5. Surah Maida
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
مَا
جَعَلَ
اللّهُ
...
5: 103. It was not Allah Who instituted (superstitions like those of)
C809. A number of Arab Pagan superstitions are referred to.
The Pagan mind, not understanding the hidden secrets of nature, attributed certain phenomena to divine anger and were assailed by superstitious fears which haunted their lives.
- If a she-camel or other female domestic animal had a large number of young, she (or one of her offspring) had her car slit and she was dedicated to a god: such an animal was a bahira.
- On return in safety from a journey, or on recovery from an illness a she-camel was similarly dedicated and let loose for free pasture: she was called a saiba.
- Where an animal bore twins, certain sacrifices or dedications were made to idols: an animal so dedicated was a wasila.
- A stallion-camel dedicated to the gods by certain rites was a ham.
The particular examples lead to the general truth: that superstition is due to ignorance, and is degrading to men and dishonouring to Allah.
... مِن بَحِيرَةٍ وَلاَ سَآئِبَةٍ وَلاَ وَصِيلَةٍ وَلاَ حَامٍ...
- a slit-ear she-camel,
- or a she-camel let loose for free pasture,
- or idol sacrifices for twin-births in animals,
- or stallion-camels freed from work;
... وَلَـكِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ الْكَذِبَ...
it is blasphemers who invent a lie against Allah,
... وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾
but most of them lack wisdom.
وَإِذَا
قِيلَ لَهُمْ
تَعَالَوْاْ
إِلَى مَا أَنزَلَ
اللّهُ وَإِلَى
الرَّسُولِ...
5: 104. When it is said to them: "Come to what Allah hath revealed; come to the Messenger":
... قَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا...
they say: "Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following."
C810. Cf. 2:170.
Where a Messenger of Truth comes to teach us the better way, it is foolish to say: "What our ancestors did is good enough for us."
... أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠٤﴾
What! even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?
5: 103
Asad …………….yet those who are bent on denying the truth attribute their own lying inventions to God. And most of them never use their reason:
Pickthall Allah hath not appointed anything in the nature of a Bahirah or a Saibah or a Wasilah or a Hami, but those who disbelieve invent a lie against Allah. Most of them have no sense.
Transliteration Ma_ ja'alalla_hu mim bahiratiw wa la_ sa_'ibatiw wa la_ wasilatiw wa la_ ha_m(iw), wa la_kinnal lazina kafaru_ yaftaru_na 'alalla_hil kazib(a), wa aksaruhum la_ ya'qilu_n(a).
[[ Ali’s note - 809 A number of Arab Pagan superstitions are referred to. The Pagan mind, not understanding the hidden secrets of nature, attributed certain phenomena to divine anger and were assailed by superstitious fears which haunted their lives. If a she-camel or other female domestic animal had a large number of young, she (or one of her offspring) had her car slit and she was dedicated to a god: such an animal was a bahira. On return in safety from a journey, or on recovery from an illness a she-camel was similarly dedicated and let loose for free pasture: she was called a saiba. Where an animal bore twins, certain sacrifices or dedications were made to idols: an animal so dedicated was a wasila. A stallion-camel dedicated to the gods by certain rites was a ham. The particular examples lead to the general truth: that superstition is due to ignorance, and is degrading to men and dishonouring to Allah. (5.103) ]]
5: 104
Asad ………Why, even through their forefathers knew nothing, and were devoid of all guidance?
Pickthall And when it is said unto them: Come unto that which Allah hath revealed and unto the messenger, they say: Enough for us is that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever, and no guidance?
Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahum ta'a_lau ila_ ma_ anzalalla_hu wa ilar rasu_li qa_lu_ hasbuna_ ma_ wajadna_ 'alaihi a_ba_'ana_, awalau ka_na a_ba_'uhum la_ ya'lamu_na syai'aw wala_ yahtadu_n(a).
[[ Ruby’s note - Here the Quran is setting a standard for mindset for all time and for all people. Many a society have gone astray because the people followed ancestors’ false and wrong way of doing things. Also societies progressed because people question the wrong parameters and paradigms set by the predecessors or ancestors. On the other hand there could be much to learn from the experiences and wisdom of the past. However, those cannot be accepted blindly and without using reason and wisdom.
There is no scope for blind following in Islam. Everything must be evaluated and understood through reason, the faculty God has endowed humans with and the ability God has given to each and every human being. There is no blind following of the past people and the scholars, everything must be analyzed, changed and corrected, if needs be. And also more importantly one must be ready to be open for future suggestions and ideas because there my lie the truth. This verse is challenging and condemning the close-mindedness and blind following of people at any time in any society.]]
