Surah 5, Al-Ma'idah [The Table Spread], Medina 112

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Translation:

مَا جَعَلَ اللّهُ ...

5: 103. It was not God Who instituted (superstitions like those of)

... مِن بَحِيرَةٍ وَلاَ سَآئِبَةٍ وَلاَ وَصِيلَةٍ وَلاَ حَامٍ...

- a slit-ear she-camel,

- or a she-camel let loose for free pasture,

- or idol sacrifices for twin-births in animals,

- or stallion-camels freed from work;

... وَلَـكِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ الْكَذِبَ...

it is blasphemers who invent a lie against God,

... وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾

but most of them lack wisdom.

Transliteration Ma_ ja'alalla_hu mim bahiratiw wa la_ sa_'ibatiw wa la_ wasilatiw wa la_ ha_m(iw), wa la_kinnal lazina kafaru_ yaftaru_na 'alalla_hil kazib(a), wa aksaruhum la_ ya'qilu_n(a).

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ...

5: 104. When it is said to them: "Come to what God hath revealed; come to the Messenger":

... قَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا...

they say: "Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following."

[[ Ali’s comment - 810. Cf. 2:170.

Where a Messenger of Truth comes to teach us the better way, it is foolish to say: "What our ancestors did is good enough for us." ]]

... أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠٤﴾

What! even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?

Transliteration Wa iza_ qila lahum ta'a_lau ila_ ma_ anzalalla_hu wa ilar rasu_li qa_lu_ hasbuna_ ma_ wajadna_ 'alaihi a_ba_'ana_, awalau ka_na a_ba_'uhum la_ ya'lamu_na syai'aw wala_ yahtadu_n(a).

Other Translations:

5: 103

Asad …………….yet those who are bent on denying the truth attribute their own lying inventions to God. And most of them never use their reason:

Pickthall Allah hath not appointed anything in the nature of a Bahirah or a Saibah or a Wasilah or a Hami, but those who disbelieve invent a lie against Allah. Most of them have no sense.

5: 104

Asad ………Why, even through their forefathers knew nothing, and were devoid of all guidance?

Pickthall And when it is said unto them: Come unto that which Allah hath revealed and unto the messenger, they say: Enough for us is that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever, and no guidance?

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Ali’s comments:

809. A number of Arab Pagan superstitions are referred to.

The Pagan mind, not understanding the hidden secrets of nature, attributed certain phenomena to divine anger and were assailed by superstitious fears which haunted their lives.

- If a she-camel or other female domestic animal had a large number of young, she (or one of her offspring) had her car slit and she was dedicated to a god: such an animal was a bahira.

- On return in safety from a journey, or on recovery from an illness a she-camel was similarly dedicated and let loose for free pasture: she was called a saiba.

- Where an animal bore twins, certain sacrifices or dedications were made to idols: an animal so dedicated was a wasila.

- A stallion-camel dedicated to the gods by certain rites was a ham.

The particular examples lead to the general truth: that superstition is due to ignorance, and is degrading to men and dishonouring to Allah. (5.103)

Amatulla’s comment

Here the Quran is setting a standard for mindset for all time and for all people. Many a society have gone astray because the people followed ancestors’ false and wrong way of doing things. Also societies progressed because people question the wrong parameters and paradigms set by the predecessors or ancestors. On the other hand there could be much to learn from the experiences and wisdom of the past. However, those cannot be accepted blindly and without using reason and wisdom.

There is no scope for blind following in Islam. Everything must be evaluated and understood through reason, the faculty God has endowed humans with and the ability God has given to each and every human being. There is no blind following of the past people and the scholars, everything must be analyzed, changed and corrected, if needs be. And also more importantly one must be ready to be open for future suggestions and ideas because there my lie the truth. This verse is challenging and condemning the close-mindedness and blind following of people at any time in any society.