Ramadhan Day 6 - Quran, Chapter 6

Surah 4, An-Nisa (The Women), Verses 148-176 & Surah 5, Al-Maaida (The Table), Verses 1-76

Chapter 6 sees the conclusion of Surah An-Nisa with the last 3 sections.

Surah 4, An-Nisa (The Women)

Section 22: Violation of the covenant by the Jews, verses 153-162

"And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain. But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise. There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them." (Verses 157-159)

The Holy Quran disproves the idea the Prophet Isa was crucified, instead by the miracle of Allah it was made to appear that way. Allah raised him unto himself. Isa was ruhullah (spirit of Allah), therefore, he was not forsaken. The Quran also goes on to reject the idea of the Holy Trinity as believed by the Christians in Verse 171. The Jews will ultimately believe in Isa and the Christians will recognise his true position when he will come down from heaven to assist and support the 12th Holy Imam as a Muslim, and pray salat behind him. Islam will be the religion of the whole world. Then Isa will die and the Muslims will offer his funeral prayer.

Sections 23 & 24: The Quran testified in previous scriptures & The apostleship of Isa, Law of inheritance, verses 163-176

"Lo! We inspire thee as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms; And messengers We have mentioned unto thee before and messengers We have not mentioned unto thee." (Verses 163-164)

"O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender." (Verse 171 - see section 22, above)

"O mankind! Now hath a proof from your Lord come unto you, and We have sent down unto you a clear light; As for those who believe in Allah, and hold fast unto Him, them He will cause to enter into His mercy and grace, and will guide them unto Him by a straight road." (Verses 173-174)

The Quran clearly states that all the infallible Prophets and the messengers of Allah were the bearers of glad tidings and warners in order that there be no plea for mankind against Allah after these messengers had come to them with His commandments and guidance. Although the essence and origin of all revelations were similar, yet, as some of the Prophets have been exalted over others, the final message, the Quran, revealed to the last and the most superior messenger of Allah, the Holy Prophet, is complete and perfect in all dimensions and in its scope and application. 

Several of the prophets are mentioned by name in the Quran while others are not. All the messengers of Allah gave the glad tidings of the advent of the Holy Prophet.

The clear light refers to Prophet Muhammed (SAWW) and with that Surah an-Nisa comes to a close. Next is Surah al-Maaida - The Table. Revealed at Madina, it has 120 verses split into 16 sections. Chapter 6 covers the first 11 sections.

Surah 5, Al-Maaida (The Table)

Section 1: General discipline, verses 1-5

"Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swineflesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols. And (forbidden is it) that ye swear by the divining arrows. This is an abomination. This day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear Me! This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Verse 3)

Verse 3 has always been a source of confusion for me. Hidden in the verse, after discussing what food is halal and forbidden, comes a vital line (in bold) that was revealed after the sermon at Ghadeer Khum, where the Holy Prophet  announced Imam Ali (as) as his successor to the Muslim ummah. Before the sermon, verse 67 of this Surah was revealed to the Prophet, followed by this line in verse 3. I have to admit to being confused as to why the two verses were placed in such an order when the Quran was compiled, during the Prophet's life, especially as verses 4-5 continue to discuss what meat can and cannot be eaten. Perhaps someone more learned would be able to provide an opinion in the comments?

Section 2: Special cleanliness for prayer, equity enjoined, verses 6-11

"O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash you faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean, purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Allah would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks." (Verse 6)

"Remember Allah's grace upon you and His covenant by which He bound you when ye said: We hear and we obey; And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! He knoweth what is in the breasts (of men)." (Verse 7)

Verse 6 outlines the acts of wudhu and tayammum before performing prayer. The importance of cleanliness and purity before prayer is greatly stressed in this verse with clear descriptions of what can un-purify you. However, thanks to Allah's mercy, even without water it is possible to purify oneself with just dry, clean earth.

Verse 7 continues from verse 3, Allah is reminding the Muslim ummah of the promise (covenant) they made at Ghadir Khum to follow Imam Ali (as) and of course he is all-aware of what their true intentions were.

