ٱلْمَائِدَة ٧٧
- قُلۡ Say
- يَٰٓأَهۡلَ O People
- ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ (of) the Book
- لَا (Do) not
- تَغۡلُواْ exceed
- فِي in
- دِينِكُمۡ your religion
- غَيۡرَ other than
- ٱلۡحَقِّ the truth
- وَلَا and (do) not
- تَتَّبِعُوٓاْ follow
- أَهۡوَآءَ (vain) desires
- قَوۡمٖ (of) a people
- قَدۡ certainly
- ضَلُّواْ who went astray
- مِن from
- قَبۡلُ before
- وَأَضَلُّواْ and they misled
- كَثِيرٗا many
- وَضَلُّواْ and they have strayed
- عَن from
- سَوَآءِ (the) right
- ٱلسَّبِيلِ [the] way
Say, "O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion beyond the truth and do not follow the inclinations of a people who had gone astray before and misled many and have strayed from the soundness of the way."
Say: 'O People of the Scripture, Jews and Christians, do not go to extremes, do [not] overstep the bounds, in your religion, other than those, extremes, of truth, neither lowering nor elevating Jesus above his proper place, and do not follow the whims of a people who went astray formerly, on account of their extremism - these were their forefathers - and have led many, [other] people, astray, and strayed from the even way', from the path of truth (al-ﷺaa' originally means 'middle').
"The Jews Say That Allah's Hand is Tied up!
Allah says;
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ يَدُ اللّهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ
The Jews say:”Allah's Hand is tied up.”
Allah states that the Jews, may Allah's continuous curses descend on them until the Day of Resurrection, describe Him as a miser. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him.
The Jews also claim that Allah is poor, while they are rich.
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas commented on Allah's statement,
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ يَدُ اللّهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ
(The Jews say, “Allah's Hand is tied up”).
“They do not mean that Allah's Hand is literally tied up. Rather, they mean that He is a miser and does not spend from what He has. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him.” Similar was reported from Mujahid, Ikrimah, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ad-Dahhak.
Allah said in another Ayah,
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَى عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ
فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُورًا
And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty. (17:29)
In this Ayah, Allah prohibits stinginess and extravagance, which includes unnecessary and improper expenditures.
Allah describes stinginess by saying,
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَى عُنُقِكَ
(And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck).
Therefore, this is the meaning that the Jews meant, may Allah's curses be on them.
Ikrimah said that;
this Ayah was revealed about Finhas, one of the Jews, may Allah curse him.
We mentioned before that Finhas said,
إِنَّ اللّهَ فَقِيرٌ وَنَحْنُ أَغْنِيَاء
“(Truly, Allah is poor and we are rich!)” (3:181), and that Abu Bakr smacked him. Allah has refuted what the Jews attribute to Him and cursed them in retaliation for their lies and fabrications about Him.
Allah said,
غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْ
Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for what they uttered.
What Allah said occurred, for the Jews are indeed miserly, envious, cowards and tremendously humiliated.
Allah said in other Ayat,
أَمْ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُلْكِ فَإِذاً لاَّ يُوْتُونَ النَّاسَ نَقِيراً
أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَأ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ فَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَأ ءَالَ إِبْرَهِيمَ الْكِتَـبَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَءَاتَيْنَـهُمْ مُّلْكاً عَظِيماً
Or have they a share in the dominion! Then in that case they would not give mankind even a Naqir. Or do they envy men for what Allah has given them of His bounty! Then, We had already given the family of Ibrahim the Book and the Hikmah, and conferred upon them a great kingdom. (4:53-54)
and,
ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ
Indignity is put over them. (3:112)
Allah's Hands are Widely Outstretched
Allah said next,
بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشَاء
Nay, both His Hands are widely outstretched. He spends (of His bounty) as He wills.
Allah's favors are ample, His bounty unlimited, as He owns the treasures of everything. Any good that reaches His servants is from Him alone, without partners. He has created everything that we need by night or by day, while traveling or at home and in all situations and conditions.
Allah said,
وَاتَاكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ وَإِن تَعُدُّواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ الانْسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ
And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily, man is indeed an extreme wrongdoer, an extreme ingrate. (13:34)
There are many other Ayat on this subject.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal said that Abdur-Razzaq narrated to him that Ma`mar said that Hammam bin Munabbih said,
“This is what Abu Hurayrah narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah said,
إِنَّ يَمِينَ اللهِ مَلَْى لَا يَغِيضُهَا نَفَقَةٌ سَحَّاءُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْفَقَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ السَّموَات وَالاَْرْضَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَغِضْ مَا فِي يَمِينِهِ قال وَعَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ وَفِي يَدِهِ الاَْخُرى الْقَبْضُ يَرْفَعُ وَيَخْفِض
Allah's Right Hand is perfectly full, and no amount of spending can decrease what He has, even though He spends by night and by day. Do you see how much Allah has spent since He created the heavens and earth Yet surely it has not decreased what He has in His Right Hand. His Throne is over the water and in His Other Hand is the hold by which He raises and lowers.
He also said that Allah said,
أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْك
`Spend and I will spend on you.”'
This Hadith was recorded in the Two Sahihs.
The Revelation to the Muslims only Adds to the Transgression and Disbelief of the Jews
Allah said,
وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا
Verily, the revelation that has come to you from your Lord makes many of them increase in rebellion and disbelief.
meaning, the bounty that comes to you, O Muhammad, is a calamity for your enemies, the Jews and their kind. The more the revelation increases the believers in faith, good works, and beneficial knowledge, the more the disbelievers increase in envy for you and your Ummah, the more they increase in Tughyan -- which is to exceed the ordained limits for things -- and in disbelief -- meaning denial of you.
Allah said in other Ayat,
قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هُدًى وَشِفَأءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ فِى ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُوْلَـيِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ
Say:”It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away.” (41:44)
and,
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَأءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُوْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّـلِمِينَ إَلاَّ خَسَارًا
And We send down of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe, and it increases wrongdoers in nothing but loss. (17:82)
Allah said next,
وَأَلْقَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ
We have put enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection.
Therefore, their hearts are never united. Rather, their various groups and sects will always have enmity and hatred for each other, because they do not agree on the truth, and because they opposed you and denied you.
Allah's statement,
كُلَّمَا أَوْقَدُواْ نَارًا لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللّهُ
Every time they kindled the fire of war, Allah extinguished it;
means, every time they try to plot against you and kindled the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it and makes their plots turn against them. Therefore, their evil plots will return to harm them.
وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الَارْضِ فَسَادًا وَاللّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
and they (ever) strive to make mischief on earth. And Allah does not like the mischief-makers.
It is their habit to always strive to cause mischief on the earth, and Allah does not like those with such behavior.
Had the People of the Book Adhered to their Book, they Would Have Acquired the Good of this Life and the Hereafter
Allah said next""
""وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ امَنُواْ وَاتَّقَوْاْ
And if only the People of the Scripture had believed and had Taqwa...,
Consequently, had the People of the Book believed in Allah and His Messenger and avoided the sins and prohibitions that they committed;
لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَيِّيَاتِهِمْ وَلادْخَلْنَاهُمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
We would indeed have expiated for them their sins and admitted them to Gardens of pleasure (in Paradise).
meaning We would have removed the dangers from them and granted them their objectives""
""وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُواْ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالاِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ
And if only they had acted according to the Tawrah, the Injil, and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord,
meaning, the Qur'an, as Ibn Abbas and others said.
