Surah Al-Maidah

In continuation of the instructions about the consolidation of the Islamic Community given in Surah an-Nisa’, the Muslims have been directed to observe and fulfil all their obligations: further regulations have been prescribed to train the Muslims for that purpose.

They have also been particularly warned as rulers to guard against the corruption of power and directed to observe the covenant of the Qur’an. They have also been exhorted to learn lessons from the failings of their predecessors, the Jews and the Christians, who in their turn have been admonished to give up their wrong attitudes towards the right way and accept the guidance taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

1. This Surah starts with the command to fulfil the covenants which not only encompass covenants between people, but also covenants between Allah and His servants.
2. The Surah then draws many analogies from the history of the People of the Book who did not honour their covenants with Allah.
3. Believers are requested to study the consequences of such deviations and avoid falling into the same mistakes as previous nations. It is for the central theme of this chapter that it is also given the name Surah al’Uqud (Covenants).
4. The Surah emphasizes that making Allah’s revelation the basis of all judgments is the true meaning of Islam, and what Allah has pronounced as lawful or unlawful is the true meaning of religion.
5. The Surah emphasizes Allah’s oneness and repudiating all forms of polytheism, trinity and association of partners with Allah or equals to Him.
6. The Surah includes a host of legislative rulings on a wide variety of subjects, such as which animals are lawful to eat when slaughtered or hunted; what is permissible or restricted during the period of consecration, or ihram, in pilgrimage and in the Sacred Mosque at the Ka’bah.
7. The Surah also discusses what is permissible or forbidden in marriage; purification for worship and prayer; judgment and the administration of justice; mandatory punishment for theft and rebellion against a lawful Islamic government; wines and intoxicants, gambling, idols and divining arrows; atonement for breached oaths and hunting.

Topics

1. Commandments and instructions about the religious, cultural and political life of the Muslims i.e., rulings regarding Hajj; the observance of strict respect for the sacred sites; and the prohibition of any kind of obstruction or interference with the pilgrims to the Ka’bah. Definite rules and regulations have been laid down for what is lawful and unlawful in the matter of food. Permission has been given to eat the food of the People of the Book (the Jews and the Christians) and to marry their women. Rules and regulations for the performance of ablution (wudu), purification and ablution with dust (tayammum) have been prescribed. Punishment for rebellion, disturbance of peace and theft have been specified. Drinking and gambling have been made absolutely unlawful. Expiation for the breaking of oaths has been laid down and the law of evidence expanded.
2. Admonition to the Muslims. Now that the Muslims had become a ruling body it was feared that power might corrupt them. At this period of great trial, Allah had admonished them over and over again to stick to justice and to guard against the wrong behaviour of their predecessors the People of the Book. They have been enjoined to remain steadfast to the Covenant of obedience to Allah and His Messenger and to observe strictly their commands and prohibitions. This is in order to save themselves from the evil consequences which befell the Jews and the Christians who had violated them. They have been instructed to observe the commandments within the Qur’an in regards to their worldly affairs and warned against hypocrisy.
3. Admonition to the Jews and the Christians. As the power of the Jews had been totally weakened and almost all their habitations in north Arabia had come under the rule of the Muslims, they have been warned again about their wrong attitude and invited to follow the right way. At the same time a detailed invitation has also been extended to the Christians. The errors of their creeds have been clearly pointed out and they have been admonished to accept the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ. Incidentally it may be noted that no direct invitation has been made to the Fire-Worshippers (Majoos) and idolaters living in the adjoining countries, because there was no need for a separate address for them as their condition had already been covered by the addresses to the polytheist Arabs.

In continuation, the Muslims have been directed to observe and fulfil all their obligations. They have also been particularly warned as rulers to guard against the corruption of power and directed to observe the Covenant of the Qur’an. They have also been exhorted to learn lessons from the failings of their predecessors (the Jews and the Christians).