5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا ...

5: 45. We ordained therein for them:

C754. The retaliation is prescribed in three places in the Pentateuch, viz,. Exod. 21:23-25: Leviticus 24:18-21, and Deut, 19:21.

The wording in the three quotations is different, but in none of them is found the additional rider for mercy, as here.

Note that in Matt. 5:38. Jesus quotes the Old Law "eye for eye," etc,, and modifies it in the direction of forgiveness, but the Quranic injunction is more practical.

Even where the injured one forgives, the State or Ruler is competent to take such action as is necessary for the preservation of law and order in Society. For crime has a bearing that goes beyond the interests of the person injured: the Community is affected: see 5:32.

... أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ...

- "Life for life,

- eye for eye,

... وَالأَنفَ بِالأَنفِ وَالأُذُنَ بِالأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ ...

- nose for nose,

- ear for ear,

- tooth for tooth,

- and wounds equal for equal."

... فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ...

But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself.

C755. This is not part of the Mosaic Law, but the teaching of Jesus and of Muhammad.

Notice how the teaching of Jesus is gradually introduced as leading up to the Quran.

... وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ ﴿٤٥﴾

And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) wrongdoers.

C756. The seeming repetitions at the end of verses 44, 45 and 46 are not real repetitions. The significant words in the three cases are:

- Unbelievers,

- wrong-doers, and

- rebellious;

and each fits the context.

- If the Jews tamper with their books they are Unbelievers;

- if they give false judgments, they are wrong-doers.

- If the Christians follow not their light, they are rebellious.

وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آثَارِهِم بِعَيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ ...

5: 46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him:

... وَآتَيْنَاهُ الإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ ...

We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light,

C757. Guidance and light: see n. 750 above.

For the meaning of the Gospel (Injil), see Appendix III, "On the Injil", (printed at the end of this Surah).

... وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾

and confirmation of the Law that had come before him:

a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.

Other versions:

5: 45 [al-Maidah, Medina 112]

Yusuf Ali We ordained therein for them: "Life for life eye for eye nose for nose ear for ear tooth for tooth and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed they are (no better than) wrong-doers.

Pickthall And We prescribed for them therein: The life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoeth it (in the way of charity) it shall be expiation for him. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are wrong-doers.

Transliteration Wa katabna_ 'alaihim fiha_ annan nafsa bin nafsi wal'aina bil 'aini wal anfa bil anfi wal uzuna bil uzuni was sinna bis sinn(i), wal juru_ha qisa_s(un), faman tasaddaqa bihi fa huwa kaffa_ratul lah(u_), wa mal lam yahkum bima_ anzalalla_hu fa ula_'ika humuz za_limu_n(a).

5: 46 [al-Maidah, Medina 112]

Yusuf Ali And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light and confirmation of the law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.

Pickthall And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil).

Transliteration Wa qaffaina_ 'ala_ a_sa_rihim bi'isabni maryama musaddiqal lima_ baina yadaihi minat taura_h(ti), wa a_taina_hul injila fihi hudaw wa nu_r(uw), wa musaddiqal lima_ baina yadaihi minat taura_ti wa hudaw wa mau'izatal lil muttaqin(a).

[[ Asad’s note 62 - ……..The Pentateuch does not contain this call to forgiveness which his brought out with great clarity not only in te Quran but also in the teachings of Jesus, especially in the Sermon on the Mount: …would seem to be an allusion to the time-bound quality of Mosaic Law. Alternatively, the above admonition may have been part of the original teachings of the Torah which have been subsequently corrupted or deliberately abandoned by its followers, whom the Quran accuses of “distorting the meaning of the revealed words” (see verse 41 above).]]

[[ Ali’s notes - 754 The retaliation is prescribed in three places in the Pentateuch, viz,. Exod. xxi, 23-25: Leviticus xxiv. 18-21, and Deut, xix. 21. The wording in the three quotations is different, but in none of them is found the additional rider for mercy, as here. Note that in Matt. v. 38. Jesus quotes the Old Law "eye for eye," etc,, and modifies it in the direction of forgiveness, but the Quranic injunction is more practical. Even where the injured one forgives, the State or Ruler is competent to take such action as is necessary for the preservation of law and order in Society. For crime has a bearing that goes beyond the interests of the person injured: the Community is affected: see Q. v. 32. (5.45)

755 This is not part of the Mosaic Law, but the teaching of Jesus and of Muhammad. Notice how the teaching of Jesus is gradually introduced as leading up to the Qur-an. (5.45)

756 The seeming repetitions at the end of verses 47, 48 and 50 are not real repetitions. The significant words in the three cases are: Unbelievers, wrong-doers, and rebellious; and each fits the context. If the Jews tamper with their books they are Unbelievers; if they give false judgments, they are wrong-doers. If the Christians follow not their light, they are rebellious. (5.45)

757 Guidance and light: see n. 750 above. For the meaning of the Gospel (Injil), see Appendix III, "On the Injil", (printed at the end of this Sura). (5.46) ]]