لاأكَلُواْ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم
they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet.
Had they adhered to the Books that they have with them which they inherited from the Prophets, without altering or changing these Books, these would have directed them to follow the truth and implement the revelation that Allah sent Muhammad with. These Books testify to the Prophet's truth and command that he must be followed.
Allah's statement,
لاأكَلُواْ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم
(they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet),
refers to the tremendous provision that would have descended to them from the sky and grown for them on the earth. Allah said in another Ayah,
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَى ءَامَنُواْ وَاتَّقَوْاْ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَـتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَأءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ
And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth. (7:96)
Allah's statement,
مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَاء مَا يَعْمَلُونَ
And among them is a Muqtasid Ummah, but for most of them; evil is their work.
is similar to Allah's statement,
وَمِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ
And of the people of Musa there is a community who lead (the men) with truth and establish justice therewith. (7:159)
and His statement about the followers of `Isa, peace be upon him,
فَـَاتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ
So We gave those among them who believed, their (due) reward. (57:67)
Therefore, Allah gave them the highest grade of Iqtisad, which is the middle course, given to this Ummah. Above them there is the grade of Sabiqun, as Allah described in His statement;
ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَـبَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَـلِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُمْ مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَتِ بِإِذُنِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَبِيرُ
جَنَّـتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُوْلُواً وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
Then We gave the Book as inheritance to such of Our servants whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong themselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who, by Allah's permission, are Sabiq (foremost) in good deeds. That itself is indeed a great grace. `Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) will they enter, therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments there will be of silk. (35:32-33).
""Commanding the Prophet to Convey the Message; Promising Him Immunity and Protection
Allah says;
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ
O Messenger! Convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord.
Allah addresses His servant and Messenger Muhammad by the title `Messenger' and commands him to convey all that He has sent him, a command that the Prophet has fulfilled in the best manner.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Aishah said,
""Whoever says to you that Muhammad hid any part of what Allah revealed to him, then he is uttering a lie. Allah said,
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ
(O Messenger! Convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord).""
Al-Bukhari collected the short form of this story here, but mentioned the full narration in another part of his book.
Muslim in the Book of Iman, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i in the Book of Tafsir of their Sunans also collected this Hadith.
In is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Aishah said,
""If Muhammad hid anything from the Qur'an, he would have hidden this Ayah,
وَتُخْفِى فِى نِفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ وَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَـهُ
But you did hide in yourself that which Allah will make manifest, you did fear the people while Allah had a better right that you should fear Him."" (33:37)
Al-Bukhari recorded that Az-Zuhri said,
""From Allah comes the Message, for the Messenger is its deliverance and for us is submission to it.""
The Ummah of Muhammad has testified that he has delivered the Message and fulfilled the trust, when he asked them during the biggest gathering in his speech during the Farewell Hajj. At that time, there were over forty thousand of his Companions.
Muslim recorded that Jabir bin Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah said in his speech on that day,
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّكُمْ مَسْوُولُونَ عَنِّي فَمَا أَنْتُمْ قَايِلُونَ
O people! You shall be asked about me, so what are you going to reply?
They said, ""We bear witness that you have conveyed (the Message), fulfilled (the trust) and offered sincere advice.""
The Prophet kept raising his finger towards the sky and then pointing at them, saying,
اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ
اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ
O Allah! Did I convey?
O Allah! Did I convey?
Allah's statement,
وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ
And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message.
meaning:If you do not convey to the people what I sent to you, then you have not conveyed My Message. Meaning, the Prophet knows the consequences of this failure.
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas commented on the Ayah,
""It means, if you hide only one Ayah that was revealed to you from your Lord, then you have not conveyed His Message.""
Allah's statement,
وَاللّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ
Allah will protect you from mankind.
means, you convey My Message and I will protect, aid and support you over your enemies and will grant you victory over them. Therefore, do not have any fear or sadness, for none of them will be able to touch you with harm.
Before this Ayah was revealed, the Prophet was being guarded, as Imam Ahmad recorded that;
Aishah said that the Prophet was vigilant one night when she was next to him; she asked him, ""What is the matter, O Allah's Messenger?""
He said,
لَيْتَ رَجُلً صَالِحًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِي يَحْرُسُنِي اللَّيْلَة
Would that a pious man from my companions guard me tonight!
She said, ""Suddenly we heard the clatter of arms. The Prophet said,
مَنْ هَذَا
Who is that?""
He (the new comer) replied, ""I am Sa`d bin Malik (Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas).""
The Prophet asked,
مَا جَاءَ بِكَ
What brought you here?
He said, ""I have come to guard you, Allah's O Messenger.""
Aishah said, ""So, the Prophet slept (that night) and I heard the noise of sleep coming from him.""
This Hadith is recorded in Two Sahihs.
Another narration for this Hadith reads,
""The Messenger of Allah was vigilant one night, after he came to Al-Madinah..."",
meaning, after the Hijrah and after the Prophet consummated his marriage to Aishah in the second year of Hijrah.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Aishah said,
""The Prophet was being guarded until this Ayah,
وَاللّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ
(Allah will protect you from mankind) was revealed.""
She added; ""The Prophet raised his head from the room and said;
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ انْصَرِفُوا فَقَدْ عَصَمَنِي اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَل
O people! Go away, for Allah will protect me.""'
At-Tirmidhi recorded it and said, ""This Hadith is Gharib.""
It was also recorded by Ibn Jarir, and Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, where he said, ""Its chain is Sahih, but they did not record it.""
Allah's statement,
إِنَّ اللّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ
Verily, Allah guides not those who disbelieve.
means, O Muhammad, you convey, and Allah guides whom He wills, and misguides whom He wills.
In other Ayat, Allah said,
لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَأءُ
Not upon you is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills. (2:272)
and,
فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ
Your duty is only to convey and on Us is the reckoning. (13:40)
""There is no Salvation Except through Faith in the Qur'an
Allah says:
قُلْ
say:
Allah says:O Muhammad, say,
يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ
O People of the Scripture! You have nothing...,
meaning no real religion,
حَتَّىَ تُقِيمُواْ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالاِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
till you act according to the Tawrah, the Injil, and what has (now) been sent down to you from your Lord (the Qur'an).”
until you adhere to and implement the Tawrah and the Injil. That is, until you believe in all the Books that you have that Allah revealed to the Prophets. These Books command following Muhammad and believing in his prophecy, all the while adhering to his Law.
Allah's statement,
وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا
Verily, the revelation that has come to you from your Lord makes many of them increase in rebellion and disbelief.
فَلَ تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
So do not grieve for the people who disbelieve,
Do not be sad or taken aback by their disbelief.
Allah said next""
""إِنَّ الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ
Surely, those who believe,
referring to Muslims,
وَالَّذِينَ هَادُواْ
those who are the Jews,
who were entrusted with the Tawrah,
وَالصَّابِوُونَ
and the Sabians...
a sect from the Christians and Magians who did not follow any particular religion, as Mujahid stated.
وَالنَّصَارَى
and the Christians,
As for the Christians, they are known and were entrusted with the Injil.
مَنْ امَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
whosoever believed in Allah and the Last Day, and worked righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
The meaning here is that if each of these groups believed in Allah and the Hereafter, which is the Day of Judgment and Reckoning, and performed good actions, which to be so, must conform to Muhammad's Law, after Muhammad was sent to all mankind and the Jinns. If any of these groups held these beliefs, then they shall have no fear of what will come or sadness regarding what they lost, nor will grief ever affect them.
