty and support to the disbelievers, instead of believers. This evil act caused them to have hypocrisy in their hearts and brought them anger of Allah, that will remain with them until the day of return.

(5:81) Had they sincerely believed in Allah, His Messenger, and the Quran, they would not have committed the evil act of supporting the disbelievers in secret and being enemies with those who believe in Allah, the Prophet and what was revealed to him.

Surah Al Ma'ida Notes (70-77)

Attitude of Jews towards Rasools.

(5:70 & 71) Allah reminds that He took the covenant and pledges from the Children of Israel to hear and obey Him and His Messenger. They broke these pledges and covenants and followed their lusts and desires instead of the law, and whichever part of the law they agreed with, they took it. Otherwise they abandoned it, if it did not conform to their desires. They thought that they will not suffer any consequences for the evil they committed. Consequently, they were blinded from truth and became deaf, incapable of hearing the truth. For these reasons they were unable to be guided by it.

The disbelief of Christians; Isa only called to Tawhid.

(5:72) Allah states that the Christians such sects as Monarchite, Jacobite and Nestorite are disbelievers, those among them who say that 'Isa is Allah'. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to him. They made this claim in spite of the fact that Isa made it known that he was the servant of Allah and His Messenger. The first words that Isa uttered when he was still a baby in the cradle were "I am Abdullah ( the servant of Allah)." He did not say "I am Allah", or "I am the Son of Allah."

(5:73) Mujahid and several other said that this ayah was revealed about the Christians in particular. As Suddi and several others said that this ayah was revealed about taking Isa and his mother as Gods besides Allah, thus making Allah the third in a trinity.

(5:74) This demonstrates Allah's generosity, kindness and mercy for His creatures, even though they committed this grave sin and invented such a lie and false allegation. Despite all of this, Allah calls them to repent so that he will forgive them, for Allah forgives those who sincerely repent to Him.

Isa is Allah's servant and his mother is a truthful Believer.

(5:75) Isa is just like previous Prophets, and he is one of the servants of Allah and one of His honorable Messengers.
(...wa ummahu siddiqah...) meaning Isa's mother was a Siddiqah. She believed in Allah with complete trust in Him.This is the highest rank she was given, which proves that she was not a Prophet. Allah said next, (...they both used to eat food...) needing nourishment and to relieve the call of nature. Therefore they just servants like other servants, not gods as ignorant Christian sects claim, may Allah's continued curses cover them until the Day of Resurrection. Even after giving such a clear evidence still they are misguided.

The prohibition of Shirk and Exaggeration in the Religion

(5:76 & 77)  Allah states that how can they worship someone who cannot prevent harm from them or bring any benefit to them. How do they worship inanimate objects that do not hear, see or know anything.
Do not exceed the limits concerning the truth and exaggeration in praising whom you are commanded to honor. Here, they they elevated Isa from the rank of Prophet to the rank of God.

Surah Al Ma'ida Notes (67-69)

(5:67)  Commanding the Prophet to convey the Message; Promising him Immunity and Protection.

Allah addresses His servant and Messenger Muhammad by the title 'Messenger' and commands him to convey all that he has sent him, a command that the Prophet has fulfilled in the best manner. Al Bukhari recorded that ' Aisha (ra) said, " whoever says to you that Muhammad hid any part of what Allah revealed to him, then he is uttering a lie.

(5:68 & 69)  There is no Salvation except through Faith in Quran.

(...and the sabians...) a sect from the Christians and Magians who did not follow any particular religion. As for the Christians, they are known and were entrusted with the Injil. he meaning here is that if each of these groups believed in Allah and the Hereafter, and performed good actions, which to be so, must conform to Muhammad's Law, after Muhammad was sent to all mankind and the Jinns. If any of these groups held these beliefs, then they shall have no fear of what will come or sadness regarding what they lost, nor will grief ever affect them.

Surah Al Ma'ida Notes (64-66)

(5:64) The Jews say that Allah's Hand is tied up!

Allah states that the Jews, may Allah's continuous curse descend on them until the Day of Resurrection, describe Him as a miser. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him.

Allah's Hands are widely Outstretched.