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6. [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَجَعَلُواْ
لِلّهِ
مِمِّا
ذَرَأَ
مِنَ
الْحَرْثِ
وَالأَنْعَامِ
نَصِيبًا...
6: 136. Out of what Allah hath produced in abundance in tilth and in cattle, they assigned Him a share:
...فَقَالُواْ هَـذَا لِلّهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَهَـذَا لِشُرَكَآئِنَا...
they say, according to their fancies: "This is for Allah, and this for our 'partners'"!
C958. There is scathing sarcasm here, which some of the Commentators have missed.
The Pagans have generally a big Pantheon, though above it they have a vague idea of a Supreme God. But the material benefits go to the godlings, the fancied "partners" of Allah; for they have temples, priests, dedications, etc., while the true and supreme God has only lip-worship, or at best a share with numerous "partners". This was so in Arabia also.
The shares assigned to the "partners", went to the priests and hangers-on of the "partners", who were many and clamorous for their rights. The share assigned to Allah went to the poor, but more probably went to the priests who had the cult of the "partners", for the Supreme God had no separate priests of His own.
It is also said that when heaps were thus laid out, if any portion of Allah's heap fell into the heaps of the "partners", the priests greedily and promptly appropriated it, while in the contrary case, the "partners" priests were careful to reclaim any portion from what they called "Allah's heap".
The absurdity of the whole thing is ridiculed. Allah created everything: how can He have a share?
...فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ فَلاَ يَصِلُ إِلَى اللّهِ...
But the share of their 'partners' reacheth not Allah,
...وَمَا كَانَ لِلّهِ فَهُوَ يَصِلُ إِلَى شُرَكَآئِهِمْ ...
whilst the share of Allah reacheth their 'partners'!
...سَاء مَا يَحْكُمُونَ ﴿١٣٦﴾
Evil (and unjust) is their assignment!
وَكَذَلِكَ
زَيَّنَ
لِكَثِيرٍ
مِّنَ
الْمُشْرِكِينَ
قَتْلَ
أَوْلاَدِهِمْ
شُرَكَآؤُهُمْ...
6: 137. Even so, in the eyes of most of the Pagans, their 'partners' made alluring the slaughter of their children,
C959. The false gods and idols -among many nations, including the Arabs- were supposed to require human sacrifices. Ordinarily such sacrifices are revolting to man, but they are made "alluring" -a sacred rite- by Pagan custom, which falsely arrogates to itself the name of religion.
Such customs, if allowed, would do nothing but destroy the people who practice them, and make their religion but a confused bundle of revolting superstitions.
...لِيُرْدُوهُمْ وَلِيَلْبِسُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمْ ...
in order to lead them to their own destruction, and cause confusion in their religion.
...وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿١٣٧﴾
If Allah had willed, they would not have done so:
but leave alone them and their inventions.
وَقَالُواْ
هَـذِهِ
أَنْعَامٌ
وَحَرْثٌ
حِجْرٌ
لاَّ
يَطْعَمُهَا
إِلاَّ
مَن
نّشَاء
بِزَعْمِهِمْ...
6: 138. And they say that such and such cattle and crops are taboo, and none should eat of them except those whom -- so they say -- We wish;
C960. A taboo of certain foods is sometimes a device of the priesthood to get special things for itself. It has to be enforced by pretending that the prohibition for others is by the Will of Allah.
It is a lie or invention against Allah. Most superstitions are.
...وَأَنْعَامٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا ...
further, there are cattle forbidden to yoke or burden,
C961. Cattle dedicated to heathen gods may be reserved from all useful work; in that case they are a dead loss to the community, and they may, besides, do a great deal of damage to fields and crops.
... وَأَنْعَامٌ لاَّ يَذْكُرُونَ اسْمَ اللّهِ عَلَيْهَا افْتِرَاء عَلَيْهِ...
and cattle on which (at slaughter), the name of Allah is not pronounced;
inventions against Allah's name:
C962. If meat is killed in the name of heathen gods, it would naturally not be killed by the solemn rite in Allah's name, by which alone the killing can be justified for food.
See 698 to 5:4.
...سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿١٣٨﴾
soon will He requite them for their inventions.
وَقَالُواْ
مَا
فِي
بُطُونِ
هَـذِهِ
الأَنْعَامِ
خَالِصَةٌ
لِّذُكُورِنَا
وَمُحَرَّمٌ
عَلَى
أَزْوَاجِنَا...
6: 139. They say:
"What is in the wombs of such and such cattle is specially reserved (for food) for our men, and forbidden to our women;
...وَإِن يَكُن مَّيْتَةً فَهُمْ فِيهِ شُرَكَاء...
but if it is still-born then all have shares therein.
C963. These are further Pagan superstitions about cattle. Some have already been noted in 6:136, which may be consulted with the notes.
