ٱلْبَقَرَة : ٤٣

وَأَقِيمُواْ And establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ the prayer
وَءَاتُواْ and give
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ zakah
وَٱرۡكَعُواْ and bow down
مَعَ with
ٱلرَّـٰكِعِينَ those who bow down

And establish prayer and give zakāh¹ and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].

Footnotes

¹ - An annual expenditure for the benefit of the Islāmic community (see 9:60) required of those Muslims who have excess wealth. Prayer and zakāh are among the pillars of Islām.

And establish prayer, and pay the alms, and bow with those that bow, that is, pray with those who pray, Muhammad may peace and salutation be upon him and his Companions: this was revealed concerning their religious scholars, who used to say to their kin from among the Muslims, 'Stay firm upon the religion of Muhammad may peace and salutation be upon him, for it is the truth'.

"The Condemnation of commanding Others to observe Righteousness while ignoring Righteousness Allah said أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and every act of obedience to Allah) on the people and you forget (to practice it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture (Tawrah)! Have you then no sense! Allah said, ""How is it, O People of the Book, that you command people to perform Al-Birr, which encompasses all types of righteousness, yet forget yourselves and do not heed what you call others to! And you read Allah's Book (the Tawrah) and know what it promises to those who do not fulfill Allah's commandments. ... أَفَلَ تَعْقِلُونَ Have you then no sense! of what you are doing to yourselves, so that you might become aware of your slumber and restore your sight from blindness"" Abdur-Razzaq said that Ma`mar stated that Qatadah commented on Allah's statement, أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ (Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and every act of obedience to Allah) on the people and you forget (to practice it) yourselves), ""The Children of Israel used to command people to obey Allah, fear Him and perform Al-Birr. Yet, they contradicted these orders, so Allah reminded them of this fact."" As-Suddi said similarly. Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah: أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ (Enjoin you Al-Birr on the people), ""Is about the People of the Book and the hypocrites. They used to command people to pray and fast. However, they did not practice what they commanded others. Allah reminded them of this behavior. So whoever commands people to do righteousness, let him be among the first of them to implement that command."" Also, Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Ibn Abbas said that, وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ (And you forget yourselves), means, ""You forget to practice it yourselves, وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ أَفَلَ تَعْقِلُونَ (While you recite the Scripture (Tawrah)! Have you then no sense!). You forbid the people from rejecting the Prophethood and the covenant that you have mentioned with you in the Tawrah, while you yourselves have forgotten it, meaning that `you have forgotten the covenant that I made with you that you will accept My Messenger. You have breeched My covenant, and rejected what you know is in My Book.""' Therefore, Allah admonished the Jews for this behavior and alerted them to the wrongs that they were perpetrating against themselves by ordering righteousness, yet refraining themselves from righteousness. We should state that Allah is not criticizing the People of the Book for ordering righteousness, because enjoining good is a part of righteousness and is an obligation for the scholars. However, the scholar is himself required to heed, and adhere to, what he invites others to. For instance, Prophet Shu`ayb said, وَمَأ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَى مَأ أَنْهَـكُمْ عَنْهُ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الاِصْلَـحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِى إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only desire reform to the best of my power. And my guidance cannot come except from Allah, in Him I trust and unto Him I repent. (11:88) Therefore, enjoining righteousness and performing righteousness are both required. Neither category is rendered not necessary by the practice of the other, according to the most correct view of the scholars among the Salaf (predecessors) and the Khalaf. Imam Ahmad reported that Abu Wa'il said, ""While I was riding behind Usamah, he was asked, `Why not advise `Uthman?' He said, `Do you think that if I advise him I should allow you to hear it I advise him in secret, and I will not start something that I would hate to be the first to start. I will not say to a man, `You are the best man,' even if he was my leader, after what I heard from the Messenger of