Allah's favors are ample, His bounty unlimited, as He owns the treasure of everything. Any good that reaches His servant is from Him alone, without partners. He has created everything that we need by night or by day, while travelling or at home and in all situations and conditions.

The Revelation to the Muslims only adds to the transgression and disbelief of the Jews.

The more the revelation increases the believers in faith, good works, and beneficial knowledge, the more the disbelievers increase in envy for you and your Ummah, the more they increase in Tughyan - which is to exceed the ordained limit for things - and in disbelief - meaning denial of you.

Therefore their hearts are never united. Rather, their various groups and sects will always have enmity and hatred for each other, because they do not agree on the truth.

(...every time they kindled the fire of war, Allah extinguished it...) means, every time they try to plot against you and kindle the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it and makes their plot turn against them.

It is their habit to always strive to cause mischief on earth, and Allah does not like those with such behaviour.

Had the People of the Book adhered to their Book, they would have acquired the Good of this life and the Hereafter.

(5:65) Had the People of the Book believed in Allah and His Messenger and avoided the sins and prohibitions that they committed, Allah would have removed the dangers from them and granted them their objectives.

(5:66) Had they adhered to the Books that they have with them which they inherited from their Prophets, without altering or changing these Books, these would have directed them to follow the truth and implement the revelation that Allah sent Muhammed with. These Books testify to the Prophet's truth and command that he must be followed.

Surah Al Ma'ida Notes (55-63)

Your protecting friends are: Allah, His Rasool, and your fellow believers.

(5:55) Only Allah, His Messengers, and those who believe and who establish prayer, pay Zakah and bow before Allah are your friends.

(5:56) All those who take Allah and His Messenger and those who believe as their allies, should remember that the party of Allah will be victorious.

The prohibition of being loyal friends with the disbelievers.

(5:57) This Ayah discourages and forbids taking the enemies of Islam and its people, such as the People of the Book and the polytheists, as friends. These disbelievers mock the most important acts that any person could ever perform, the honorable, pure acts of Islam which include all types of good for this life and the Hereafter. They mock such acts and make them the subject of jest and play, because this is what these acts represent in their misguided minds and cold hearts.

(5:58)  Making fun and mockery when the call to prayer is announced, is similar to the characteristics of the Shaytan. When the call for prayer is made, Shaytan takes to his heels passing wind so that he may not hear the Adhan. When the call is finished he comes back and tries to interfere with the person who is praying saying "Remember this and that" which he had not thought of before the prayer, until the praying person forgets how much he has prayed. If anyone of you does not remember, then he should perform two prostrations before pronouncing the Salam.

The people of the Book are enraged at the believers because of their faith in Allah.

(5:59) The only reason why the people of the Book hate the believers is, that they believe in Allah and His Messengers even that which came before.

(5:60) The Messenger was asked by Allah to remind the Jews how Allah had cursed and incurred wrath and some of whom were changed into apes and swine, and who served the false deities. This happened when they broke the covenant of Sabbath and how the faces of many were distorted.

(5:61) The hypocrites pretend to be Believers but hide their Kufr. 

(5:62)They hurry to devour prohibited and illegal things, all the while transgressing against the people, unjustly consuming their property through bribes and Ribah.

(5:63) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Yahya bin Ya`mar said, " `Ali bin Abi Talib once gave a speech, which he started by praising Allah and thanking Him. He then said, `O people! Those who were before you were destroyed because they committed sins and the Rabbaniyyun and Ahbar did not forbid them from evil. When they persisted in sin, they were overcome by punishment. Therefore, enjoin righteousness and forbid evil before what they suffered also strikes you. Know that enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil does not reduce the provision or shorten the term of life.''

Surah Al Ma'ida notes (47-50)

Notes (47-50)

(5:47) Allah mentions Isa and praises The Injil.
Injil was sent through Isa, son of Maryam confirming the Torah.
Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed they are termed as:
1) Kufr - act of rejecting Commandments of Allah.
2) Zulm - Committing injustice
3) Fisq - when he enforces either his law or anyone else's law in disregard of law of his Lord.


(5:48) Praising the Quran. The command to refer to the Quran for judgement.

Why Quran is called "Muhaimin of the Books"?
1) Quran preserves all the true teachings of the earlier divine Books.
2) Quran is a witness over all the previous Books.