We discussed a similar Ayah before in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:62)""
""Allah says;
لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلً
Verily, We took the covenant of the Children of Israel and sent Messengers to them.
Allah reminds that He took the covenant and pledges from the Children of Israel to hear and obey Him and His Messenger. They broke these pledges and covenants and followed their lusts and desires instead of the law, and whichever part of the law they agreed with, they took it. Otherwise, they abandoned it, if it did not conform to their desires.
This is why Allah said,
كُلَّمَا جَاءهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَى أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُواْ وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ""
""وَحَسِبُواْ أَلاَّ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ فَعَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ
Whenever there came to them a Messenger with what they themselves desired not - a group of them they called liars, and others among them they killed. They thought there will be no Fitnah (trial or punishment) so they became blind and deaf.
thinking that they would suffer no repercussions for of the evil that they committed. Consequently, they were blinded from the truth and became deaf, incapable of hearing the truth. For these reasons they were unable to be guided by it.
..
ثُمَّ تَابَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ عَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ
after that Allah turned to them (with forgiveness); yet again many of them became blind and deaf.
Allah forgave that, then,
ثُمَّ عَمُواْ وَصَمُّواْ
(yet they became blind and deaf) again,
كَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
many of them, and Allah is the All-Seer of what they do.
He has perfect knowledge of what they do and whomever among them deserves the guidance and whomever deserves misguidance.
""The Disbelief of the Christians; `Isa Only called to Tawhid
Allah says;
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ
Surely, they have disbelieved who say:”Allah is the Messiah (`Isa), son of Maryam.”
Allah states that the Christians such sects as Monarchite, Jacobite and Nestorite are disbelievers, those among them who say that `Isa is Allah. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. They made this claim in spite of the fact that `Isa made it known that he was the servant of Allah and His Messenger.
The first words that `Isa uttered when he was still a baby in the cradle were, “I am Abdullah (the servant of Allah).” He did not say, “I am Allah,” or, “I am the son of Allah.” Rather, he said,
إِنِّى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ءَاتَانِىَ الْكِتَـبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيّاً
Verily, I am a servant of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet. (19:30) until he said,
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
“And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the straight path.” (19:36)
He also proclaimed to them when he was a man, after he was sent as a Prophet, commanding them to worship his Lord and their Lord, alone without partners,
وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللّهِ
But the Messiah said, “O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allah...,
in worship;
فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللّهُ عَلَيهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ
then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode.
as He will send him to the Fire and forbid Paradise for him.
Allah also said;
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَأءُ
Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills. (4:48)
and,
وَنَادَى أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ أَصْحَـبَ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَفِيضُواْ عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَأءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَـفِرِينَ
And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise; “Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provide you with.” They will say:”Allah has forbidden both to the disbelievers.” (7:50)
It is recorded in the Sahih that the Prophet had someone proclaim to the people,
إِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ لَا يَدْخُلُهَا إِلاَّ نَفْسٌ مُسْلِمَة
Only a Muslim soul shall enter Paradise.
In another narration,
مُوْمِنَة
Only a believing soul...
This is why Allah said that `Isa said to the Children of Israel,
إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللّهِ
فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللّهُ عَلَيهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And there are no helpers for the wrongdoers.
There is no help from Allah, nor anyone who will support or protect them from the state they will be in.
Allah's statement""
""لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَثَةٍ
Surely, they have disbelieved who say:”Allah is the third of three.”
Mujahid and several others said that;
this Ayah was revealed about the Christians in particular.
As-Suddi and others said that;
this Ayah was revealed about taking `Isa and his mother as gods besides Allah, thus making Allah the third in a trinity.
As-Suddi said, “This is similar to Allah's statement towards the end of the Surah,
وَإِذْ قَالَ اللّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَـهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ
And (remember) when Allah will say:”O `Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men:`Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah' He will say, “Glory be to You!” (5:116)
Allah replied,
وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـهٍ إِلاَّ إِلَـهٌ وَاحِدٌ
But there is no god but One God.
meaning there are not many worthy of worship but there is only One God without partners, and He is the Lord of all creation and all that exists.
Allah said next, while threatening and admonishing them,
وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُواْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ
And if they cease not from what they say,
their lies and false claims,
لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them.
in the Hereafter, shackled and tormented.
Allah said next,
أَفَلَ يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ""
""Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
This demonstrates Allah's generosity, kindness and mercy for His creatures, even though they committed this grave sin and invented such a lie and false allegation. Despite all of this, Allah calls them to repent so that He will forgive them, for Allah forgives those who sincerely repent to Him.
`Isa is Allah's Servant and His Mother is a Truthful Believer
Allah said""
""مَّا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ
The Messiah, son of Maryam, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him.
`Isa is just like the previous Prophets, and he is one of the servants of Allah and one of His honorable Messengers. Allah said in another Ayah,
إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَـهُ مَثَلً لِّبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ
He (`Isa) was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. (43:59)
Allah said next,
وَأُمُّهُ صِدِّيقَةٌ
His mother was a Siddiqah,
for she believed in Allah with complete trust in Him.
This is the highest rank she was given, which proves that she was not a Prophet.
Allah said next,
كَانَا يَأْكُلَنِ الطَّعَامَ
They both used to eat food,
needing nourishment and to relieve the call of nature. Therefore, they are just servants like other servants, not gods as ignorant Christian sects claim, may Allah's continued curses cover them until the Day of Resurrection.
Allah said next,
انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الايَاتِ
Look how We make the Ayat clear to them.
making them unequivocal and plain,
ثُمَّ انظُرْ أَنَّى يُوْفَكُونَ
yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth).
look at the opinions, misguided ideas, and claims they cling to, even after Our clarification and plain, unequivocal explanation.
""The Prohibition of Shirk (Polytheism) and Exaggeration in the Religion
Allah admonishes those who take up rivals with Him and worship the idols, monuments and false deities. Allah states that such false deities do not deserve any degree of Divinity.
Allah said,
قُلْ
Say,
O Muhammad, to those from among the Children of Adam, such as the Christians, who worship other than Allah,
أَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا
How do you worship besides Allah something which has no power either to harm or to benefit you!
meaning, which cannot prevent harm for you nor bring about your benefit.
وَاللّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
But it is Allah Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.
He hears what His servants say and has knowledge of all things. Therefore, how did you worship inanimate objects that do not hear, see or know anything - having no power to bring harm or benefit to themselves let alone others - instead of worshipping Allah.
Allah then said""
""قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُواْ فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ
Say:”O People of the Scripture! Exceed not the limits in your religion beyond the truth,
Meaning:Do not exceed the limits concerning the truth and exaggeration in praising whom you were commanded to honor. You exaggerated in his case and elevated him from the rank of Prophet to the rank of a god. You did this with `Isa, who was a Prophet, yet you claimed that he is god besides Allah.
وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ أَهْوَاء قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبْلُ
and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray before...
This error occurred because you followed your teachers, the advocates of misguidance who came before your time and who,
وَأَضَلُّواْ كَثِيرًا وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ
and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the right path.
deviated from the straight path, to the path of misguidance and deviation."