Section 3: Covenants with the Jews and the Christians, verses 12-19

"Allah made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel and We raised among them twelve chieftains, and Allah said: Lo! I am with you. If ye establish worship and pay the poor-due, and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend unto Allah a kindly loan, surely I shall remit your sins, and surely I shall bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow. Whoso among you disbelieveth after this will go astray from a plain road. And because of their breaking their covenant, We have cursed them and made hard their hearts. They change words from their context and forget a part of that whereof they were admonished. Thou wilt not cease to discover treachery from all save a few of them. But bear with them and pardon them. Lo! Allah loveth the kindly." (Verses 12-13)

"They indeed have disbelieved who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say: Who then can do aught against Allah, if He had willed to destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother and everyone on earth? Allah's is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He createth what He will. And Allah is Able to do all things." (Verse 17)

"The Jews and Christians say: We are sons of Allah and His loved ones. Say: Why then doth He chastise you for your sins? Nay, ye are but mortals of His creating. He forgiveth whom He will, and chastiseth whom He will. Allah's is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and unto Him is the journeying." (Verse 18)

Verse 12 highlights the 12 leaders of the Children of Israel, named in the Bible in the Book of Numbers 1:15. If righteousness is adopted and put in practice Allah absolves man of his sins, but whosoever deviates, after coming into the fold of the religion of Allah, shall go astray into the camp of Shaitan. Allah curses the people who break their pledge. Verse 13, although revealed about the Jews can equally act as a warning to the Muslims at Ghadir Khum.

Verse 17 once again highlights the absurdity of the Christian belief of Jesus as "Son of God," Allah asks what can anyone do if he decides to "destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother and everyone on earth?" Absolutely nothing. Verse 18 then criticises the Christian concept of atonement, that Jesus died for mankinds sins, "He forgiveth whom He will, and chastiseth whom He will."

Sections 4 & 5: The Israelites breaking the covenant & Jews warned against their wicked plots, verses 20-34

"For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but afterwards lo! many of them became prodigals in the earth." (Verse 32)

"The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom; Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Verses 33-34)

Verses 20-26 discuss the refusal of the Jews to follow Prophet Musa's commands to enter the holy land. They were afraid of what resided there and didn't have faith in God. As punishment, Allah banished them to wander for 40 years.

Verses 27-31 discusses the story of Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain), sons of Prophet Adam and the first murder/death in mankind. Qabil killed his brother out of rage and jealousy when Allah accepted Habil's gift over his own. After the murder, Qabil didn't know what to do with the corpse. A raven was sent down from Allah and showed him how to bury the dead body. Qabil (in verse 31) is sorry for his ignorance but not for the murder which leads to verse 32, where the murder of an individual is compared to the killing of all mankind.

Those who wage war against Allah and His prophet, kill the believers and plunder their property shall be disgraced in this world, and for them is a dreadful doom in the hereafter.

Section 6: Penal regulation against offenders, verses 35-43

"O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty to Allah, and seek the way of approach unto Him, and strive in His way in order that ye may succeed. As for those who disbelieve, lo! if all that is in the earth were theirs, and as much again therewith, to ransom them from the doom on the Day of Resurrection, it would not be accepted from them. Theirs will be a painful doom. They will wish to come forth from the Fire, but they will not come forth from it. Theirs will be a lasting doom." (Verses 35-37)

"O Messenger! Let not them grieve thee who vie one with another in the race to disbelief, of such as say with their mouths: "We believe," but their hearts believe not..." (Verse 41)

Allah selected and appointed his representatives to convey his message and laws to people and administer their affairs in every age. The Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt are the only means of approach to Allah.

Verse 41 starts by discussing the Jews who were the hypocrites at the time of the Holy Prophet. They would make life difficult for the Holy Prophet as much as possible.

Section 7: Relation of Quran to the previous scriptures, verses 44-50

"Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah's Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers." (Verse 44)

"And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil)." (Verse 46)

"So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that Allah's Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! many of mankind are evil-livers." (Verse 49)

Verse 44 confirms the original Torah as the word of Allah. Verse 46 goes on to confirm that the original Gospel revealed by Prophet Isa confirmed the Torah. But both were altered by the Jews and Christians to suit their own desires. Verse 49 then highlights how the Jews would often turn to the Holy Prophet for adjudication in their affairs but would then flout his authority if it was against their interest.

