5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
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,
"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.
See also, below, 5:20-26 and notes.
... وَقَالَ اللّهُ إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ ...
and Allah said: "I am with you:
... لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَيْتُمُ الزَّكَاةَ وَآمَنتُم بِرُسُلِي وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ ...
- if ye (but) establish regular prayers,
- practice regular charity,
- believe in My apostles, honor and assist them and
... وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ اللّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ...
- loan to Allah a beautiful loan,
The phrase means "spending in the cause of Allah".
Allah in His infinite grace looks upon this as a loan, for which He gives a recompense manifold.
... لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَلأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ ...
verily I will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath;
... فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ ﴿١٢﴾
but if any of you, after this, resisteth faith, he hath truly wandered from the path of rectitude."
C711. The path of rectitude: or the even way:
فَبِمَا
نَقْضِهِم
مِّيثَاقَهُمْ
لَعنَّاهُمْ
وَجَعَلْنَا
قُلُوبَهُمْ
قَاسِيَةً ...
5: 13. But because of their breach of their Covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard:
C712. Cursed them: that means that because of the breach of their Covenant, Allah withdrew His overflowing Grace from them.
The withdrawal of Grace made their hearts grow hard in two ways:
1. they were no longer protected from the assaults of evil, and
2. they became impervious even to the message of forgiveness and mercy which is open to all Allah's creatures.
... يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَنَسُواْ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ...
they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the Message that was sent them,
... وَلاَ تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىَ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّنْهُمُ ...
nor wilt thou cease to find them, barring a few, ever bent on (new) deceits:
C713. Israel, when it lost Allah's grace as above, began to sin against truth and religion in three ways:
1. they began to misuse Scripture itself, by either taking words out of their right meaning, or applying them to things for which they were never meant;
2. in doing so, they conveniently forgot a part of the Message and purpose of Allah: and
3. they invented new deceits to support the old ones.
... فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ ...
but forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds):
C714. Cf. 2:109 and n. 110, where I have explained the different shades of meaning in the words for "forgiveness."
... إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٣﴾
for Allah loveth those who are kind.
Other versions:
5: 12
Asad And, indeed, God accepted a [similar] solemn pledge from the children of Israel when We caused twelve of their leader to be sent [to Canaam as spies]. And God said: “Behold, I shall be with you! If you are constant in prayer, and spend in charity, and believe in My apostles and aid them, and offer up unto God a goodly loan, I will surely efface your bad deeds and bring you into gardens through which running waters flow. But he from among you who, after this, denies the truth, will indeed have strayed from the right path!”
Yusuf Ali Allah did aforetime take a Covenant from the Children of Israel and We appointed twelve captains among them and Allah said: "I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers practice regular charity believe in My apostles honor and assist them and loan to Allah a beautiful loan verily I will wipe out from you your evils and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you after this resist faith he hath truly wandered from the path of rectitude."
Pickthall Allah made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel and We raised among them twelve chieftains: and Allah said: Lo! I am with you. If ye establish worship and pay the poor due, and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend unto Allah a kindly loan, surely I shall remit your sins, and surely I shall bring you into gardens underneath which rivers flow. Whoso among you disbelieve after this will go astray from a plain road.
Transliteration Wa laqad akhazalla_hu misa_qa bani isra_'il(a), wa ba'asna_ minhumusnai 'asyara naqiba_(n), wa qa_lalla_hu inni ma'akum, la'in aqamtumus sala_ta wa a_taitumuz zaka_ta wa a_mantum bi rusuli wa'azzartumu_hum wa aqradtumulla_ha qardan hasanal la'ukaffiranna'ankum sayyi'a_tikum wala'udkhilannakum janna_tin tajri min tahtihal anha_r(u), fa man kafara ba'da za_lika minkum fa qad dalla sawa_'as sabil(i).
[[ Ali’s notes:
709 Cf. ii. 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. xix, 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 ii. 60 and n. 73). For census purposes the names of the elders of the tribes are given in Num. i. 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 out the land of Canaan: their names are mentioned in Num. xiii. 1-16. See also, below, v. 20-26 and notes. (5.12)
710 Cf. ii. 245, n. 276. The phrase means "spending in the cause of Allah". Allah in His infinite grace looks upon this as a loan, for which He gives a recompense manifold. (5.12)
711 The path of rectitude: or the even way: see ii. 108. n. 109. (5.12) ]]
5: 13
Asad Then, for having broken their solemn pledge, We rejected them and caused their hearts to harden – [so that now] they distort the meaning of the [revealed] words, taking them out of their context; they have forgotten much of what they had been told to bear in mind; and from all but a few of them you will always experience treachery. But pardon them, and forbear; verily, God loves the doers of good.
Yusuf Ali But because of their breach of their Covenant We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard: they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the Message that was sent them nor wilt thou cease to find them barring a few ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.
Pickthall And because of their breaking their covenant, We have cursed them and made hard their hearts. They change words from their context and forget a part of that whereof they were admonished. Thou wilt not cease to discover treachery from all save a few of them. But bear with them and pardon them. Lo! Allah loveth the kindly.
Transliteration Fabima_ naqdihim misa_qahum la'anna_hum wa ja'alna_ qulu_bahum qu_siyah(tan), yuharrifu_nal kalima 'an mawa_di'ih(i), wa nasu_ hazzam mimma_ zukkiru_ bih(i), wa la_ taza_lu tattali'u 'ala_ kha_'inatim minhum illa_ qalilam minhum, fa'fu 'anhum wasfah, innalla_ha yuhibbul muhsinin(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 712 Cursed them: that means that because of the breach of their Covenant, Allah withdrew His overflowing Grace from them. The withdrawal of Grace made their hearts grow hard in two ways: (1) they were no longer protected from the assaults of evil, and (2) they became impervious even to the message of forgiveness and mercy which is open to all Allah's creatures. (5.13)
713 Israel, when it lost Allah's grace as above, began to sin against truth and religion in three ways: (1) they began to misuse Scripture itself, by either taking words out of their right meaning, or applying them to things for which they were never meant; (2) in doing so, they conveniently forgot a part of the Message and purpose of Allah; and (3) they invented new deceits to support the old ones. (5.13)
714 Cf. ii. 109 and n. 110, where I have explained the different shades of meaning in the words for "forgiveness." (5.13) ]]
Asad note 25 : See 4:46 where the same accusation is leveled against the children of Israel.