Al-Ma’idah - سورة المائدة
Introduction of Sura
Names:
It is called Surat Al-Ma'idah:
(1)
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: "I went for Hajj and I visited 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said to me: 'O Jubayr, do you recite Al-Ma'idah?' I said: 'Yes.' She said: 'It was the last surah to be revealed.'
(2)
Virtues and characteristics
One of the characteristics of this surah is that it was one of the last parts of the Quran to be revealed.
(3)
It was narrated that Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The last surah to be revealed was Al-Ma'idah."
(4)
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr that 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to him: "O Jubayr, do you recite Al-Ma'idah?' He said: 'Yes.' She said: 'It was the last surah to be revealed.'"
(5)
Another of its characteristics is that it is the surah which mentions more rulings of sharia than any other surah; it mentions details about what is permitted, what is prohibited and what is obligatory that are not mentioned elsewhere.
(6)
It is the first surah according to the order of surahs in the Mus-haf that begins with the words "O you who believe" and is the surah in which these words are repeated most often. Surat Al-Ma'idah addresses the believers with this call sixteen times.
(7)
This surah contains the verse: "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My blessing upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (Al-Maidah 5:3)
It was narrated that Tariq ibn Shihab said: "A Jewish man came to 'Umar and said: 'O Amir Al-Mu'minin, there is a verse in your Book which you recite; if it had been revealed to us Jews, we would have taken that day as a festival. He said: 'Which verse?' He said: 'This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My blessing upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.' (Al-Maidah 5:3) 'Umar said: 'I know the day on which it was revealed, and the place in which it was revealed. It was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in 'Arafat, on a Friday."
(8)
Makki or Madani?
Surat Al-Ma'idah is Madani, and a number of commentators narrated that there was consensus regarding that.
(9)
Objectives
The most important objectives of Surat Al-Ma'idah include:
1- Emphasis on upholding and fulfilling promises and covenants, and a warning against breaking them.
(10)
2- Highlighting many matters of creed ('aqidah), the most significant of which include loyalty towards the believers and disavowal of the disbelievers (Al-wala' wal-bara'), and ruling in accordance with what Allah has revealed.
3- Highlighting many juristic rulings.
(11)
4- Setting out guidelines on relationships between Muslims and others.
(12)
Topics:
The most significant topics addressed in Surat Al-Ma'idah include:
1- Explanation of correct creed, focusing on issues of Tawhid, correcting many false beliefs, and reminding of the Day of Resurrection.
2- Affirming that ruling and judgement are for Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, alone, and that there is no rule or judgement better than His; highlighting the obligation to rule in accordance with what Allah has revealed; abolishing the rule of Jahiliyyah and exposing its ugliness.
3- Highlighting the importance of belief in loyalty towards the believers and disavowal of the disbelievers (Al-wala' wal-bara'); emphasizing the importance of taking the believers as allies whilst sternly warning against taking the disbelievers as allies; and highlighting the fact that those in whose hearts is a disease are those who hasten to become allies of the disbelievers.
4- Guidelines on Muslims' relations with others, especially the Jews and Christians.
5- Stating and explaining many Islamic rulings, including: Islamic rulings having to do with acts of worship and interactions with others, such as rulings on covenants and contracts, slaughter of animals for food, hunting, ihram, marrying Christian or Jewish women, and apostasy; rulings on purification; the hadd punishment for stealing, the hadd punishment for rebelling against the state and spreading mischief in the land; the prohibition on alcohol and gambling; expiation for breaking an oath (kaffarat yamin); the prohibition on killing game animals when in ihram; making bequests at the time of death; and so on.
6- Some stories, including the story of the Children of Israel with Musa (peace be upon him), the story of the two sons of Adam, and the story of the table spread with food.
7- Highlighting the attitude and behaviour of the People of the Book, their breaking of the covenants, and their distorting of the revealed Books; discussing some of their false beliefs, such as attributing a son to Allah, their rejection of the message of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and other false beliefs of theirs.