Allah.' They said, `What did he say?' He said, `I heard him say, يُجَاءُ بِالرَّجُلِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامةِ فَيُلْقَى فِي النَّار فَتَنْدَلِقُ بِه أَقْتَابُهُ فيَدُورُ بِهَا فِي النَّار كَمَا يَدُورُ الْحِمَارُ بِرَحَاهُ فيُطِيفُ بِهِ أَهْلُ النَّار فَيَقُولُون يَا فُلَنُ ما أَصَابَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ تَأْمُرُنَا بِالْمَعْرُوف وَتَنْهَانَا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ فَيَقُولُ كُنْتُ امرُكُمْ باِلْمَعْرُوفِ وَلَا اتِيهِ وَأَنْهَاكُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاتِيه A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown in the Fire. His intestines will fall out and he will continue circling pulling them behind him, just as the donkey goes around the pole. The people of the Fire will go to that man and ask him, `What happened to you? Did you not used to command us to do righteous acts and forbid us from committing evil?' He will say, `Yes. I used to enjoin righteousness, but refrained from performing righteousness, and I used to forbid you to perform from evil while I myself did it.""' This Hadith was also recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Also, Ibrahim An-Nakhai said, ""I hesitate in advising people because of three Ayat: أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ Enjoin you Al-Birr on the people and you forget (to practice it) yourselves. يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لاأَ تَفْعَلُونَ كَبُرَ مَقْتاً عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do! Most hateful it is to Allah that you say that which you do not do! (61:2-3)."" And Allah informed us that the Prophet Shu`ayb said, وَمَأ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَى مَأ أَنْهَـكُمْ عَنْهُ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الاِصْلَـحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِى إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only desire reform to the best of my power. And my guidance cannot come except from Allah, in Him I trust and unto Him I repent. (11:88)"

In the last three verses and of these four, Allah reminds the Israelites of the blessings He has bestowed upon them, and invites them to Islam and to good deeds. The earlier three verses were concerned with the true faith and doctrines; the present verses speak of good deeds, mentioning only the most important of them. It was usually the love of money and power that made it difficult for the Jews, especially for their scholars, to accept Islam. The verses prescribe the remedy for the twin diseases - they should fortify themselves with Sabr صبر (patience) and Salah نماز (prayer). "Patience" is a very weak translation of the Arabic word Sabr صبر ، which has three connotations: (a) bearing pain and misfortune patiently (b) restraining oneself from sin (c) being steadfast in obeying Allah. Now, patience, in this wide sense, is the perfect remedy for the love of money. For, money cannot be an end in itself, but is sought only as a means of satisfying one's appetites; when a man has made a firm resolve not to follow his appetites like a slave, he will no longer need much money, nor will the love of money blind him to the distinction between his gain and loss. Similarly, Salah نماز is the remedy for ambition and the love of power. For, outwardly and inwardly both, Salah نماز involves the exercise of humility; naturally, the more one tries to perform it in the proper manner, the more it purifies him of the love of money and power, and of ambition and pride. These being the real substance of all spiritual disorder in man, once they are brought under control, it becomes easy for one to accept Islam and to be steadfast in one's faith. Let us add that while patience (Sabr) requires only the restraining or giving up of excessive appetites and unnecessary desires, Salah, in addition to all this, further requires the performance of certain actions, and also a temporary renunciation of perfectly lawful desires and of many human needs which the Shari'ah allows one to fulfill, e.g., eating, drinking, speaking, walking etc. - and, at that, making such a renunciation five times during the day and the night regularly at fixed hours. Thus, Salah means performing certain prescribed actions and restraining oneself from all lawful or unlawful activities at fixed hours. Once a man has decided to give up unnecessary desires, the instinctive urge itself loses its intensity in a few days. So, the exercise of patience is not, after all, so difficult. But offering Salah نماز entails submitting oneself to the conditions laid down by the Shari` ah, observing the fixed hours, and giving up the basic human activities and desires, all of which is quite exacting for the instinctive disposition of man. So, one may very well raise an objection here: for the purpose of making it easy for a man to accept Islam and to be steadfast in his