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Commentary
The Crookedness of Bani Isra'il : Yet Another Aspect
It will be recalled that, in previous verses, mentioned there was the contumacy of Bani Isra'il along with their tyranny and injustice with reference to what they did to their benefactors, the prophets sent by Allah who had come to show them the way to succeed in this life and in the life to come. But, they mistreated them, by falsifying some and killing others: فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ (70)
The present verses expose another aspect of the crooked ways of Bani Isra'il. So astray were they that they, not content with one extreme mentioned above, reached for another when they committed excess in showing reverence for messengers of Allah by making them nothing short of God: لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّـهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ. It means that the section of people from the Bani Isra'il who said that Allah is exactly Jesus the son of Mary had become disbelievers. Mentioned this far is the saying of the Christians only. Elsewhere, the Jews too have been censured for the same kind of excess and error: قَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّـهِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّـهِ (And the Jews said, "Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah" and the Christians said, "Masih (the Christ) is the son of Allah."
The word "Ghuluww" used at the beginning of verse 5:77 قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ (Say, "0 people of the Book, be not excessive in your faith" ) means to cross limits. "Ghuluww" or excess in religion refers to the crossing of limits drawn by religion in matters of belief and deed. For example, there is a limit to paying homage to prophets. The farthest one can go is to take them as the best among God's creation. That is the limit. Going over and beyond this limit, calling those very prophets God or son of God is excess in matters of belief.
Bani Isra'il : Their Cycle of Excess and Deficiency
The behaviour of the people of the Bani Isra'il towards prophets and messengers of Allah had been a mixture of opposites. They could become as neglectful and irreverent as to falsify or even kill them while it would be they themselves who would stretch the limits of their exaggerated reverence for them by calling them God or son of God. This syndrome of excess and deficiency in group behaviour is a sign of ingrained brutality. There is a well-known saying among Arabs: اَلجاھِلُ امَّا مفرِط اَو مُفَرِّطُ which means that an ignorant person never stays on moderation. He would either go for اِفرَاط ` Ifrat' (excess) or for تَفریط ` Tafrit (deficiency). Ifrat means to cross the limit while Tafrit means to fall short in doing one's duty. These actions on two extremes may have come from two different groups of the Bani Isra'il, or it is also possible that one single group acted in two different ways with different prophets whereby some were subjected to their falsification, even killing, while some others were equated with God.
Addressing the people of the Book in this verse, the guidance given to them and their generations to come right through the Last Day, has the status of a basic principle to be kept in sight while following a religion for the slightest deviation from it makes one be lost forever. Therefore, let us first explain a few basic things about it.
The Method of Knowing and Reaching Allah
The most significant truth of our life is that Allah جَلَّ شَانَہُ Jalla Sha'nuhu is the Creator and Master of all universes of existence and whatever they contain. He is One. To Him belongs all there is and for Him is to command. It is He alone man must obey. But man, the lump of clay come alive, is still wrapped up in layers and layers of materialism. How can he reach out to the One so pure and pristine? Or, how could he get an access to sources of His will and guidance? For this, Allah جَلَّ شَانَہُ Jalla Sha'nuhu has, in His grace, appointed two sources of knowledge through which man can get to know what is liked and disliked by Allah Almighty and what it is that man must do and what is it that man must avoid. The first source is that of the Books of Allah which have the status of Law and Guidance for all human beings. Then, as the second source, there are those special and welcome servants of Allah whom Allah Almighty has chosen from among human beings, and He has sent them to people as the practical models of His likes and dislikes and the practical keys to His Books. In religious terminology, they are called "Rasul" (messenger) or ` Nabiy' (prophet).
This is because a book, no matter how exhaustive, can never be sufficient for the complete grooming of man. The fact is that it takes a man to be the natural groomer and nurturer of another man. There-fore, it has been the practice of Allah that He has allowed two orders to flourish in the mission of reforming and training men in the art of living. These are: (a) The Book of Allah, and (b) The Men of Allah - included wherein are the blessed prophets, then their deputies, the ` Ulama and the Mashaikh. About this order of ` Rijalullah' (men of Allah), people have been victims of excess and deficiency since ancient times. Particularly, the different sects that mushroomed in religions were all products of this error of approach through which somewhere they were inflated beyond the required limit hitting the outer frontiers of the worship of such men. At other places, they were totally ignored and bypassed by saying: 'For us, the Book of Allah is enough' (حَسبُنَا کِتاب اللہ), apparently a true declaration, but by misinterpreting it to negate the importance of prophets they made it as their motto. At one extreme a Messenger of Allah, a Rasul - even Pirs and Faqirs - were taken to be the knowers of the unknown and seers of the unseen, as if they were (God forbid) the very possessors of God's own attributes. People started with worshipping live Pirs and landed into the worship of their graves as well. Then, there was that other extreme when even a Rasul of Allah was given the status of what would be a mere courier or postman. Thus, the essential message of the verses under reference is that the offenders against the honour of prophets are no less in their disbelief than are those who raise them far above the limits set for honouring them and go about saying that they were equal to Allah. Verse 77 which says, "do not be excessive in your faith," is a preface to this very subject. It makes it very clear that دین Din is, in reality, the name of a few limits and restrictions. The way it is a crime to remain deficient or negligent within those limits, so it is a crime to cross and exceed them. The way it is a grave sin to reject and insult the messengers of Allah and their deputies, in the same way, it is a much graver sin to take them to be the owners of Allah's own attributes or their equal sharers with Him.
Justified Intellectual Research is no Excess
In verse 77, the word: (unjustly) appears along with the statement: (Do not be excessive in your faith). According to investigative scholars of Tafsir, this word has been used here for emphasis because an excess in religion is always unjust. The probability of its being just does not simply exist. ` Allamah al-Zamakhshari and others have identified two kinds of Ghuluww or excess at this particular place: (1) The unjust and false which has been prohibited here; (2) The just and permissible, as an example of which, he has named deep intellectual research - or as it has been the way of the scholastic theologians (Mutakallimin) of Islam in matters relating to articles of faith, or that of Muslim jurists in matters relating to juristic rulings. According to him, even this is, though, Ghuluww (excess) but, an excess which is just and permissible - while, the considered position of the majority of scholars is that it simply does not fall within the definition of Ghuluww (excess). Finally, we can say that deep insight and de-tailed investigation in questions relating to the Qur'an and Sunnah should remain within the limits as proved from the Holy Prophet HHHHH and from the Sahabah and Tabi` in - if so, that is not Ghuluww (excess). And what reaches the limits of Ghuluww is blameworthy here too.
Bani Isra'i1 Asked to Follow the Path of Moderation
Addressing the Bani Isra'il at the end of the verse (77), it was said: وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا أَهْوَاءَ قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّوا مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّوا كَثِيرًا that is, they should not follow the de-sires and whims of a people who had themselves gone astray before them, and had made others go astray as well. The reason why they fell into that error was given immediately after by saying: وَضَلُّوا عَن سَوَاءِ السَّبِيلِ that is, these people, by moving away from the right path, had lost it. This straight path was the path of moderation between the two extremes of excess and deficiency. Thus, two things have been accomplished in this verse: It points out to the fatal error made by crossing over the norm, or lagging far behind it, and stresses upon the need to stay firm on the straight path, the ideal path of moderation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Tafsir Surat Al-Ma'idah: 76-77
Katakanlah, "Mengapa kalian menyembah selain Allah, sesuatu yang tidak dapat memberi mudarat kepada kalian dan tidak (pula) memberi manfaat? Dan Allah-lah Yang Maha Mendengar lagi Maha Mengetahui.
