Not Judging by Revelation

5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا ...

5: 45. We ordained therein for them:

C754. The retaliation is prescribed in three places in the Pentateuch, viz,. Exod. 21:23-25: Leviticus 24:18-21, and Deut, 19:21.

The wording in the three quotations is different, but in none of them is found the additional rider for mercy, as here.

Note that in Matt. 5:38. Jesus quotes the Old Law "eye for eye," etc,, and modifies it in the direction of forgiveness, but the Quranic injunction is more practical.

Even where the injured one forgives, the State or Ruler is competent to take such action as is necessary for the preservation of law and order in Society. For crime has a bearing that goes beyond the interests of the person injured: the Community is affected: see 5:32.

... أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ...

- "Life for life,

- eye for eye,

... وَالأَنفَ بِالأَنفِ وَالأُذُنَ بِالأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ ...

- nose for nose,

- ear for ear,

- tooth for tooth,

- and wounds equal for equal."

... فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ...

But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself.

C755. This is not part of the Mosaic Law, but the teaching of Jesus and of Muhammad.

Notice how the teaching of Jesus is gradually introduced as leading up to the Quran.

... وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ ﴿٤٥﴾

And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) wrongdoers.

C756. The seeming repetitions at the end of verses 44, 45 and 46 are not real repetitions. The significant words in the three cases are:

- Unbelievers,

- wrong-doers, and

- rebellious;

and each fits the context.

- If the Jews tamper with their books they are Unbelievers;

- if they give false judgments, they are wrong-doers.

- If the Christians follow not their light, they are rebellious.

وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آثَارِهِم بِعَيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ ...

5: 46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him:

... وَآتَيْنَاهُ الإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ ...

We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light,

C757. Guidance and light: see n. 750 above.

For the meaning of the Gospel (Injil), see Appendix III, "On the Injil", (printed at the end of this Surah).

... وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾

and confirmation of the Law that had come before him:

a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.

وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فِيهِ ...

5: 47. Let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein.

... وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾

If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.

C758. See n. 756 above.

Asad’s Version:

5: 45 And We ordained for them in that [Torah] : A life for a life, and an eye for an eye, and a nose for a nose, and ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth, and a retribution for wounds; but he who shall forgo it out of charity will atone thereby for some of his past sins. And they who do not judge in accordance with what God has revealed – they, they are the evildoers!

5: 46 And We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in the footsteps of those [earlier prophets] confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah; and We vouchsafed unto him the Gospel, wherein there was guidance and light, confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah, and as a guidance and admonition unto the God-conscious.

5:47 Let, then, the followers of the Gospel judge in accordance with what God

has revealed therein: for they who do not judge in the light of what God has bestowed from on high – it is they, they who are truly iniquitous!