faith, the Holy Qur'an prescribes Sabr صبر and Salah نماز ، but to use this remedy is in itself a difficult thing, specially the Salah and its restriction - now, how can this difficulty be overcome? The Holy Qur'an admits that performing Salah نماز regularly and steadfastly is, no doubt, exacting, and proceeds to show the way out of this impasse - Salah نماز is not a burden to the humble in heart. To know the effectiveness of the remedy, we must know the disease, and find out why Salah نماز should be so burdensome. The human heart loves to roam about freely in the vast spaces of thought and fancy; all the organs of the human body being subservient to the heart, it requires them to be equally free. On the other hand, Salah نماز demands the renunciation of such freedom, - and prohibits eating, drinking, walking, talking etc. - a restriction which annoys the heart and is also painful for the human organs governed by it. In short, Salah نماز is burdensome because the heart enjoys to keep the faculties of thought and imagination in a continuous motion. Motion being the disease, it can only be remedied by its opposite - restfulness. Hence, the Holy Qur'an prescribes Khushu-` (خشوع) a word which we have rendered into English by the phrase "humbleness in heart", but which actually signifies "the restfulness of the heart." Now, the question arises as to how one can acquire this "restfulness of the heart." Everyone knows through his own experience that, if one deliberately tries to empty one's heart of all kinds of thoughts and fancies, the effort rarely succeeds. The only way to achieve it is that since the human mind cannot move in two directions simultaneously, one should make it absorb itself in one thought alone so that all other thoughts may disappear by themselves without any effort on one's part. So, having prescribed "the restfulness of the heart", the Holy Qur'an also prescribes a particular thought which will, if one absorbs oneself in it, drive away all other thoughts: once the movement of thought and fancy has been reduced to the restfulness of the heart, the performance of Salah نماز becomes easy; regularity in offering the ordained prayers gradually cures the disease of pride and ambition, and thus the way to the perfecting of one's faith grows smooth. Such is the well-ordered and beautifully integrated art of spiritual medicine that the Holy Qur'an has given us! 21 21. As against this stand the fanciful systems of thought - concentration, wearing a pseudo-mystical look and some-times an Eastern make-up but all spawned in the Angst-ridden West - things like Yoga and Transcendental Meditation, which serve only to derange an already disordered psyche. Now, the thought in which one should immerse oneself in order to acquire "the restfulness of the heart" has been explained by the Holy Qur'an in describing "the humble in heart" - they are the people who bear in mind that they are to meet their Lord, when they shall receive the reward for their obedience, and also bear in mind that they are to return to Him, when they shall be required to present an account of their deeds. These twin thoughts produce hope and fear in the heart, and hope and fear are the best agents for inducing a man to devote himself to good deeds. The prayer which the Holy Qur'an prescribes is not a mere contemplation or meditation. Al-Sala-h: الصلوة ، in the terminology of Shari'ah, is a definite form of ` Ibadah عبادت or worship, the mode of which is divinely ordained. As often as the Holy Qur'an insists on the performance of the Salah نماز ، it employs the word Igamah اِقامہ ، except in one or two instances. Lexically, the word means "making a thing straight, or keeping it firmly in its place." A tree or a wall or anything which is vertical and straight, usually lasts long in its place; so, the word also signifies "establishing a thing or making it perpetual." Thus, the conjunction of the two words, Salah نماز and Igamah اِقامہ ، in the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith signifies, not merely offering the prayer, but performing the five ordained prayers steadfastly in the prescribed form at the prescribed hours and fulfilling all the necessary conditions. The Holy Qur'an and the Hadith speak of the great rewards and blessings one can hope to receive for offering Salah نماز ، and of other benefits which flow from it, but all of them are tied up with Igamah اقامہ in the sense which we have just explained. For example, the Holy Qur'an says: إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ‌: "The Salah نماز restrains one from indecency and evil." (29:45) The prescribed prayer will bear these fruits only when one has been performing it in the full sense of Iqamah اقامہ . It follows from it that if one finds people who are quite regular in offering their prayers indulging in immodest or even evil activities, one should not have misgivings about the veracity