Katakanlah "Wahai Ahli Kitab, janganlah kalian berlebih-lebihan (melampaui batas) dengan cara tidak benar dalam agama kalian. Dan janganlah kalian mengikuti hawa nafsu orang-orang yang telah sesat dahulunya (sebelum kedatangan Muhammad) dan mereka telah menyesatkan kebanyakan manusia, dan mereka tersesat dari jalan yang lurus.
Ayat 76
Allah ﷻ berfirman mengingkari perbuatan orang-orang yang menyembah selain-Nya yaitu mereka yang menyembah berhala, patung, dan gambar seraya menjelaskan kepada mereka bahwa semuanya itu tidak berhak sedikit pun untuk disembah sebagai tuhan. Untuk itu, Allah ﷻ berfirman:
“Katakanlah,” (Al-Maidah: 76) wahai Muhammad, kepada mereka yang menyembah selain Allah; yakni dari kalangan anak-anak Adam, termasuk orang-orang Nasrani dan lain-lainnya.
“Mengapa kalian menyembah selain Allah, sesuatu yang tidak dapat memberi mudarat kepada kalian dan tidak (pula) memberi manfaat?” (Al-Maidah: 76)
Yakni yang tidak dapat menolak bahaya dari kalian, tidak pula memberikan manfaat kepada kalian.
“Dan Allah-lah Yang Maha Mendengar lagi Maha Mengetahui.” (Al-Maidah: 76)
Yaitu Dia Maha Mendengar semua perkataan hamba-hamba-Nya lagi Maha Mengetahui segala sesuatu. Maka mengapa kalian menyimpang hingga menyembah benda mati yang tidak dapat mendengar, tidak dapat melihat, tidak dapat mengetahui sesuatu pun, tidak dapat memberi mudarat dan tidak pula memberi manfaat untuk dirinya sendiri, tidak pula untuk orang lain.
Ayat 77
Kemudian Allah ﷻ berfirman: “Katakanlah, ‘Wahai Ahli Kitab, janganlah kalian berlebih-lebihan (melampaui batas) dengan cara tidak benar dalam agama kalian’.” (Al-Maidah: 77)
Yakni janganlah kalian melampaui batas dalam mengikuti kebenaran, dan janganlah kalian menyanjung orang yang kalian diperintahkan untuk menghormatinya, lalu kalian melampaui batas dalam menyanjungnya hingga mengeluarkannya dari kedudukan kenabian sampai kepada kedudukan sebagai Tuhan. Yaitu seperti yang kalian lakukan terhadap Al-Masih, padahal dia adalah salah seorang dari nabi-nabi Allah, tetapi kalian menjadikannya sebagai Tuhan selain Allah. Hal ini tidak kalian lakukan melainkan hanya semata-mata kalian mengikuti guru-guru kalian, yaitu guru-guru sesat yang merupakan para pendahulu kalian dari kalangan orang-orang yang sesat di masa lalu.
“Dan mereka telah menyesatkan kebanyakan (manusia), dan mereka tersesat dari jalan yang lurus.” (Al-Maidah: 77)
Yakni mereka menyimpang dari jalan yang lurus dan benar, menuju kepada jalan kesesalan dan kesalahan.
Ibnu Abu Hatim mengatakan, telah menceritakan kepada kami ayahku, telah menceritakan kepada kami Ahmad ibnu Abdur Rahman, telah menceritakan kepada kami Abdullah Ibnu Abu Ja'far, dari ayahnya, dari Ar-Rabi ibnu Anas yang mengatakan bahwa dahulu ada seorang alim yang mengajarkan Al-Kitab dan Sunnah kepada banyak kaum selama suatu masa.
Kemudian datanglah setan dan mengatakan (kepadanya), "Sesungguhnya yang kamu ajarkan hanyalah peninggalan atau perintah yang telah diamalkan sebelum kamu, maka kamu tidak beroleh pujian karenanya. Tetapi buatlah suatu perkara dari dirimu sendiri, lalu ajaklah manusia, dan paksa mereka mengamalkannya." Kemudian orang itu melakukan hal tersebut, tetapi setelah lewat suatu masa ia sadar, dia bermaksud bertobat dari perbuatannya itu, maka ia melucuti semua kekuasaan dan kerajaannya; dan ia bermaksud melakukan ibadah hingga akhir hayatnya agar semua dosanya terhapus.
Setelah beberapa hari dalam ibadahnya, ia didatangi, lalu dikatakan kepadanya, "Sekiranya tobatmu menyangkut dosa antara kamu dengan Tuhanmu (hak Tuhan), maka ada kemungkinan tobatmu dapat diterima. Tetapi kamu harus ingat bahwa si anu dan si anu serta lain-lainnya telah sesat dalam membelamu, sedangkan mereka telah meninggal dunia dalam keadaan sesat. Maka mana mungkin kamu dapat memberikan petunjuk kepada mereka. Karena itu, tiada tobat bagimu selama- lamanya." Ar-Rabi ibnu Abas mengatakan bahwa ayat ini diturunkan berkenaan dengan orang seperti itu dan lain-lainnya yang serupa, menurut apa yang kami terima, yakni firman-Nya: “Wahai Ahli Kitab, janganlah kalian berlebih-lebihan (melampaui batas) dengan cara tidak benar dalam agama kalian. Dan janganlah kalian mengikuti hawa nafsu orang-orang yang telah sesat dahulu (sebelum kedatangan Muhammad) dan mereka telah menyesatkan kebanyakan (manusia) dan mereka tersesat dari jalan yang lurus.” (Al-Maidah: 77)
Selain mempersekutukan Tuhan, ternyata sebagian dari Ahli Kitab juga sering bersikap melampaui batas. Oleh karena itu, Allah memerintah kepada Rasulullah untuk mengingatkan mereka. Katakanlah, Hai Ahli Kitab, janganlah kamu berlebih-lebihan atau melampaui batas dengan cara yang tidak benar dalam berkeyakinan dan melaksanakan ajaran agamamu. Selain itu, hendaknya kamu semua tidak bersikap taklid dan jangan pula kamu mengikuti keinginan atau hawa nafsu orang-orang yang telah tersesat sejak masa dahulu, yaitu sejak sebelum kedatanganku.
Sebab pada hakikatnya, mereka itu merupakan orang yang sesat, dan mereka dengan perilaku dan keinginan itu juga telah menyesatkan banyak manusia. Dan ketahuilah bahwa mereka sendiri itu sungguh telah tersesat dari jalan yang lurus yang telah ditetapkan Allah.
Bila pada ayat-ayat yang lalu diterangkan tentang penyimpangan umat Nasrani, pada ayat-ayat berikut dijelaskan tentang kutukan Allah pada orang Yahudi yang kafir. Allah menerangkan bahwa orang-orang kafir dari Bani Israil, yaitu mereka yang selalu ingkar dan mengabaikan perjanjiannya dengan Allah, telah dilaknat melalui atau dengan perantaraan lisan Nabi Dawud dan Isa putra Maryam. Kutukan Allah yang demikian itu, disebabkan karena mereka durhaka dengan tidak menepati janji yang telah diikrarkan dan selalu melampaui batas dalam melaksanakan ajaran dan tuntunan agama, sehingga cenderung mengarah pada kesesatan.
