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Al-Ma’idah (The Table)
Name
This Sarah takes its' name from verse
112 in which the word mai'dah occurs. Like the names of many other surahs,
this name has no special relation to the subject of the Surah but has
been used merely as a symbol to distinguish it from other surahs.
Period of Revelation
The theme of this Surah indicates, and traditions support it,
that it was revealed after the treaty of Hudaibiyah at the end of 6 A.
H. or in the beginning of 7 A. H. That is why it deals with those problems
that arose from this treaty. The Holy Prophet with 1400 Muslims went to
Makkah in Zil-Qaadah 6 A. H. to perform `Umrah, but the Quraish spurred
by their enmity, prevented him from its performance, though it was utterly
against all the ancient religious traditions of Arabia. After a good deal
of hard and harsh negotiations, a treaty was concluded at Hudaibiyah according
to which it was agreed that he could perform `Umrah the following year.
That was a very appropriate occasion for teaching the Muslims the right
way of performing a pilgrimage to Makkah with the true Islamic dignity,
and enjoining that they should not prevent the disbelievers from performing
pilgrimage to Makkah as a retaliation for their misbehavior. This was
not difficult at all as many disbelievers had to pass through Muslim territory
on their way to Makkah. This is why the introductory verses deal with
the things connected with pilgrimage to Makkah and the same theme has
been resumed in vv. 101-104. The other topics of this Surah also appear
to belong to the same period.
The continuity of the subject shows that most probably the whole of the
surah was revealed as a single discourse at one and the same time. It
is also possible that some of its verses were revealed at a later period
and inserted in this Surah at different places where they fitted in. But
there appears to be not the least gap anywhere in the surah to show that
it might have comprised two or more discourses.
Occasion of Revelation
This Surah was revealed to suit the requirements of the changed conditions
which were now different from those prevailing at the time of the revelation
of Al-i-'Imran and An- Nisa. Then the shock of the set-back at Uhd had
made the very surroundings of Al-Madinah dangerous for the Muslims, but
now Islam had become an invulnerable power and the Islamic State had extended
to Najd on the east, to the Red Sea on the west, to Syria on the north
and to Makkah on the south. This set-back which the Muslims had suffered
at Uhd had not broken their determination. It had rather spurred them
to action. As a result of their continuous struggle and unparalleled sacrifices,
the power of. the surrounding clans, within a radius of 200 miles or so,
had been broken. The Jewish menace which was always threatening Al-Madinah
had been totally removed and the Jews in the other parts of Hijaz had-become
tributaries of the State of Al-Madinah. The last effort of the Quraish
to suppress Islam had been thwarted in the Battle of the Ditch. After
this, it had become quite obvious to the Arabs that no power could suppress
the Islamic movement. Now Islam was not merely a creed which ruled over
the minds and hearts of the people but had also become a State which dominated
over every aspect of the life of the people who lived within its boundaries.
This had enabled the Muslims to live their lives without let or hindrance,
in accordance with their beliefs.
Another development had also taken place during this period. The Muslim
civilization had developed in accordance with the principles of Islam
and the Islamic viewpoint. This civilization was quite distinct from all
other civilizations in all its' details, and distinguished the Muslims
clearly from the non Muslims in their moral, social and cultural behavior.
Mosques had been built in all territories, prayer had been established
and' Imam (leader) for every habitation and clan had been appointed. The
Islamic civil and criminal laws had been formulated in detail and were
being enforced through the Islamic courts. New and reformed ways of trade
and commerce had taken the place of the old ones. The Islamic laws of
marriage and divorce, of the segregation of the sexes, of the punishment
for adultery and calumny and the like had cast the social life of the
Muslims in a special mould. Their social behavior, their conversation,
their dress, their very mode of living, their culture etc., had taken
a definite shape of its own. As a result of all these changes, the non-Muslims
could not expect that the Muslims would ever return to their former fold.
Before the treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Muslims were so engaged in their
struggle with the non-Muslim Quraish that they got no time to propagate
their message. This hindrance was removed by what was apparently a defeat
but in reality a victory at Hudaibiyah. This gave the Muslims not only
peace in their own territory but also respite to spread their message
in the surrounding territories. Accordingly the Holy Prophet addressed
letters to the rulers of Iran, Egypt and the Roman Empire and the chiefs
of Arabia, inviting them to Islam. At the same time the missionaries of
Islam spread among the clans and tribes and invited them to accept the
Divine Way of Allah. These were the circumstances at the time when Al-Ma'idah
was revealed.