of this verse, for these people have, no doubt, been praying, but not been observing the conditions of Iqamah اقامہ . Verse 43 also speaks of paying Zakah, the prescribed alms. Now, lexically speaking, the Arabic word ; زَّكَاةَ : Zakah has two significations: (a) to purify (b) grow. Zakah is not a tax levied by the State or society, but, in the terminology of the Shari'ah, means that portion of one's belongings which is set apart and spent in total accord with the injunctions of the Shari'ah. This verse is addressed to the Israelites, and does not by itself show that offering prayers and paying alms was obligatory for them before the days of Islam. But the following verse: لَقَدْ أَخَذَ اللَّـهُ مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَ‌ائِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنْهُمُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ‌ نَقِيبًا ۖ وَقَالَ اللَّـهُ إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ ۖ لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَيْتُمُ الزَّكَاةَ Allah made a covenant with the Israelites and raised among them twelve chieftains. And Allah said, 'I am with you. Surely, if you perform Salah and pay Zakah. (5:12) does show that the two things were obligatory for them, even if the external modes might have been different. The verse proceeds to say: "Bow down with those who bow (in worship)." Lexically, the Arabic word Ruku رکوع ` means "to bow down", and may hence be applied even to prostrating oneself (Sajdah سجدہ), which is the ultimate form of bowing down. But in the terminology of the Shari'ah it pertains to the particular form of bowing down which has been prescribed for Salah. One may well ask why this particular gesture has been chosen for a special mention from among the different gestures involved in the Salah نماز . We would reply that it is a metonymy for Salah, and a part has been made to stand for the whole - just as in verse 17:78: قُرْ‌آنَ الْفَجْرِ‌: "the recitation of the Qur'an in the morning" refers to the morning prayers, and on several occasions in some Hadith narrations the use of the word Sajdah سجدہ covers one set of movements (Rak'ah) in Salah نماز or even to the whole of it. Thus, the verse actually means: "Offer Salah نماز along with those who offer Salah نماز ." Salah نماز with Jama’ ah: (congregation) Then, there is a more comprehensive explanation for the specific reference to "bowing down" (Ruku` رکوع). The form of the ritual prayers ordained for the Israelites and others included prostrating oneself (Sajdah سجدہ), but not bowing down. This particular way of bowing down called Ruku رکوع ` is peculiar to the Islamic Salah نماز alone. Hence, Raki` in راکعین or those who bow down (in worship) are, obviously enough, the members of the Islamic Ummah, and the verse, in effect, asks the Israelites to accept Islam, and to offer their prayers along with the Muslims. The command, أَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ : "Be steadfast in Salaih", shows that Salah نماز is obligatory. The other command, وَارْ‌كَعُوا مَعَ الرَّ‌اكِعِينَ : "Bow down with those who bow (in worship) ", establishes that Salah is to be offered in the company of other Muslims (Jama` ah). A very important question arises here - what is the degree of the obligation intended in this injunction? There is a difference of views among the Fuqaha’ (jurists) on this point. According to a large body of blessed Companions, their successors and of the jurists of the ummah, it is necessary (wajib واجب) to offer Salah نماز in a congregation, and it is a sin to give up the Jama` ah. Some of the blessed Companions have gone to the length of holding that it is not permissible to offer Salah نماز all by oneself without a proper excuse allowed by the Shari'ah. Verse 43, in its literal connotation, provides an argument in favour of this view. Moreover, certain hadith narrations too seem to suggest that the Jama` ah is necessary (Wajib واجب ). For example, a hadith reported by Abu Dawud (رح) says that for a man living near a mosque Salah is permissible only in the mosque. According to another hadith reported from the blessed Companion Abu Hurayrah ؓ by Imam Muslim (رح) ، a Companion who was blind asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ for the permission to offer Salah نماز in his house, for there was no one to take him to the mosque and to bring him back. The Holy Prophet ﷺ allowed him to do so, but, as he was leaving, asked him if he could hear the call for the prayers in his house. He said that he could. The Holy Prophet ﷺ remarked: "In that case, you must come to the mosque. Another narration of the same hadith as reported by Abu Dawud (رح) adds that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: "Then, I see no room for making a concession in your case." Similarly. al-Qurtubi cites a hadith from the blessed Companion Ibn ` Abbas ؓ who reports that the Holy