Charity Commanded in the Past

2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لاَ تَعْبُدُونَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ...

2: 83. And remember We took a Covenant from the children of Israel (to this effect): worship none but Allah;

C87. So far from the Covenant being of the kind you suggest in 2:80 the real Covenant is about the moral law, which is set out in 2:83.

This moral law is universal and if you break it no privileges will lighten your punishment or help you in any way (2:86).

"Speak fair to the people" not only means outward courtesy from the leaders to the meanest among the people, but the protection of the people from being exploited, deceived, defrauded, or doped with things to lull their intelligence.

... وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَاناً وَذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ...

treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need;

... وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْناً وَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتُواْ الزَّكَاةَ...

speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and practice regular charity.

... ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مِّعْرِضُونَ ﴿٨٣﴾

Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye backslide (even now).

Other Versions:

2: 83

Asad And Lo! We accepted this solemn pledge from [you], the Children of Israel (note 66): “You shall worship none but God; and you shall do good unto your parents and kinsfolk, and the orphans, and the poor; and you shall speak unto all people in a kindly way; and you shall be constant in prayer; and you shall spend in charity.” And yet, save for a few of you, you turned away: for you are obstinate folk (note 68)!

Pickthall And (remember) when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none save Allah (only), and be good to parents and to kindred and to orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to mankind; and establish worship and pay the poor due. Then, after that, ye slid back, save a few of you, being averse.

Transliteration Wa iz akhazna_ misa_qa bani isra_'ila ala_ ta'budu_na illalla_ha wa bil wa_lidaini ihsa_naw wa zil qurba_ wal yata_ma_ wal masa_kini wa qu_lu_ linna_si husnaw wa aqimus sala_ta wa a_tuz zaka_h(ta), summa tawallaitum ilala_ qalilam minkum wa antum mu'ridu_n(a).

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5. Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Repast)

Medina Period

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ أَخَذَ اللّهُ مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَآئِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنهُمُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًا...

5: 12. Allah did aforetime take a Covenant from the Children of Israel, and We appointed twelve captains among them,

C709. Cf. 2:63 and n. 78.

"Moses... called for the elders of the people... and all the people answered together and said. 'All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.'" (Exod. 19:7-8).

This was under the towering height of Mount Sinai. The chieftains or elders or leaders of the people were selected, one from each of the twelve tribes (see 2:60 and n. 73).

For census purposes the names of the elders of the tribes are given in Num. 1:4-16: they are called "every one the head of the house of his fathers". Later, twelve other "heads of the Children of Israel" were selected to spy but the land of Canaan: their names are mentioned in Num. 13:1-16.