Pada ayat ini Allah melarang Ahli Kitab yang pada masa Nabi Muhammad bertindak keterlaluan di dalam agama sebagaimana nenek moyang mereka dahulu dan melarang mereka mengikuti sebab-sebab yang membawa nenek moyang mereka kepada kesesatan sehingga rnenyesatkan pula orang lain dari jalan kebenaran (ajaran Islam). Mereka meninggalkan hukum syariat dan mengikuti hawa nafsu yang buruk. Jadi dengan ayat ini dapatlah disimpulkan bahwa Ahli Kitab itu adalah:
a. Orang-orang yang sesat sejak dahulu karena mereka mengikuti hawa nafsu dalam urusan agama, membuat bidah, menghalalkan yang haram dan meninggalkan sunah Rasul.
b. Orang lain menjadi sesat, karena mereka setelah sesat berusaha menyesatkan orang lain, memperluas bidah yang diada-adakan oleh para pendeta mereka.
c. Orang yang berpaling dari agama Islam, terus-menerus berada dalam kesesatan, berarti mereka telah berbuat melampaui batas, berbuat bidah dan menyimpang dari itikad yang benar.
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Sekarang disuruhlah Rasul ﷺ menanyakan kepada segala mereka yang telah mempersekutukan yang lain dengan Allah itu,
“Katakanlah, Adakah kamu sembahyang selain dari Allah, barang yang tidak berkuasa bagi kamu memudharatkan dan tidak pula memanfaatkan?"
(pangkal ayat 76)
Adakah patut kamu menyembah dan memuja kepada yang selain dari Allah itu, padahal yang lain itu tidak mempunyai kuasa dan daya apa-apa buat mendatangkan manfaat dan keuntungan, sebab semuanya itu hanya alam belaka, sama keadaannya dengan kamu yang memohon dan memuja itu sendiri.
“Sedang Allah itu, Dialah Yang Maha Mendengan, lagi Mengetahui?"
(ujung ayat 76)
Padahal Allah selalu mendengarkan sekalian permohonan dan mengetahui apa yang kamu perlukan? Mengapa kamu pindah dari Allah Yang Maha Mendengar dan Maha Mengetahui kepada benda, atau manusia yang tidak berdaya apa-apa, kalau bukan atas kurnia Allah? Mengapa kamu tidak langsung saja memohon kepada Allah itu, yang kalau seseorang yang lain beroleh kemuliaan dan ketinggian, tidak didapatnya kemuliaan itu kecuali dari Allah?
“Katakanlah, wahai Ahlut Kitab!"
(pangkal ayat 77)
Baik Yahudi maupun Nasrani. “Janganlah kamu berlebih-lebihan pada agama kamu, yang bukan kebenaran." Melebih-lebihi, atau berlebih-lebihan, sehingga keluar dari garis kebenaran, sehingga tidak agama lagi. Yahudi berlebih-lebihan pula sehingga mempunyai kepercayaan bahwasanya manusia yang paling mulia di atas dunia ini hanya satu saja, yaitu Bani Israil. Nasrani berlebih-lebihan, yang oleh karena terlalu cinta dan kagum dengan kebesaran dan kemuliaan al-Masih, sampai menganggapnya sebagai Allah atau anak Allah, atau sekali keduanya, sehingga sampai pula kepada kepercayaan Trimurti, pusaka agama-agama kuno, yang tidak lagi ada dasar kebenarannya.
“Dan janganlah kamu turuti hawa nafsu suatu kaum yang sesungguhnya telah tersesat sejak dahulu." Yaitu satu kaum, yang dituju ialah pemimpin-pemimpin agama, Ahbar dan Ruhban yang telah tersesat, yang didapati oleh Rasulullah ﷺ, ketika beliau diutus Allah. Tersebutlah di dalam sejarah perkembangan Kristen, bagaimana pendeta-pendeta yang dahulu berebut pengaruh terhadap pihak kekuasaan buat menumbangkan dan menghancurkan lawannya, sehingga banyaklah ahli-ahli tauhid sejati yang menjadi korban. Sehingga golongan yang kalah, walaupun besar jumlahnya, dikejar-kejar dan dihinakan, dikucilkan dari gereja, dan dipandang sebagai golongan yang telah dikeluarkan dari Kristen.
Maka terkenallah dalam perkembangan agama Kristen tentang adanya suatu musyawarah para pendeta yang tertinggi yang disebut: Konsili Ofkomini di tahun 380, yang bersidang di Constantinople, yaitu sidang besar yang kedua dalam sejarah Nasrani. Di sanalah Kaisar Theodesius menyatakan bahwa madzhab yang masih tetap mempertahankan tauhid, yang disebut Tauhid Muthlaq ajaran Perjanjian Lama, mulai waktu itu dibasmi, tidak diakui lagi. Dan mulai waktu itu hanya Trinitaslah yang wajib dianut. Siapa yang tidak menurut ajaran yang diputuskan itu, dianggaplah mereka bukan Kristen lagi. Dan menanglah keputusan yang mengatakan bahwa Tuhan itu bertiga, sebab itu yang dimenangkan oleh Kaisar. “Dan mereka pun telah menyesatkan pula kebanyakan orang, dan sesatlah mereka dari kelurusan jalan," Golongan yang menang itulah yang berpengaruh dan merekalah yang menyesatkan pengikut mereka dengan berbagai bid'ah.
“Telah dikutuk orang-orang yang telah kafir dari Bani Israil atas lidah Dawud dan Isa anak Maryam. Jadi demikian, kaiena mereka telah durhaka, dan adalah mereka telah melanggar."
(ayat 78)
Di zaman Dawud, Bani Israil itu telah melanggar peraturan syariat mereka sendiri, yaitu melanggar libur pada hari Sabtu, karena mereka lihat banyak ikan menepi di hari Sabtu dan kurang sekali di hari yang lain, sehingga peliburan hari itu mereka langgar. Mereka dikutuk sampai berperangai sebagai monyet dan kera.
Di zaman al-Masih mereka dikutuk lagi atas lidah beliau, oleh Allah, karena hanya mulut mereka saja yang bertahan pada Taurat, padahal perbuatan mereka telah jauh. Satu di antara kutuk al-Masih itu dapat kita lihat juga catatannya dalam kitab-kitab orang Nasrani ketika beliau masuk ke dalam Baitul Maqdis. Rumah yang disucikan itu, di dalamnya beliau lihat campur-aduk saja di antara orang yang memuja Allah dengan riuh rendah bunyi suara jual beli, sehingga masjid sudah jadi
pasar. Maka ayat selanjutnya menerangkan pokok datangnya segala kutuk itu dengan perantaraan lidah nabi-nabi, terutama Dawud dan Isa, padahal jarak masa kedua Rasul Allah itu sudah sangat jauh.
“Adalah mereka tidak larang-melarang dari yang mungkar yang tetak mereka perbuat. Sesungguhnya amat buruklah apa yang telah mereka kerjakan."
(ayat 79)
Tidak ada lagi yang disegani dan tidak ada lagi yang berani menegur kalau ada yang bersalah. Sebab yang akan menegur itu sendiri pun telah bersalah. Orang yang telah biasa mengicuh, tidaklah berani melarang orang lain mengicuh. Orang yang telah biasa berzina, tidaklah dapat mengangkat mulut menegur perzinaan. Atau melihat telah bersimaharajalela kejahatan, orang yang tidak jahat telah bersikap masa bodoh asal diriku jangan kena. Sebab itu orang yang tidak berbuat jahat, tetapi tidak berani menegur kejahatan, dengan diamnya itu saja pun dia telah jahat.