Prophet ﷺ once said: من سمع الندا، فلم یجب فلا صلاة لہ الا من عذر "The man who hears the call for the prayers but does not go to the mosque for the Jam-a'ah, has not offered his prayers at all, except that he should have some valid excuse." On the basis of such ahadith, Companions like ` Abdullah ibn Masud ؓ and Aba Musa al-Ash` ari ؓ ، have ruled that if a man lives close enough to a mosque to hear the call for prayers and yet does not attend the Jama` ah without a valid excuse, his offering of the Salah نماز at home is not acceptable. (Let us explain that hearing the call refers to the call made by a man possessing an average voice, and not to that made by a man with an extraordinarily loud voice or broadcast by a loudspeaker). Presented this far were arguments advanced by our revered elders who consider that Salah نماز with is wajib واجب or necessary. On the other hand, the majority of the blessed Companions, their successors and later jurists hold that the Jama` ah is a Sunnah which has been particularly emphasized (Mu'akkadah مؤَکَّدَہ), and that among the Sunnah of this kind it is, like the Sunnah offered in Fajr فجر Salah نماز ، the most emphasized so as to come very close to being necessary. On the basis of certain other verses and Hadith narrations, they interpret the imperative in "bow down with those who bow" as intended for emphasis only. As for the ahadith which appear to be saying that it is just not permissible for those who live near a mosque to offer their Salah نماز at home, they say that these only mean that this is not the perfect way to offer the prayers. The most comprehensive explanation of the matter has been provided by the blessed Companion ` Abdullah ibn Masud ؓ ، as reported by Imam Muslim (رح) : "The man who wishes to meet Allah tomorrow (i.e. the Day of Judgment) as a true Muslim, should offer these (five) prayers regularly and steadfastly in a place where the call for the prayers is habitually made (i.e. a mosque), for Allah has laid down for your Prophet ﷺ certain ways of good guidance (Sunnan al-Huda), and offering the five prescribed prayers with the Jama` ah is one of them. If you offer these prayers at home," he added pointing towards a man, "as he does, keeping away from the Jama'ah, you will have forsaken the Sunnah of your Prophet ﷺ ، and if you forsake the Sunnah of your Prophet ﷺ ، you will go astray. The man who (performs the wudu' وضو or ablution and cleanses himself in the proper manner, and then) goes to a mosque, for every step that he takes, Allah forgives one of his sins, adds one good deed to his account and promotes him one rank higher. Our company was such that there was not a single man, except for people known for their hypocrisy who would offer their prayers at home away from the Jama-'ah, so much so that even when a man was ill or unable to walk, he was brought to the mosque with his hands resting on the shoulders of two men, and made to stand in the row of those who were praying." This statement fully brings out the great importance of the Jama` ah, but at the same time defines its exact position by including it among the "ways of good guidance" (Sunan al-Huda) which are, in the terminology of the Fuqaha’ (jurists), called Al-Sunan al-Mu'akkadah سنن المؤکدہ (the Sunnah on which the greatest emphasis has been placed). Thus, if a man does not go to the mosque for Jama` ah and offers Salah نماز at home without having proper excuse like illness, his prayers will be valid, but he will have earned the displeasure of Allah for having given up a Sunnah which comes under the category of Mu'akkadah. If neglecting the Jama` ah becomes habitual for him, he will be committing a grave sin. If all the people living in the vicinity of a mosque leave it deserted and offer their prayers at home, they become, in the eyes of the Shari` ah, liable to punishment. Qadi ` Iyad says that if persuasion fails to mend such people, they must be challenged by a show of force. (Qurtubi)

Tafsir Surat Al-Baqarah: 42-43 Dan janganlah kalian campur adukkan yang hak dengan yang batil, dan janganlah kalian sembunyikan yang hak itu, sedangkan kalian mengetahui. Dan dirikanlah shalat, tunaikanlah zakat, dan rukuklah bersama orang-orang yang rukuk. Allah ﷻ berfirman melarang orang-orang Yahudi melakukan hal yang biasa mereka kerjakan di masa lalu, misalnya mencampuradukkan antara kebenaran dengan kebatilan, memoles kebenaran dengan kebatilan, menyembunyikan kebenaran dan menampakkan kebatilan. Ayat 42 Allah ﷻ berfirman: Dan janganlah kalian campur adukkan yang hak dengan yang batil, dan janganlah kalian menyembunyikan yang hak itu, sedangkan kalian mengetahui” (Al-Baqarah: 42). Allah ﷻ melarang mereka dari kedua perkara tersebut secara bersamaan, dan memerintahkan mereka agar menampakkan kebenaran dan menjelaskannya. Karena itu, Adh-Dhahhak meriwayatkan dari Ibnu Abbas sehubungan dengan makna firman-Nya: "Janganlah kalian campur