Do Not Do Excess
5. Surah al-Maidah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مِنْ
أَجْلِ
ذَلِكَ
كَتَبْنَا عَلَى
بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
...
5: 32. On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel
... أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا...
that if anyone slew a person -- unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land -- it would be as if he slew the whole people:
C737. The story of Cain is referred to in a few graphic details in order to tell the story of Israel.
Israel rebelled against Allah, slew and insulted righteous men who did them no harm but on the contrary came in all humility.
When Allah withdrew His favour from Israel because of its sins and bestowed it on brother nation, the jealousy of Israel plunged it deeper into sin.
To kill or seek to kill an individual because he represents an ideal is to kill all who uphold the ideal. On the other hand, to save an individual life in the same circumstances is to save a whole community.
What could be stronger condemnation of individual assassination and revenge?
... وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا...
and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.
... وَلَقَدْ جَاء تْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالبَيِّنَاتِ ...
Then although there came to them Our Messengers with clear Signs,
... ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي الأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾
yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.
Asad’s Version:
5: 32
Asad Because of this did We ordained unto the children of Israel that if anyone slays a human being unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spread slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as through he had saved the lives of all mankind [note 40]……..many of them go on committing all manner of excesses on earth.
Pickthall 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 be 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.
Transliteration Min ajli za_lika katabna_ 'ala_ bani isra_'ila annahu_ man qatala nafsam bi gairi nafsin au fasa_din fil ardi fa ka'annama_ qatalan na_sa jami'a_(n), wa man ahya_ha_ fa ka'annama_ ahyan na_sa jami'a_(n), wa laqad ja_'athum rusuluna_ bil bayyina_ti summa inna kasiram minhum ba'da za_lika fil ardi lamusrifu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s Notes - 734 The innocent unselfish pleading of the younger brother had no effect, for the soul of the other was full of pride, selfishness and jealousy. He committed the murder, but in doing so, ruined his own self. (5.30)
735 Sau-at may mean "corpse", with a suggestion of nakedness and shame in two senses: (1) the sense of being exposed without burial, and (2) the sense of being insulted by being violently deprived by the unwarranted murder, of the soul which inhabited it,- the soul, too, of a brother. (5.31)
736 The thought at last came home to the murderer. It was dreadful indeed to slay any one-the more so as he was a brother, and an innocent righteous brother! But worse still, the murderer had not even the decency to bury the corpse, and of this simple duty he was reminded by a raven-a black bird usually held in contempt! His regret was on that account. That was no true repentance. (5.31)
737 The story of Cain is referred to in a few graphic details in order to tell the story of Israel. Israel rebelled against Allah, slew and insulted righteous men who did them no harm but on the contrary came in all humility. When Allah withdrew His favor from Israel because of its sins and bestowed it on brother nation, the jealousy of Israel plunged it deeper into sin. To kill or seek to kill an individual because he represents an ideal is to kill all who upold the ideal. On the other hand, to save an individual life in the same circumstances is to save a whole community. What could be stronger condemnation of individual assassination and revenge? (5.32) ]]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ لاَ
تُحَرِّمُواْ
طَيِّبَاتِ
مَا أَحَلَّ
اللّهُ
لَكُمْ وَلاَ
تَعْتَدُواْ...
5: 87. O ye who believe!
make not unlawful the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you,
but commit no excess:
C791. In pleasures that are good and lawful the crime is excess. There is no merit merely in abstention or asceticism, though the humility or unselfishness that may go with asceticism may have its value.
In 5:82, Christian monks are praised for particular virtues, though here and elsewhere monasticism is disapproved of.
Use Allah's gifts of all kinds with gratitude, but excess is not approved of by Allah.
... إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
for Allah loveth not those given to excess.
وَكُلُواْ
مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ
اللّهُ حَلاَلاً
طَيِّبًا...
5: 88. Eat of the things which Allah hath provided for you, lawful and good:
... وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِيَ أَنتُم بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾
but fear Allah, in Whom ye believe.
5: 87
Asad O you who have attained to faith! Do Not derive yourselves of the good things of life which God has made lawful to you [note 100], but do not transgress the bounds of what is right: verily, God does not love those who transgress the bounds of what is right.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Forbid not the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you, and transgress not. Lo! Allah loveth not transgressors.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ la_ tuharrimu_ tayyiba_ti ma_ ahallalla_hu lakum wa la_ ta'tadu_, innalla_ha la_ yuhibbul mu'tadin(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 791 In pleasures that are good and lawful the crime is excess. There is no merit merely in abstention or asceticism, though the humility or unselfishness that may go with asceticism may have its value. In v. 82, Christian monks are praised for particular virtues, though here and elsewhere monasticism is disapproved of. Use Allah's gifts of all kinds with gratitude, but excess is not approved of by Allah. (5.87) ]]
[[ Asad’s note 100 – Most of the commentators ……….explain the expression ‘la tuharrimu (lit., “do not forbid” or “do not declare as forbidden”) in the sense given by me above, and take it to refer to the self-mortification practiced, in particular, by Christians priests and monks……………]]
[[ Ruby’s note – I disagree with the above explanation. There are good references about the piety about the Christian monks as well [see 5:82]. However, this could be true about the doctrine of celibacy and other austerity the monks practice that is in excess. Islam commands to celebrate life within the boundary set by moral law of God. Conjugal life and other enjoyments are all part of that celebration of life that is God gifted to humankind. No one should short change life on the beautiful things God has provided a human to enjoy. This is the trust of the meaning I understood and it is general. There is no specific implication towards the Christian monks here because the context is confirming that as well.]]
5: 88
Pickthall Eat of that which Allah hath bestowed on you as food lawful and good, and keep your duty to Allah in Whom ye are believers.
Transliteration Wa kulu_ mimma_ razaqakumulla_hu hala_lan tayyiba_(w), wattaqulla_hal lazi antum bihi mu'minu_n(a).
7. Surah al-Raf
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
بَنِي
آدَمَ
...
7: 31. O children of Adam!
... خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ وَلاَ تُسْرِفُواْ...
wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink:
but waste not by excess,
C1013. Beautiful apparel: zinat: adornments or apparel for beautiful living:
construed to mean not only clothes that add grace to the wearer, but toilet and cleanliness, attention to hair, and other small personal details which no self-respecting man or woman ought to neglect when going solemnly even before a great human dignitary, if only out of respect for the dignity of the occasion. How much more important it is to attend to these details when we solemnly apply our minds to the Presence of Allah.
But the caution against excess applies: men must not go to prayer in silks or ornaments appropriate to women. Similarly sober food, good and wholesome, is not to be divorced from offices of religion; only the caution against excess applies strictly. A dirty, unkempt, slovenly Faqir could not claim sanctity in Islam. (R).
...إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ ﴿٣١﴾
for Allah loveth not the wasters.
Others version:
7: 31
Asad O children of Adam! Beautify yourselves [note23] for every act of worship, and eat and drink [freely], but do not waste: verily, He does not love the wasteful!
Pickthall O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals.
Transliteration Ya_ bani a_dama khuzu_ zinatakum 'inda kulli masjidiw wa kulu_ wasyrabu_ wa la_ tusrifu_, innahu_ la_ yuhibbul musrifin(a).