...سَيَجْزِيهِمْ وَصْفَهُمْ إِنَّهُ حِكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١٣٩﴾
For their (false) attribution (of superstitions to Allah): He will soon punish them:
for He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge.
قَدْ
خَسِرَ
الَّذِينَ
قَتَلُواْ
أَوْلاَدَهُمْ
سَفَهًا
بِغَيْرِ
عِلْمٍ...
6: 140. Lost are those who slay their children, from folly, without knowledge,
...وَحَرَّمُواْ مَا رَزَقَهُمُ اللّهُ افْتِرَاء عَلَى اللّهِ...
and forbid food which Allah hath provided for them, inventing (lies) against Allah.
...قَدْ ضَلُّواْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٤٠﴾
They have indeed gone astray and heeded no guidance.
ثَمَانِيَةَ
أَزْوَاجٍ
...
6: 143. (Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs:
C968. The superstitions referred to in vi. 139 and v. 106 are further ridiculed in this verse, and the next.
... مِّنَ الضَّأْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ الْمَعْزِ اثْنَيْنِ...
of sheep a pair,
and of goats a pair;
...قُلْ آلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ الأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا اشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ الأُنثَيَيْنِ...
say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose?
...نَبِّؤُونِي بِعِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿١٤٣﴾
Tell me with knowledge if ye are truthful.
وَمِنَ
الإِبْلِ
اثْنَيْنِ
وَمِنَ
الْبَقَرِ
اثْنَيْنِ...
6: 144. Of camels a pair, and of oxen a pair;
...قُلْ آلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ الأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا اشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ الأُنثَيَيْنِ...
say,
hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females,
or the (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose?
...أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَاء إِذْ وَصَّاكُمُ اللّهُ بِهَـذَا...
Were ye present when Allah ordered you such a thing?
...فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللّهِ كَذِبًا لِيُضِلَّ النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ...
But who doth more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead astray men without knowledge?
...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٤٤﴾
For Allah guideth not people who do wrong.
Pickthall’s Version:
6: 136
Pickthall They assign unto Allah, of the crops and cattle which He created, a portion, and they say: "This is Allah's" in their make believe "and this is for (His) partners in regard to us." Thus that which (they assign) unto His partners in them reach not Allah and that which (they assign) unto Allah go to their (so-called) partners. Evil is their ordinance.
Transliteration Wa ja'alu_ lilla_hi mimma_ zara'a minal harsi wal an'a_mi nasiban fa qa_lu_ ha_za_ lilla_hi bi za'mihim wa ha_za_ li syuraka_'ina_, fama_ ka_na li syuraka_'ihim fala_ yasilu ilalla_h(i), wa ma_ ka_na lilla_hi fa huwa yasilu ila_ syuraka_'ihim, sa_'a ma_ yahkumu_n(a).
6: 137
Pickthall Thus have their (so-called) partners (of Allah) made the killing of their children to seem fair unto many of the idolaters, that they may ruin them and make their faith obscure for them. Had Allah willed (it otherwise), they had not done so. So leave them alone with their devices.
Transliteration Wa kaza_lika zayyana li kasirim minal musyrikina qatla aula_dihim syuraka_'uhum liyurdu_hum wa liyalbisu_ 'alaihim dinahum, wa lau sya_'alla_hu ma_ fa'alu_hu fa zarhum wa ma_ yaftaru_n(a).
6: 138
Pickthall And they say: Such cattle and crops are forbidden. No one is to eat of them save whom We will--in their make believe--cattle whose backs are forbidden, cattle over which they mention not the name of Allah. (All that is) a lie against Him. He will repay them for that which they invent.
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ ha_zihi an'a_muw wa harsun hijrul la_ yat'amuha_ illa_ man nasya_'u bi za'mihim wa an'a_mun hurrimat zuhu_ruhu_ wa an'a_mul la_ yazkuru_nasmalla_hi'alaihaftira_'an 'alaih(i), sayajzihim bima_ ka_nu_ yaftaru_n(a).
6: 139
Pickthall And they say: That which is in the bellies of such cattle is reserved for our males and is forbidden to our wives; but if it be born dead, then they (all) may be partakers thereof. He will reward them for their attribution (ordinances unto Him). Lo, He is Wise, Aware.
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ ma_ fi butu_ni ha_zihil an'a_mi kha_lisatul li zuku_rina_ wa muharramun'ala_ azwa_jina_, wa iy yakum maitatan fahum fihi syuraka_'(u), sayajzihim wasfahum, innahu_ hakimun 'alim(un).
6: 140
Pickthall They are losers who besottedly have slain their children without knowledge, and have forbidden that which Allah bestowed upon them, inventing a lie against Allah. They indeed have gone astray and are not guided.
