5.Surah maida

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَوْلاَ يَنْهَاهُمُ الرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالأَحْبَارُ عَن قَوْلِهِمُ الإِثْمَ وَأَكْلِهِمُ السُّحْتَ ...

5: 63. Why do not the Rabbis and the doctors of laws forbid them from their (habit of) uttering sinful words and eating things forbidden?

... لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾

Evil indeed are their works.

وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ يَدُ اللّهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ ...

5: 64. The Jews say: "Allah's hand is tied up."

C772. Cf. 5:12. and 2:245, for a "beautiful loan to Allah",

and 3:181, for the blasphemous taunt, "Then Allah is poor!" It is another form of the taunt to say, "Then Allah's hands are tied up. He is close-fisted. He does not give!"

This blasphemy is repudiated. On the contrary, boundless is Allah's bounty, and He gives, as it were, with both hands outstretched,-a figure of speech for unbounded liberality.

... غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْ ...

Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter.

... بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاء ...

Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth.

... وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا...

But the revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy.

C773. Their jealousy-because Al-Mustafa is chosen for Allah's Message-is so great that it only confirms and strengthens their rebellion and blasphemy.

... وَأَلْقَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ...

Amongst them We have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment.

C774. Cf. 5:14. where the eternal warring of the Christian sects, among themselves and against the Jews, is referred to.

The reference is to the whole of the People of the Book, Jews and Christians-their internal squabbles and their external disputes, quarrels, and wars.

... كُلَّمَا أَوْقَدُواْ نَارًا لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللّهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا...

Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth.

C775. The argument of the whole verse may be thus stated.

The Jews blaspheme and mock, and because of their jealousy, the more they are taught, the more obstinate they become in their rebellion.

But what good will it do to them?

Their selfishness and spite sow quarrels among themselves, which will not be healed till the Day of Judgment.

When they stir up wars, especially against the innocent. Allah's Mercy is poured down like a flood of water to extinguish them. But their wickedness continues to devise ever new mischief.

And Allah loves not mischief or those who do mischief.

... وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٦٤﴾

And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.

Others version :

5: 63

Asad Why do not their men of God and their rabbis [note 80] forbid them to make sinful assertions and to swallow all that is evil? Vile indeed is what they contrive!

Pickthall Why do not the rabbis and the priests forbid their evil speaking and their devouring of illicit gain? Verily evil is their handiwork.

Transliteration Lau la_ yanha_humur rabba_niyyu_na wal ahba_ru 'an qaulihimul isma wa aklihimus suht(a), labi'sa ma_ ka_nu_ yasna'u_n(a).

[[ Ali’s notes - 770 For apes see Q. ii. 65. For men possessed by devils, and the devils being sent into swine, see Matt. viii. 28-32. (5.60)

771 Eating of things forbidden: may be construed in a literal or a figurative sense. From its juxtaposition with sin and hatred, it is better to construe it in a figurative sense, as referring to their fraudulent misappropriations of other people's property or trust property. "Eating" is used in v. 66 below in the general sense of enjoyment and happiness. (5.62) ]]

5: 64

Asad ………………But all that has been bestowed from on high upon you [O Prophet] by your Sustainer is bound to make many of them yet more stubborn in their overweening arrogance and in their denial of the truth. And so We have case enmity and hatred among the followers of the Bible [note 82], [to last] until Resurrection Day; every time

Pickthall The Jews say: Allah's hand is fettered. Their hands are fettered and they are accursed for saying so. Nay, but both His hands are spread out wide in bounty. He bestoweth as He will. That which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them, and We have cast among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection. As often as they light a fire for war, Allah extinguisheth it. Their effort is for corruption in the land, and Allah loveth not corrupters.

Transliteration Wa qa_latil yahu_du yadulla_hi maglu_lah(tun), gullat aidihim wa lu'inu_ bima_ qa_lu_, bal yada_hu mabsu_tata_n(i), yunfiqu kaifa yasya_'(u), walayazidanna kasiram minhum ma_ unzila ilaika mir rabbika tugya_naw wa kufra_(n), wa alqaina_ bainahumul 'ada_wata wal bagda_'a ila_ yaumil qiya_mah(ti), kullama_ auqadu_ na_ral lil harbi atfa'ahalla_h(u), wa yas'auna fil ardi fasa_da_(n), walla_hu la_ yuhibbul mufsidin(a).

[[ Ali’s notes - 772 Cf. v. 12. and ii. 245, for a "beautiful loan to Allah", and iii. 181, for the blasphemous taunt, "Then Allah is poor!" It is another form of the taunt to say, "Then Allah's hands are tied up. He is close-fisted. He does not give!" This blasphemy is repudiated. On the contrary, boundless is Allah's bounty, and He gives, as it were, with both hands outstretched,-a figure of speech for unbounded liberality. (5.64)

773 Their jealousy-because Al-Mustafa is chosen for Allah's Message-is so great that it only confirms and strengthens their rebellion and blasphemy. (5.64)]]

[[ Asad’s note 82 – Lit., “among them”, The personal pronoun refers to the hypocritical followers of the Bible – both the Jews and the Christians – spoken of in verses 57 -63 [Tabari];………..]]

[[ Ruby’s note – I completely disagree with Asad’s note 82 and his translation of indicating the followers of the Bible. Because from among of those people also came who helped, cooperated and even converted to Islam. Those People of the Book who did not convert but remain friendly and respectful would not be subject to this category. The descriptions of the people are clearly laid down in the verse as those whose heart has excessive hatred and envy to reject God’s revelation to the Prophet because he was not one among them. See other verses regarding these categories of people among the People of the Book as well among the Pagans. Their rejection is due to the envy that the revelation came to Mohammad and not among one of their own people. ]]