Dirawikan oleh Abu Dawud dan at-Tirmidzi dan Ibnu Majah, dari hadits Ibnu Mas'ud, bahwasanya Rasulullah ﷺ pernah mengatakan bahwa asal mula terdapat kerusakan pada Bani Israil ialah kalau seorang bertemu dengan seorang yang lain, berkatalah dia, “Takwalah engkau kepada Allah! Hentikanlah perbuatanmu yang salah itu, sebab perbuatan itu tidak halal engkau kerjakan!" Kemudian besoknya mereka bertemu pula kembali, dilihatnya orang itu masih begitu saja, maka tidaklah ditegurnya lagi, melainkan mereka bergaul juga, semakan seminum juga. Setelah mereka berbuat yang demikian, mulailah dipukul Allah hati setengah mereka dengan yang setengah. Lalu Rasulullah membaca ayat, “Dilaknati Allah orang-orang yang telah kafir dari Bani Israil itu, atas lidah Dawud dan Isa anak Maryam."
Setelah itu berkatalah Rasulullah selanjutnya, “Sungguh. Demi Allah! Hendaklah kamu menyuruh berbuat ma'ruf dan hendaklah kamu mencegah berbuat mungkar, kemudian hendaklah kamu tarik tangan orang-orang yang zalim, helakan tangan itu kepada kebenaran dengan helaan yang sungguh-sungguh, dan hendaklah kamu mencapai kebenaran secepat-cepatnya. Atau, kalau kamu tidak mau, sesungguhnya akan dipukul Allah hati setengah kamu dengan yang setengah, kemudian itu akan dilaknati Allah kamu semuanya, sebagaimana mereka (Bani Israil) itu telah dilaknati-Nya."
Dipukul Allah hati yang setengah dengan yang setengah, ialah bahwa kemungkaran dan kejahatan telah bermaharajalela, sehingga tidak dapat dikendalikan lagi, dan semua orang telah merasainya. Tetapi tidak seorang pun yang berusaha untuk memperbaiki, hanya salah menyalahkan, atau menimpakan kesalahan kepada orang lain, cemburu mencemburui dan tidak ada yang mau bertanggung jawab.
Baik ayat ini sendiri maupun hadits-hadits Rasulullah ﷺ yang memerintah keras supaya kita tetap melakukan amar ma'ruf dan nahi rnunkar adalah membayangkan betapa hebatnya keruntuhan suatu kaum kalau amar ma'ruf dan nahi rnunkar tidak ada lagi. Kerusakan akhlak kaum Yahudi yang didapati Rasulullah itu, pasti akan bertemu pula pada kita kaum Muslimin, apabila hal ini tidak kita perhatikan lagi. Dan bekasnya pun selalu kita lihat. Kalau sekiranya ayat-ayat ini hanya semata-mata untuk orang Yahudi, niscaya bukanlah dia Al-Qur'an, padahal Al-Qur'an yang menyusunkan ayat ini adalah buat kita.
“Engkau telah melihat kebanyakan dari mereka itu, menjadikan pimpinan orang-orang yang kafir."
(pangkal ayat 80)
Itu pun satu akibat dari kerusakan akhlak mereka waktu itu. Mereka mengatakan iman kepada Taurat, tetapi mereka telah membuat hubungan rahasia dengan orang-orang kafir, yaitu kaum musyrikin di Mekah, supaya dengan pimpinan mereka itu mereka dapat melawan Nabi Muhammad ﷺ dan memerangi beliau, “.Sungguh buruklah apa yang telah didahulukan bagi mereka oleh diri mereka sendiri." Mereka telah melanjutkan diri kepada suatu perbuatan yang akan mencelakakan diri mereka sendiri, sebagaimana perbuatan Bani Quraizah ketika Peperangan Ahzab, “Bahwa kemurkaan Allahlah atas mereka."
Karena pengkhianatan itu, yang menyebabkan kemudian mereka mendapat pukulan yang sehina-hinanya lantaran perbuatan itu,
“Dan di dalam adzab, mereka itu akan kekal."
(ujung ayat 80)
Tidak ada lagi jalan keluar dari siksaan Allah itu, karena kelepasan dari adzab hanyalah kalau mendapat ampunan dari Allah, sedang mereka bukan mencari jalan buat diampuni, melainkan buat dilaknati.
“Dan jika sekiranya adalah mereka itu beriman kepada Allah."
(pangkal ayat 81)
Tidak rusak akhlak mereka, dan tidak dibiarkan saja oleh yang patut melarang di kalangan mereka, “Dan kepada Nabi itu." Yang di dalam kitab mereka sendiri sudah dinubuwwatkan akan datangnya “Nabi Itu". “Dan kepada apa yang diturunkan kepadanya," yaitu Al-Qur'an, “Tentulah mereka tidak mengambil kafir-kafir itu jadi pimpinan." Sebab aqidah agama dan jiwa yang telah terbentuk oleh iman, tidaklah akan sampai hati berkongsi dengan kafir akan berbuat jahat. Akan dapat jua ditafsirkan secara jalan yang satu lagi, yaitu Yahudi-Yahudi itu mengambil musyrikin itu menjadi pemimpin karena mereka telah tahu bahwa musyrikin itu memang tidak mau percaya kepada Allah dan Rasul dan kepada petunjuk yang beliau bawa. Karena mereka itu memang kafir, senanglah hati si Yahudi
mengambil mereka jadi pemimpin, supaya lepas sakit hati mereka melawan Rasul.
“Akan tetapi kebanyakan dari mereka telah fasik."
(ujung ayat 81)
Oleh karena kefasikan itulah mereka berani melanggar isi kitab suci mereka sendiri, dan mau berkawan dengan musyrikin, mau mengambil musyrikin jadi pemimpin, untuk melawan Rasulullah, yang pada hakikatnya, isi pengajaran beliau tidaklah berlawanan dengan inti sari Taurat yang mereka katakan dijunjung tinggi itu. Hanya orang fasik, orang durhaka yang sampai hati berbuat demikian.
“Sesungguhnya akan engkau dapati yang sesangat-sangat manusia bermusuhan tenhadap orang-orang yang beriman, ialah Yahudi dan orang-orang yang telah mempersekutukan."
(pangkal ayat 82)
Demikianlah yang jadi kenyataan ketika Al-Qur'an diturunkan, yaitu bahwasanya orang-orang Yahudi yang ketika itu mempunyai kelompok besar di Madinah, dari berbagai-bagai kabilah besar kecil, mereka itulah yang sangat sekali memusuhi kaum beriman. Dan musuh besar yang kedua ialah orang musyrikin yang pusat kekuatannya ialah di Mekah, dan musyrikin dari kabilah-kabilah Arab, di seluruh tanah Arab di waktu itu. “Dan sesungguhnya akan engkau dapati yang sedekat-dekat mereka dalam percintaan terhadap orang-orang yang beriman, ialah orang-orang yang berkata, ‘Sesungguhnya kami ini adalah Nashara/"Maka orang Nasrani di zaman itu, dibandingkan dengan orang Yahudi dan orang musyrikin adalah lebih dekat hubungan, hormat-menghormati dan harga-menghargai, malahan sebagai percintaan, tidak ada ganggu mengganggu dan menyakitkan hati.