Transliteration Qad khasiral lazina qatalu_ aula_dahum safaham bi gairi 'ilmiw wa harramu_ ma_ razaqahumulla_huftira_'an'alalla_h(i), qad dallu_ wa ma_ ka_nu_ muhtadin(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 958 There is scathing sarcasm here, which some of the Commentators have missed. The Pagans have generally a big Pantheon, though above it they have a vague idea of a Supreme God. But the material benefits go to the godlings, the fancied "partners" of God; for they have temples, priests, dedications, etc., while the true and supreme God has only lip-worship, or at best a share with numerous "partners". This was so in Arabia also. The shares assigned to the "partners", went to the priests and hangers-on of the "partners", who were many and clamorous for their rights. The share assigned to God went to the poor, but more probably went to the priests who had the cult of the "partners", for the Supreme God had no separate priests of His own. It is also said that when heaps were thus laid out, if any portion of God's heap fell into the heaps of the "partners", the priests greedily and promptly appropriated it, while in the contrary case, the "partners" priests were careful to reclaim any portion from what they called "God's heap". The absurdity of the whole thing is ridiculed . God created everything: how can He have a share? (6.136)
959 The false gods and idols -among many nations, including the Arabs -were supposed to require human sacrifices. Ordinarily such sacrifices are revolting to man, but they are made "alluring" -a sacred rite- by Pagan custom, which falsely arrogates to itself the name of religion. Such customs, if allowed, would do nothing but destroy the people who practise them, and make thier religion but a confused bundle of revolting superstitions. (6.137)
960 A taboo of certain foods is sometimes a device of the priesthood to get special things for itself. It has to be enforced by pretending that the prohibition for others is by the Will of God. It is a lie or invention against God. Most superstitions are. (6.138)
961 Cattle dedicated to heathen gods may be reserved from all useful work; in that case they are a dead loss to the community, and they may, besides, do a great deal of damage to fields and crops. (6.138)
962 If meat is killed in the name of heathen gods, it would naturally not be killed by the solemn rite in God's name, by which alone the killing can be justified for food. See n. 698 to v. 5. (6.138)
963 These are further Pagan superstitions about cattle. Some have already been noted in v. 106, which may be consulted with the notes. (6.139) ]]
6: 143
Asad ………….either of the two sexes of sheep and of goats [note 130]“……….Tell me what you know in this respect [note 131], if what you say is true.”
Pickthall Eight pairs: Of the sheep twain, and of the goats twain. Say: Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Expound to me (the case) with knowledge, if ye are truthful.
Transliteration Sama_niyata azwa_j(in), minad da'nisnaini wa minal ma'zisnain(i), qul a_zzakaraini harrama amil unsayaini ammasytamalat 'alaihi arha_mul unsayain(i), nabbi'u_ni bi'ilmin in kuntum sa_diqin(a).
6: 144
Asad ……………..And who could be more wicked than he who, without any [real] knowledge, attributes his own lying inventions to God, and thus leads people astray?” Behold, God does not grace [such] evildoing folk with His guidance.
Pickthall And of the camels twain and of the oxen twain. Say: Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two females contain; or were ye by to witness when Allah commanded you (all) this? Then who doth greater wrong than he who devises a lie concerning Allah, that he may lead mankind astray without knowledge. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
Transliteration Wa minal ibilisnaini wa minal baqarisnain(i), qul a_zzakaraini harrama amil unsayaini ammasytamalat'alaihi arha_mul unsayain(i), am kuntum syuhada_'a iz wassa_kumulla_hu bi ha_za_, faman azlamu mimmaniftara_ 'alalla_hi kazibal liyudillan na_sa bi gairi 'ilm(in), innalla_ha la_ yahdil qaumaz za_limin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 130 ……The term “zawj” denotes a pair of things as well as each of the two constituents of a pair: hence my rendering of “thamaniyat azwaj” (lit., eight [in] pairs”) as “four kinds of cattle of either sex”. The particular superstition to which this and the next verse refers is probably identical with the one mentioned in 5:103].
note-131 Lit., “tell me with knowledge” – i.e., not on the basis of guesswork but of knowledge….]]
[[ Ruby’s note – All the above verses refer superstitions and how these are devoid of truth and unnecessarily complicate lifestyle. Islam promotes simplicity and if any restriction or prohibition comes in life it should be based on revelation or from knowledge and reason as to whether it is harmful or beneficial, etc. Any action or ritual should not be based on conjecture, past meaningless and false traditions or guesswork. A practice should be based on reason, knowledge and definitely on the injunction of a divine revelation. The serious negativity of superstitions and/ past traditions that are meaningless is raised here through these verses.]]