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

Medina Period

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُواْ دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا...

5: 57. O ye who believe!

take not for friends and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport,

... مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَالْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَاء...

whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or among those who reject Faith;

C768. It is not right that we should be in intimate association with those to whom religion is either a subject of mockery or at best is nothing but a plaything.

They may be amused, or they may have other motives for encouraging you. But your association with them will sap the earnestness of your Faith, and make you cynical and insincere.

... وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٧﴾

but fear ye Allah, if ye have Faith (indeed).

وَإِذَا نَادَيْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ اتَّخَذُوهَا هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا...

5: 58. When ye proclaim your call to prayer, they take it (but) as mockery and sport;

... ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾

that is because they are a people without understanding.

Pickthall’s Version:

5: 57

Pickthall O ye who believe! Choose not for friends such of those who received the Scripture before you, and of the disbelievers, as make a jest and sport of your religion. But keep your duty to Allah if ye are true believers.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ la_ tattakhizul lazinattakhazu_ dinakum huzuwaw wa la'ibam minal lazina u_tul kita_ba min qablikum wal kuffa_ra auliya_'(a), wattaqulla_ha in kuntum mu'minin(a).

5: 58

Pickthall And when ye call to prayer they take it for a jest and sport. That is because they are a folk who understand not.

Transliteration Wa iza_ na_daitum ilas sala_tittakhazu_ha_ huzuwaw wa la'iba_(n), za_lika bi annahum qaumul la_ ya'qilu_n(a).