Malahan ketika kaum Muslimin hijrah ke Habsyi mencari perlindungan diri dari tindasan kaum musyrikin, mereka telah disambut secara baik di sana. Najasyi (Negus) sendiri pun langsung memeluk Islam, “Jadi demikian, lantaran di antara mereka ada pendeta-pendeta dan rahib-rahib." Yaitu pendeta-pendeta dan rahib-rahib yang tinggi budi pekerti mereka dan baik sopan-santun mereka. Terbukti dengan sambutan terhadap perutusan mereka ke Madinah yang terdiri dari pendeta-pendeta dan rahib-rahib yang disegani orang, sehingga mereka pun dipersilahkan bershalat menurut agama mereka di dalam Masjid Rasulullah ﷺ sendiri di Madinah,
“Dan karena sesungguhnya mereka itu tidaklah mereka menyombong."
(ujung ayat 82)
Di sini kita diberi tahu sebab yang terpenting dari baiknya hubungan dengan Nasrani pada waktu itu, ialah pemuka-pemuka mereka tidak sombong, sehingga dapat harga-menghargai, hormat-menghormati. Dan men-dapatlah kita satu pelajaran bahwasanya kesombongan adalah penghambat yang paling besar dari hubungan yang baik. Inilah perbedaan yang sangat besar di antara pemuka Yahudi dan pemuka Nasrani pada waktu itu.
Dapat kita perhatikan dalam sejarah betapa baiknya hubungan di antara Rasulullah dan Nasrani di waktu itu, di antara Islam dan Kristen.
Di waktu kaum Muslimin menderita tekanan hebat dari kaum musyrikin Quraisy di Mekah, sehingga banyak yang tidak tahan, maka Rasulullah menganjurkan sahabat-sahabat pindah ke negeri Habsyi (Abessinia) yang beragama Kristen. Kaum Muhajirin itu telah meminta suaka (perlindungan) politik di negeri itu. Orang Quraisy telah mengutus utusan ke Habsyi menghadap Negus di sana, memohon agar pelarian-pelarian itu diserah-kan kepada utusan, supaya dibawa pulang kembali. Kepala perutusan ialah Amr bin Ash yang di waktu itu belum Islam sedang Raja Habsyi tidak mau menyerahkan bahkan memperkuat perlindungan baginda terhadap mereka sehingga perutusan Quraisy pulang dengan tangan hampa. Malahan Raja Habsyi (Najasyi, Negus) segera memeluk Islam setelah mendengar keterangan ajarannya, dari Ja'far bin Abi Thalib, kepala keluarga pengungsi itu.
Setelah Rasulullah ﷺ berkuasa di negeri Madinah, beliau telah mengirim utusan kepada raja-raja Kristen yang berkuasa di Suriah (Heraclius) dan di Mesir, (Raja Muda Muqauqis) yang memerintah negeri-negeri itu sebagai penegak kekuasaan Romawi. Dan Rasulullah telah mengirim utusan pula kepada raja dua bersaudara yang berbangsa Arab di negeri Oman, yaitu Jaifar dan Abd, anak Jalandi, mengajak semuanya itu memeluk Islam atau menerima uluran tangan untuk bersahabat baik dan bertetangga secara damai.
Heraclius menerima utusan dengan baik dan melepasnya dengan baik pula. Muqauqis sampai mengirimkan beberapa bingkisan, dan disertai juga dengan kiriman dayang-dayang. Sedang beliau menerima kiriman seorang dayang Kopti bernama Maria. Beliau kawini dan dari dia beliau beroleh putra yang diberi nama Ibrahim.
Kepada kedua Raja Oman bersaudara tali, Jaifar dan Abd anak Jalandi, beliau utus Amr bin Ash. Dahulu dia utus Quraisy menghadap Raja Habsyi buat meminta serahkan orang-orang yang hijrah ke negeri itu, tetapi ditolak oleh Negus. Kemudian, setelah Perdamaian Hudaibiyah; Amr bin Ash datang ke Madinah dan menyatakan diri masuk Islam. Tenaga dan kepandaiannya di dalam lapangan diplomasi menyebabkan dia mendapat kehormatan buat menyampaikan seruan Rasulullah kepada Raja Arab bersaudara di Oman itu. Perutusannya berhasil, kedua Raja itu terbuka hatinya dan langsung memeluk Islam.
Di dalam ayat ini dengan jujur diterangkan sebabnya mengapa hubungan dengan Nasrani jadi baik, yaitu karena di kalangan mereka di waktu itu terdapat qissisin, kata jamak dari qiss, yang berarti pendeta atau pimpinan-pimpinan gereja, yang kedua ialah ruhban, yaitu kata jamak dari rahib, yang berarti pendeta juga, kata rahib itu adalah bahasa arab asli, diambil dari rahab, artinya takut. Yaitu orang-orang yang takut kepada Allah, yaitu orang-orang yang menyediakan dirinya semata-mata untuk Allah dan gereja, sehingga mereka tidak mau berkawin, karena takut hatinya akan terbelenggu oleh dunia. Maka dengan ayat ini ditunjukkanlah bahwa pendeta-pendeta yang betul-betul pendeta, dan rahib yang sebenar rahib, dapatlah diajak berunding. Yaitu selama mereka belum terikat oleh nafsu berkuasa. Orang-orang yang seperti demikian sudah menerima kebenaran dan hati mereka terbuka terus. Tetapi pemuka-pemuka Yahudi di waktu itu tidak dapat diajak berunding, malahan sangat memusuhi Islam, sebab kesombongan yang memenuhi hati mereka. Demikian juga pemuka-pemuka musyrikin yang di waktu itu berpusat di negeri Mekah.
Sudahlah dapat dimaklumi bahwasanya bunyi ayat ini tidaklah berlaku buat segala zaman. Karena segala sesuatu perubahan yang terjadi ialah menurut sebab dan akibat jua. Di zaman sekarang ini, bersatu padu Yahudi dan Nasrani memusuhi Islam. Permusuhan yang ditimpakan oleh dunia Nasrani kepada dunia Islam sejak Perang Salib dahulu, bukanlah kian mengendur, bahkan kian menghebat, bahkan sampai pada masa akhir-akhir ini negeri-negeri Nasrani, dengan pimpinan Kepala Gereja Katolik sendiri Paus Paulus VI memutuskan memberi ampun orang Yahudi, musuh bebuyutan mereka, Yahudi, yang menuduh Nabi Isa al-Masih anak di luar nikah. Gereja Kathohik memberikan ampunan dosa kepada Yahudi supaya dapat bersatu padu berdua, untuk memerangi Islam dan merebut Palestina dari tangan kaum Muslimin.
(Katakanlah, "Hai Ahli Kitab!) para pemeluk agama Yahudi dan agama Nasrani (Janganlah kamu berlebih-lebihan) janganlah kamu melampaui batas (dalam agamamu) secara berlebih-lebihan (dengan cara tidak benar) yaitu dengan cara merendahkan Nabi Isa atau kamu mengangkatnya secara berlebihan dari apa yang seharusnya (dan janganlah kamu mengikuti hawa nafsu orang-orang yang telah sesat dahulunya sebelum kedatangan Nabi Muhammad) mengikuti cara berlebih-lebihan yang pernah dilakukan oleh para pendahulu mereka (dan mereka telah menyesatkan kebanyakan) manusia (dan mereka tersesat dari jalan yang lurus.") jalan yang hak; lafal as-ﷺaa` asalnya bermakna pertengahan.
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