(87) Believers! Do not hold as unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful to you,46 and do not exceed the bounds of right. Allah does not love those who transgress the bounds of right. (88) And partake of the lawful, good things which Allah has pro- vided you as sustenance, and refrain from disobeying Allah in Whom you believe.
(89) Allah does not take you to task for the oaths you utter vainly, but He will certainly take you to task for the oaths you have sworn in earnest. ▶
46 This verse embodies two directives. The first is that man should not arrogate to himself the authority to proclaim things either lawful or unlawful according to his own wishes. Only that which God has held to be lawful is lawful, and only that which God has declared unlawful is unlawful. If human beings were to declare certain things either lawful or unlawful on their own authority, they would not be following the law of God but their own laws. The second directive is that they should not adopt the course of world-renunciation and abstention from worldly pleasures as the Christian monks, Hindu mendicants, Buddhist bhikshus and illuminationist mystics did.
243
Al-Ma’idah 5: 90
The expiation (for breaking such oaths) is either to feed ten needy persons with more or less the same food as you are wont to give to your families, or to clothe them, or to set free from bondage the neck of one man; and he who does not find the means shall fast for three days. This shall be the expiation for your oaths whenever you have sworn (and broken them), and do keep your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His commandments; maybe you will be grateful.
(90) Believers! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous sacrifices at altars, and divining arrows are all abominations, the handiwork of Satan. So turn wholly away from it that you may attain to true success.47 ▶
47 Two injunctions had already been revealed concerning the prohibition of intoxicants. (See Surah al-Baqarah 2: 219 and Surah al-Nisa’ 4: 43.) Before the revelation of the last injunction, the Prophet (peace be on him) had warned people that intoxicants were highly displeasing to God. Hinting at the possibility of their being prohibited, he counselled people to dispose of intoxicants if they had any. A little later the present verse was revealed and the Prophet (peace be on him) then proclaimed that those who had intoxicants should neither consume nor sell them; instead, they should destroy them. No sooner than this proclamation was made that intoxicating liquors were poured into the streets of Madinah.
244
Al-Ma’idah 5: 91–4
(91) By intoxicants and games of chance Satan only desires to create enmity and hatred among you, and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer. Will you, then, desist? (92) Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and beware. But if you turn away, then know well that Our Messenger had merely to deliver the Message clearly.
(93) There will be no blame on those who believe and do righteous deeds for whatever they might have partaken (in the past) as long as they refrain from the things prohibited, and persist in their faith and do righteous deeds, and continue to refrain from whatever is forbidden and submit to Divine commandments, and persevere in doing good, fearing Allah. Allah loves those who do good.
(94) Believers, Allah will surely try you with a game which will be within the range of your hands and lances so that He might mark out those of you who fear Him, even though He is beyond the reach of perception. ▶
245
Al-Ma’idah 5: 95–6
A painful chastisement awaits whosoever transgresses the bounds set by Allah after His firm warning. (95) Believers! Do not kill game while you are in the state of Pilgrim Sanctity.48 Whoever of you kills it wilfully there shall be a recompense, the like of what he has killed in cattle – as shall be judged by two persons of equity among you – to be brought to the Ka[bah as an offering, or feed the needy as an expiation, or its equivalent in fasting in order that he may taste the grievousness of his deed. Allah has pardoned whatever has passed; but Allah will exact a penalty from him who repeats it. Allah is All-Mighty. He is fully capable of exacting retribution.
(96) The game of the water and eating thereof are permit- ted to you as a provision for those of you (who are settled) ▶
48 When a person is in the state of Pilgrim Sanctity (ihram) it is prohibited for him both to hunt and to assist in hunting animals. Indeed, even if an animal has been hunted for him by someone else he may not eat it. However, if someone hunts an animal for himself and makes a gift of it to such a person, there is no harm in his eating it. There is, however, an exception to this injunction against killing animals when one is in the state of ihram, and that is with regard to harmful animals. Snakes, scorpions, mad dogs and such other animals which cause injury to human beings may be killed even by those in the state of ihram.
246
Al-Ma’idah 5: 97–100
and for those on a journey; but to hunt on land while you are in the state of Pilgrim Sanctity is forbidden for you. Beware, then, of disobeying Allah to Whom all of you shall be mustered.
(97) Allah has appointed the Ka[bah, the Sacred House, as a means of support for (the collective life of) people, and has caused the holy month (of Pilgrimage), and the animals of sacrificial offering and their distinguishing collars to assist therein. This is so that you may know that Allah is aware of all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth; and that Allah has knowledge of every- thing. (98) Know well that Allah is severe in retribution, and that Allah is also All- Forgiving, All-Compassionate. (99) The Messenger is bound only to deliver the Message, whereafter Allah knows well all that you disclose and all that you conceal. (100) (O Messenger), say to them: “The bad things and the good things are not equal, ▶
247
Al-Ma’idah 5: 101–3
even though the abundance of the bad things might make you pleased with them.49 People of understanding, beware of disobeying Allah; maybe you will attain true success.”
(101) Believers! Do not ask of the things which, if made manifest to you, would vex you; for,50 if you should ask about them while the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be made manifest to you. Allah has pardoned whatever happened in the past. He is All-Forgiving, All-Forbearing. (102) Indeed some people before you had asked such questions and in consequence fell into unbelief.