adukkan yang hak dengan yang batil" (Al-Baqarah: 42). Yakni janganlah kalian memalsukan yang hak dengan yang batil, yang benar dengan kedustaan. Abul Aliyah mengatakan, makna firman-Nya: “Janganlah kalian campur adukkan yang hak dengan yang batil" (Al-Baqarah: 42). Artinya janganlah kalian mencampuri yang hak dengan yang batil, dan tunaikanlah nasihat kepada hamba-hamba Allah dari kalangan umat Muhammad ﷺ. Hal yang serupa diriwayatkan dari Sa'id ibnu Jubair dan Ar-Rabi' ibnu Anas. Qatadah mengatakan bahwa firman-Nya: "Janganlah kalian campur adukkan yang hak dengan yang batil" (Al-Baqarah: 42), yakni janganlah kalian campur adukkan Yahudi dan Nasrani dengan Islam, sedangkan kalian mengetahui bahwa agama Allah itu adalah agama Islam; agama Yahudi dan agama Nasrani itu adalah bid'ah, bukan dari Allah. Hal yang serupa diriwayatkan dari Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Muhammad ibnu Ishaq mengatakan, telah menceritakan kepadanya Muhammad ibnu Abu Muhammad, dari Ikrimah atau Sa'id ibnu Jubair, dari Ibnu Abbas sehubungan dengan makna firman-Nya: “Dan janganlah kalian sembunyikan kebenaran, sedangkan kalian mengetahui” (Al-Baqarah: 42). Artinya, janganlah kalian menyembunyikan apa yang ada pada kalian mengenai pengetahuan tentang Rasul-Ku dan apa yang diturunkan kepadanya (Al-Qur'an), sedangkan kalian menemukan hal tersebut termaktub pada sisi kalian melalui apa yang kalian ketahui dari kitab-kitab yang ada di tangan kalian. Hal yang serupa diriwayatkan dari Abul Aliyah. Mujahid, As-Suddi, Qatadah, dan Ar-Rabi' Ibnu Anas mengatakan sehubungan dengan makna firman-Nya: "Dan janganlah kalian sembunyikan kebenaran" (Al-Baqarah: 42), yakni Nabi Muhammad ﷺ. Menurut pendapat kami, lafal taktumu dapat dianggap majzum, dapat pula dianggap mansub. Dengan kata lain, artinya menjadi "janganlah kalian menyatukan antara ini dan itu (hak dan batil)." Keadaannya sama dengan perkataan, "La ta-kulis samaka watasyrabal labana (janganlah kamu makan ikan serta minum susu)." Az-Zamakhsyari mengatakan bahwa di dalam mushaf Ibnu Mas'ud disebutkan wataktumunal haqqa artinya 'sedangkan kalian ketika menyembunyikan kebenaran itu', wa antum ta'lamuna, yakni 'dalam keadaan mengetahui kebenaran tersebut'. Boleh pula diartikan 'sedangkan kalian mengetahui akibat perbuatan tersebut, yaitu berakibat mudarat yang besar atas umat manusia'. Mudarat yang besar tersebut adalah mereka sesat dari jalan hidayah yang menjerumuskan mereka ke dalam neraka jika mereka menempuh jalan kebatilan yang kalian tampakkan kepada mereka, tetapi kalian poles dengan semacam kebenaran agar dapat diterima oleh mereka dan juga kalian warnai dengan penjelasan dan keterangan. Begitu pula kebalikannya, yaitu menyembunyikan yang hak dan mencampuradukkannya dengan yang batil. Ayat 43 Firman Allah ﷻ : “Dan dirikanlah shalat, tunaikan zakat, dan rukuklah bersama orang-orang yang rukuk” (Al-Baqarah: 43). Muqatil mengatakan bahwa firman Allah ﷻ yang ditujukan kepada orang-orang ahli kitab, "Dan dirikanlah shalat," merupakan perintah Allah kepada mereka agar mereka shalat bersama Nabi ﷺ. Firman-Nya, "Dan tunaikanlah zakat," merupakan perintah Allah kepada mereka agar mereka menunaikan zakat, yakni menyerahkannya kepada Nabi ﷺ. Firman Allah ﷻ, "Dan rukuklah kalian bersama orang-orang yang rukuk," merupakan perintah Allah kepada mereka agar melakukan rukuk (shalat) bersama orang-orang yang rukuk (shalat) dari kalangan umat Muhammad ﷺ. Singkatnya, jadilah kalian bersama-sama mereka dan termasuk golongan mereka. Ali ibnu Talhah meriwayatkan dari Ibnu Abbas, yang dimaksud dengan zakat ialah taat dan ikhlas kepada Allah ﷻ. Waki' meriwayatkan dari Abu Janab, dari Ikrimah, dari Ibnu Abbas sehubungan dengan makna firman-Nya: "Dan tunaikanlah zakat," yakni harta yang wajib dizakati, menurut Ibnu Abbas adalah dua ratus hingga lebih. Mubarak ibnu Fudalah meriwayatkan dari Al-Hasan sehubungan dengan makna firman-Nya, "Dan tunaikanlah zakat," bahwa makna yang dimaksud adalah zakat merupakan fardu yang tiada gunanya amal perbuatan tanpa zakat dan shalat. Ibnu Abu Hatim meriwayatkan, telah menceritakan kepada kami Abu Dzar'ah, telah menceritakan kepada kami Usman ibnu Abu Syai-bah, telah menceritakan kepada kami Jarir, dari Abu Hayyan At-Taimi, dari Al-Haris Al-Akli sehubungan dengan makna firman-Nya: "Dan tunaikanlah zakat," bahwa yang dimaksud adalah zakat fitrah. Firman Allah ﷻ : “Dan rukuklah kalian bersama orang-orang yang rukuk.” (Al-Baqarah: 43). Maksudnya, jadilah kalian bersama orang-orang mukmin dalam amal perbuatan mereka yang paling baik, salah satunya dan paling khusus serta paling sempurna adalah shalat. Banyak kalangan ulama menyimpulkan dalil ayat ini akan wajibnya shalat berjamaah. Masalah ini insya Allah akan kami terangkan dengan panjang lebar dalam kitab kami Al-Ahkamul Kabir. Al-Qurthubi mengetengahkan berbagai masalah mengenai shalat berjamaah dan imamah, ternyata pembahasannya itu cukup baik.