Topics
It deals with the following three main topics:
- Commandments and instructions about the religious, cultural and political
life of the Muslims. In this connection, a code of ceremonial rules
concerning the journey for Haj has been prescribed; the observance of
strict respect for the emblems of Allah has been enjoined; and any kind
of obstruction or interference with the pilgrims to the Kaabah has been
prohibited. Definite rules and regulations have been laid down for what
is lawful and unlawful in the matter of food, and self-imposed foolish
restrictions of the pre-Islamic age have been abolished. Permission
has been given to. take food with the people of the Book and to marry
their women. Rules and regulations for the performance of Wudu (ablutions)
and bath and purification and tayammum (ablutions with dust) have been
prescribed. Punishment for rebellion, disturbance of peace and theft
have been specified. Drinking and gambling have absolutely been made
unlawful. Expiation for the breaking of oath has been laid down and
a few more things have been added to the law of evidence.
- 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 behavior 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 in order to save them- selves
from the evil consequences which. befell the Jews and the Christians
who had violated them. They have been instructed to observe the dictates
of the Holy Quran in the conduct of all their affairs and warned against
the attitude of hypocrisy.
- 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 Holy Prophet.
. Incidentally, it may be noted that no direct invitation has been made
to the Majusis 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 mushrik Arabs.
Subject:Consolidation of the Islamic Community
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 fulfill 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 Quran. 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 (God's peace be upon him).
Topics and their Interconnection
The Believers have been exhorted to fulfill scrupulously all of their
obligations and follow the regulations prescribed by the Divine Law about
food, sex, Salat, justice, etc. 1 - 10
The Muslims have been warned to guard against the errors of their predecessors;
they should follow the Right Path and avoid the bad example of the Jews
and the Christians, who broke their Covenants and went astray into evil
ways. They, in their turn, have been admonished to give up their wrong
ways and accept Islam. 11 - 26
The story of the two sons of Adam has been related to reproach the Jews
for their plot to kill the Holy Prophet and his Companions. (v. 11 & E.N.
30). The story has also been used to emphasize the sanctity of human life.
27 - 32
To achieve this object, punishments have been prescribed for those who
create chaos in the Islamic State, and the Believers have been urged to
exert their utmost to establish the Right Way; the sanctity of property
has also been emphasized.
33 - 40
The Holy Prophet (and through him the Muslims) has been reassured that
he should not mind the enmity, the evil designs and the machinations of
the Jews, but continue exerting his utmost to establish the Right Way
in accordance with the Guidance of the Quran; for nothing better could
be expected from those who had forsaken their own Torah. He should deal
with the Christians likewise, for they, too, had forsaken their Gospel.
41 - 50
In view of the degenerate moral condition of the Jews and the Christians,
the Believers have been warned not to make them their friends and confidants.
Likewise they should be on their guard against the evil designs of the
hypocrites, the disbelievers and the like and should rely on the true
Believers alone. The people of the Book have, in their turn been exhorted
to give up their enmity and adopt the right attitude, for they cannot
get salvation without this. 51 - 69
The theme of the corruptions of the Jews and Christians has been resumed.
The Christians especially have been reproved for their errors in regard
to the doctrine of Tauhid. At the same time they have been preferred to
the hard hearted Jews, for there are among them some who are more inclined
towards the Truth. 70 - 86
In this portion of the Surah, further regulations about the lawful and
the un-lawful, in addition to those contained in vv. 1 - 10, have been
given. 87 - 108
At the end of the Surah, the mention of the conversation that will take
place between Allah and His Prophets on the Day of Judgment, has been
made for the benefit of the erring people to serve as a corrective to
their creeds. The conversation with Prophet Christ has been cited as a
specimen to warn particularly the Christians, who profess to believe in
him, and generally all those people who put false hopes in their Prophets,
etc. 109 - 119
Conclusion: "O man-kind! The Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth
belongs to Allah: therefore you should become His true servants and fear
Him, for He has full powers over everything." 120
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