5: 87 [ al-Maidah Median 112 ]

Asad O you who have attained to faith! Do Not derive yourselves of the good things of life which God has made lawful to you [note 100], but do not transgress the bounds of what is right: verily, God does not love those who transgress the bounds of what is right.

Yusuf Ali O ye who believe! make not unlawful the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you but commit no excess: for Allah loveth not those given to excess.

Pickthall O ye who believe! Forbid not the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you, and transgress not. Lo! Allah loveth not transgressors.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ la_ tuharrimu_ tayyiba_ti ma_ ahallalla_hu lakum wa la_ ta'tadu_, innalla_ha la_ yuhibbul mu'tadin(a).

[[ Ali’s note - 791 In pleasures that are good and lawful the crime is excess. There is no merit merely in abstention or asceticism, though the humility or unselfishness that may go with asceticism may have its value. In v. 82, Christian monks are praised for particular virtues, though here and elsewhere monasticism is disapproved of. Use Allah's gifts of all kinds with gratitude, but excess is not approved of by Allah. (5.87) ]]

[[ Asad’s note 100 – Most of the commentators ……….explain the expression ‘la tuharrimu (lit., “do not forbid” or “do not declare as forbidden”) in the sense given by me above, and take it to refer to the self-mortification practiced, in particular, by Christians priests and monks……………]]

[[ Ruby’s note – I disagree with the above explanation. There are good references about the piety about the Christian monks as well [see 5:82]. However, this could be true about the doctrine of celibacy and other austerity the monks practice that is in excess. Islam commands to celebrate life within the boundary set by moral law of God. Conjugal life and other enjoyments are all part of that celebration of life that is God gifted to humankind. No one should short change life on the beautiful things God has provided a human to enjoy. This is the trust of the meaning I understood and it is general. There is no specific implication towards the Christian monks here because the context is confirming that as well.]]

5: 88

Asad Thus, partake of the lawful, good things which God grants you as sustenance, and be conscious of God, in whom you believe.

Yusuf Ali Eat of the things which Allah hath provided for you lawful and good: but fear Allah in Whom ye believe.

Pickthall Eat of that which Allah hath bestowed on you as food lawful and good, and keep your duty to Allah in Whom ye are believers.

Transliteration Wa kulu_ mimma_ razaqakumulla_hu hala_lan tayyiba_(w), wattaqulla_hal lazi antum bihi mu'minu_n(a).

6: 141

Asad For it is He who has brought into being gardens – [both] the cultivated ones and those growing wild [note 127] –and the date-palm, and fields bearing multiform produce, and the olive tree, and the pomegranate: [all] resembling one another and yet so different [note 128]! Eat of their fruit when it comes to fruition, and give [unto the poor] their due on harvest day. And do not waste [God’s bounties]: verily, He does not love the wasteful!

Yusuf Ali It is He who produce gardens with trellises and without and dates and tilth with produce of all kinds and olives and pomegranates similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loves not the wasters.

Pickthall He it is Who produces gardens trellised and untrellis, and the date palm, and crops of divers flavor, and the olive and the pomegranate, like and unlike. Eat ye of the fruit thereof when it fruits, and pay the due thereof upon the harvest day, and be not prodigal. Lo! Allah loves not the prodigals.

Transliteration Wa huwal lazi ansya'a janna_tim ma'ru_sya_tiw wa gaira ma'ru_sya_tiw wan nakhla waz zar'a mukhtalifan ukuluhu_ waz zaitu_na war rumma_na mutasya_bihaw wa gaira mutasya_bih(in), kulu_ min samarihi iza_ asmara wa a_tu_ haqqaha_ yauma hasa_dih(i), wa la_ tusrifu_, innahu_ la_ yuhibbul musrifin(a).

6: 142

Asad …….eat whatever God has provided for you as sustenance, and follow not Satan’s footsteps [note 129]: behold, he is your open foe!

Yusuf Ali Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat. Eat what Allah hath provided for you and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you an avowed enemy.

Pickthall And of the cattle (He produceth) some for burdens, some for food. Eat of that which Allah hath bestowed upon you, and follow not the footsteps of the devil, for lo! he is an open foe to you.

Transliteration Wa minal an'a_mi hamu_lataw wa farsya_(n), kulu_ mimma_ razaqakumulla_hu wa la_ tattabi'u_ khutuwa_tisy syaita_n(i), innahu_ lakum'aduwwum mubin(un).

[[ Asad’s note 128 – see note 85 on verse 99 of this surah.

129 - I.e., by superstitiously declaring as forbidden what God has made lawful to man. All the references to pre-Islamic taboos given in verse 138-140 as well as 142-144 are meant to stress the lawfulness of any food (and, by implication, of any other physical enjoyment) which God has not expressly forbidden through revelation.]]

[[ Ali’s notes - 964 Ansha-a: see vi. 98, n. 923. (6.141)

965 A beautiful passage, with music to match the meaning. Cf. vi. 99 and notes. (6.141)

966 "Waste not, want not," says the English proverb. Here the same wisdom is preached from a higher motive. See what magnificent means God provides in nature for the sustenance of all His creatures, because He loves them all. Enjoy them in moderation and be grateful. But commit no excess, and commit no waste: the two things are the same from different angles of vision. If you do, you take away something from other creatures and God would not like your selfishness. (6.141)

967 Superstition kills true religion. We come back to the Arab Pagan superstitions about cattle for food. The horse is not mentioned, because horse flesh was not an article of diet and there were no superstitions about it. Sheep and goats, camels and oxen were the usual sources of meat. Sheep and goats were not used as beasts of burden, but camels (of both sexes) were used for carrying burdens, and oxen for the plough, though cows were mainly used for milk and meat. The words "some for burden and some for meat" do not differentiate whole species, except that they give you the first two and the last two categories. (6.142)]]