Tafsir Surat Al-Baqarah: 40-46 DAKWAH KEPADA BANI ISRAIL Sebagaimana telah kita maklumi pada keterangan-keterangan di atas, selain dari persukuan Arab Bani Aus dan Bani Khazraj, ada pula penduduk Madinah dari pemeluk agama Yahudi. Mereka bukanlah bangsa Arab keturunan Qahthan atau Adnan, melainkan keturunan dari Nabi Ya'kub ‘alaihis salam. Ya'kub putra dari Ishaq dan Ishaq putra dari Ibrahim, semuanya adalah rasul Allah. Beliau beranak laki-laki 12 orang, di antaranya Nabi Yusuf a.s. Maka, berkembangbiaklah anak keturunan Nabi Ya'kub yang 12 orang ini. Gelar kehormatan yang diberikan Tuhan kepada Nabi Ya'kub ialah Israil. 13 di ujung itu ialah bahasa Ibrani yang artinya Allah. Israil konon-nya berarti Amir pejuang bersama Allah. Bani Israil menerima Taurat dari Musa. Lama-lama timbullah pada mereka kesan bahwasanya agama yang mereka pusakai dari nenek moyang mereka itu yang dirumuskan dalam Taurat Nabi Musa dan nabi-nabi yang lain sesudah Musa, adalah khusus buat mereka belaka. Di antara 12 suku Bani Israil itu, yang terbesar adalah keturunan suku anak yang kedua, yaitu Yahuda. Lama-kelamaan menjadi kebiaSaanlah mereka menyebut diri Yahudi dan agama mereka agama Yahudi, yang dibangsakan kepada Yahuda itu. Padahal yang lebih tepat, supaya semuanya tercakup, ialah kalau disebutkan Bani Israil. Maka, selain dari dakwah untuk orang Arab, Qahthan dan Adnan, Nabi Muhammad ﷺ diperintahkan Tuhan menyampaikan dakwah kepada Bani Israil. Persukuan mereka yang besar di Madinah ketika itu adalah Bani Nadhir, Bani Qainuqa', Bani Quraizhah, dan lain-lain persukuan yang kecil-kecil. Dengan pindahnya Nabi Muhammad ﷺ ke Madinah, rapAllah pergaulan dengan mereka. Apatah lagi ketika itu kegiatan perdagargan ada di tangan mereka. Mereka selalu bertemu di pasar. Dan telah dibuat perjanjian akan hidup berdampingan secara damai. Maka diperintahkan kepada Rasulullah supaya menyampaikan dakwah pula kepada mereka. “Wahai, Bani Israil! Ingatlah nikmat-Ku yang telah Aku karuniakan kepada kamu dan penuhilah janjimu agar Aku penuhi (pula) janji-Ku, dan semata-mata kepada-Ku sajalah kamu takut." (ayat 40) Dihadapkanlah seruan kepada mereka karena patutlah mereka yang terlebih dahulu menerima kebenaran yang dibawa Muhammad ﷺ, mengingat nikmat yang telah dianugerahkan Allah kepada mereka. Di antara bang-sa-bangsa yang sezaman dengan mereka dahulunya, kepada merekalah dikhususkan Tuhan nikmat wahyu. Sampai mereka dilepaskan dari perbudakan Fir'aun dan diberi tanah istimewa pusaka nenek moyang mereka Ibrahim dan Ishaq, dan berpuluh-puluh banyaknya nabi dan rasul dibangkitkan dalam kalangan mereka. Patutlah mereka mengingat nikmat itu dan dari sebab itu patut pulalah mereka yang dahulu sekali menyatakan percaya pada Muhammad ﷺ Di samping itu, mereka disuruh mengingat kembali janji khususnya dengan Allah. Meskipun kitab Taurat sudah tidak ada aslinya lagi, tetapi janji itu masih bertemu, yaitu bahwa mereka tidak akan mempersekutukan yang lain dengan Allah dan supaya beriman kepada rasul-rasul Allah yang datang menegakkan kepercayaan kepada Allah Yang Maha Esa itu. Dijanjikan pula, kemudian hari akan diutus pula seorang rasul dari antara saudara mereka, yaitu Bani Isma'il. Itulah Nabi Muhammad ﷺ Sekarang, nabi itu telah datang membawa ajaran persis ajaran yang telah mereka janjikan dengan Allah itu pula, yaitu Tauhid mengesakan Tuhan. Patutlah mereka ingat janji itu kembali. Kemudian dijelaskan lagi oleh Tuhan, “Dan percayatah kamu kepada apa yang Aku turunkan" (pangkal ayat 41) Yaitu, Al-Qur'an yang diturunkan kepada Muhammad ﷺ Yang bersetuju dengan apa yang ada sertamu, yaitu kitab Taurat. Jika kamu tilik kembali isi Taurat, yang memerintahkan kamu percaya kepada Allah Ta'aala atau Allah Yang Esa, jangan membuat berhala untuk-Nya, dan hendaklah hormat