Section 8: The relation of the Muslims with their opponents, verses 51-56

"O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk." (Verse 51)

"O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. Your guardian can be only Allah; and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poordue, and bow down (in prayer)." (Verses 55-56)

You can understand why verse 51 is perhaps considered alarming by the Muslim-haters today. It openly declares Jews and Christians as enemies but it is referring to the Jews and Christians at the time of the Holy Prophet who constantly caused trouble and strife for the Messenger.

Verses 55-56 refer to Imam Ali (as) and describes some of his numerous qualities. He was the king of the battlefield in all the wars fought during his life and never cowered or ran from the enemies. Verse 56 refers to the incident when Imam Ali (as) gave his ring to a beggar whilst in ruku during prayer.

Section 9: Mockers, verses 57-66

"O Ye who believe! Choose not for guardians such of those who received the Scripture before you, and of the disbelievers, as make a jest and sport of your religion. But keep your duty to Allah if ye are true believers." (Verse 57)

"Shall I tell thee of a worse (case) than theirs for retribution with Allah? (Worse is the case of him) whom Allah hath cursed, him on whom His wrath hath fallen and of whose sort Allah hath turned some to apes and swine, and who serveth idols. Such are in worse plight and further astray from the plain road." (Verse 60)

"If they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them there are people who are moderate, but many of them are of evil conduct." (Verse 66)

Verses 57-62 discuss the Jews who used to mock the Holy Prophet and the Muslims. Allah clearly describes what will happen to some of the mockers on the Day of Judgement, "Allah hath turned some to apes and swine." The Jews availed every opportunity to kindle the fire of war against the Muslims, but on all occasions it was extinguished by Allah either by raising feuds and quarrels among themselves, or by granting victory to the Muslims.

Section 10: The Christian deviation from the truth, verses 67-77

"O Messenger! Make known that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if thou do it not, thou wilt not have conveyed His message. Allah will protect thee from mankind. Lo! Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk." (Verse 67)

"Say O People of the Scripture! Ye have naught (of guidance) till ye observe the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto you from your Lord. That which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them. But grieve not for the disbelieving folk." (Verse 68)

"They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers." (Verse 72)

"The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away!" (Verse 75)

Verse 67 is arguably one of the most important verses in the Holy Quran. Whilst returning from what would be his final Hajj in 10 AH, the Holy Prophet and his camp of thousands of Muslims (some say as much as a hundred thousand) made a halt at Ghadir Khum. He received the above verse upon which he mounted a tall pulpit and delivered a sermon ending with the announcement of Imam Ali (as) as his successor. Following that, the line in verse 3 was revealed to him.

If the Jews and Christians actually followed the original Torah and Gospel as mentioned in verse 68, then they would have no choice but to follow the Holy Prophet as both books mention his arrival in the future (as mentioned in Chapter 1). The fact that many didn't was due to their own desires and hypocritical nature.

After Prophet Isa declares in verse 72 that he isn't the "Son of God," Allah clarifies (verse 75) that he was a normal mortal born of a mortal woman, both needed food for sustenance. He cannot be God.

Section 11: Christian nearness to Islam, verses 78-86

"Those of the Children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress." (Verse 78)

"When they listen to that which hath been revealed unto the messengers, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of their recognition of the Truth. They say: Our Lord, we believe. Inscribe us as among the witnesses." (Verse 83)

Verses 83-86 were revealed when the Holy Prophet sent a group of Muslims lead by his cousin Jafar bin Abu Talib (brother of Imam Ali (as)) to Abyssinia (modern day Ethiopia). The enemies of Quraysh sent a tribe to Abyssinia to address the Christian ruler, King Negus and warn him of the Muslims who had moved to his land. They tried to claim that the Muslims belittled Bibi Maryam and Prophet Isa. When Jafar was invited to address the King and answer these allegations, he recited verses from Surah Maryam relating the miracle of Prophet Isa's birth and life which brought the King to tears. He banished the Qurayshi tribe and soon became a Muslim himself.

With that story, Chapter 6 closes. Inshallah tomorrow will see the conclusion of Surah 5 and then move on to Surah 6.

Thanks for reading.