📖 Whatever in the previous Books is in accordance with Quran is from Allah and is true, and whatever is not in conformity with Quran is from human beings.
✅Always judge between people by what Allah has revealed.

🔸Do not get carried away by desires.
🔸All people in this world are not same.
🔸People around us are a way of test from Allah.
🔸Our focus should be only on doing good deeds.
🔸Do not interfere in others matters.
🔸If you don't get along well with someone, then take extra care in dealing with them.
🔸Do not give importance to unwanted things.
🔸Always rush towards doing good deeds.
🔸Always remember that our return is towards Allah.

(5:49) - Do not diverge from the truth that Allah has ordained for you, to the vain desires of these miserable, ignorant people.
✒Shari'ah - Law (a clear way).
Shariah- What to do? (Quran)
Minhaj - How to do? (Sunnah)

(5:50) - Allah criticises those who ignore Allah's commandments. During the time of Jahiliya,  the people used to abide by the misguidance and ignorance that they invented by sheer opinion and lust.

Surah Al Ma'ida notes (51-54) - R

Do not take Jews or Christians as your protectors.

(5:51) Allah forbids his believing servants from having Jews and Christians as friends, because they are the enemies of Islam and its people, may Allah them. Allah then states that they are friends of each other and He gives a warning threat to those who do this.

(5:52) Those people in whose heart was a disease of doubt, hesitation and hypocrisy always wanted to be on safer side. And so the hypocrites, apparently an integral part of the Muslim body, sought to maintain good relations with Jews and the Christians as well. They expected refuge and protection from Jews in case Islam was defeated.

(5:53) However much they might profess to follow Islam - by observing Fasts, by paying Zakah, by taking part in wars in cause of Allah - all was reduced to nothing because they had not devoted themselves to the service of One true God. In pursuit of their worldly ambitions they had split their souls into two, distributing half to Allah and half to those in rebellion against Him.

(5:54) Allah emphasizes His mighty ability and states that whoever reverts from supporting His religion and establishing his Law, then Allah will replace them with whomever is better, mightier and more righteous in Allah's religion and Law.

What are the qualities of the people whom Allah will love and they will love Allah?

• Humble towards believers (gentle, merciful, sympathetic and mild tempered)
• Stern towards disbelievers ( strict adherence to his principles, his strength of character, a man should be firm as a rock in his dealings with the opponents of Islam)
• Fighting in the way of Allah
• Never fearing the blame of those who blame. 

" Nothing prevents them from obeying Allah, establishing his Laws, fighting His enemies, enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil. Certainly, nothing prevents them from taking this path, neither someone who seeks to hinder them, nor one who blames or chastises them."

Imam Ahmed recorded that Abu Dharr said,

 " My Khalil (intimate friend, the Messenger) has commanded me to do seven deeds.

• He commanded me to love the poor and be close to them.
• He commanded me to look at those who are less than me and not those who are above me.
• He commanded me to keep the relations of the womb, even if they cut it.
• He commanded me not to ask anyone for anything.
• To say the truth even if it was bitter, and
• To not fear the blame of anyone for the sake of Allah
• He commanded me to often repeat, La hawla wala quwatta illa billah.

Surah Ma’ida Tafseer Notes

Virtues Of Surah Al Ma'ida

 
Al Hakim narrated that Jubair bin Nufayr said, "I performed Haj once and visited Ayesha (RA) and she said to me, O Jubair! Do you read (or memorize) Surah Al Ma'ida, "I answered 'yes'. She said it was the last surah to be revealed. Therefore whatever permissible matter you find in it, then consider them permissible. And whatever impermissible matter you find in it, then consider them impermissible.

{5:1} Ibn Hatim recorded that a man came to Abdullah bin Mas'ud and said to him, "advice me". He said, when you hear Allah's statement – 'Ya ayyuhal lazeena aamanu' then pay full attention, for it is a righteous matterthat he is ordainingor an evil that he is forbidding. ' aufu bil uqood – fulfil your contracts' means what Allah permitted, prohibited,ordained and set limits for quran. (Beasts of cattle – Camels, Cows and Sheep).