kepada ibu bapakmu, jangan berzina, jangan mencuri, jangan naik saksi dusta, niscaya kamu akan mengakui kebenaran Al-Qur'an yang memang itu pulalah pokok ajaran yang dibawanya."Dan janganlah kamu menjadi orang-orang yang mula-mula mengufurkannya," ka-rena kalau kamu kufuri, kamu tolak, dan kamu tentang Al-Qur'an itu, berarti kamu menentang Kitab yang ada dalam tanganmu sendiri, “Dan janganlah kamu jual ayat-ayat-Ku dengan harga yang sedikit." Artinya, karena mengharapkan kemegahan lalu kamu dustakan kebenaran ayat Allah. Berapa pun pangkat yang kamu dapat lantaran mendustakan kebenaran, namun itu masihlah harga yang sedikit jika dibandingkan dengan kerugian ruhani yang kamu dapat. “Dan semata-mata kepada-Ku sajalah kamu bertakwa." (ujung ayat 41) Artinya, semata-mata perhubungan dengan Allah-lah yang patut kamu pelihara dan perbesarlah perasaan tanggung jawabmu dengan Tuhan. “Dan janganlah kamu campur adukkan yang benar dengan yang batil dan kamu sembunyikan kebenaran, padahal kamu mengetahui." (ayat 42) Di dalam catatan kitab Taurat telah diperingatkan bahwa seorang rasul akan datang dari kalangan saudara sepupu mereka Bani Isma'il. Tanda-tandanya sudah jelas dan sekarang tanda itu sudah bertemu. Akan tetapi, pemuka-pemuka agama mereka melarang pengikut mereka percaya kepada Rasul ﷺ karena kata mereka dalam kitab-kitab nabi-nabi mereka itu tersebut juga bahwa akan ada nabi-nabi palsu. Mereka lalu katakan kepada pengikut-pengikut itu bahwa ini adalah nabi palsu, bukan nabi yang dijanjikan itu. Kalau pengikut mereka datang bertanya, mereka sembunyikan kebenaran dan kitab mereka sendiri mereka tafsirkan lain dari maksudnya semula, padahal mereka telah mengetahui bahwa memang Muhammad ﷺ itulah nabi dari Bani Isma'il yang ditunggu-tunggu itu. Untuk mempertahankan kedudukan, mereka telah sengaja mencampuradukkan yang benar dengan yang salah dan menyembunyikan yang sebenarnya. Ayat 41 untuk peringatan bagi orang-orang awam mereka dan ayat 42 untuk peringatan bagi pemuka-pemuka agama mereka. “Dan dirikanlah shalat dan berikanlah zakat, dan ruku'lah bersama-sama orang-orang yang ruku'." (ayat 43) Setelah diperingatkan kepada mereka kesalahan-kesalahan dan kecurangan mereka yang telah lalu itu, sekarang mereka diajak membersihkan jiwa dan mengadakan ibadah tertentu kepada Allah, dengan mengerjakan shalat dan mengeluarkan zakat. Dengan shalat, hati terhadap Allah menjadi bersih dan khu-syu, sedangkan dengan mengeluarkan zakat, penyakit bakhil menjadi hilang dan timbullah hubungan batin yang baik dengan masyarakat, terutama orang-orang fakir miskin, yang selama ini hanya mereka peras tenagarya, dan mana yang terdesak mereka pinjami uang dengan memungut riba. Apabila Tuhan Allah telah memerintahkan supaya iman kepada keesaan Allah itu lebih di dalamkan dengan mengerjakan shalat kemudian dengan mengeluarkan zakat, akan tumbuhlah iman itu dengan suburnya. Karena ada juga orang yang telah mengaku beriman kepada Allah, tetapi dia malas shalat. Berbahayatah bagi iman itu, karena kian lama dia akan runtuh kembali. Dan hendaklah dididik diri bermurah hati dengan mengeluarkan zakat karena bakhil adalah musuh yang terbesar dari iman. Apabila berperangai bakhil, nyatalah orang itu tidak beriman! Kemudian mengapa disuruh lagi ruku' bersama dengan orang yang ruku'? Tidakkah cukup dengan perintah shalat saja? Apakah ini bukan kata berulang? Bukan! Ada juga orang yang berpaham bahwa asal aku sudah shalat sendiri di rumahku, tidak perlu lagi aku bercampur dengan orang lain. Itulah yang salah! Shalat sendiri pun belum sempurna, tetapi ruku'lah bersama -sama dengan orang yang ruku', bawalah diri ke tengah masyarakat. Pergilah berjamaah! Maksud yang kedua, arti ruku' ialah khusyu. Jangan hanya shalat asal shalat, shalat mencukupi kebiasaan sehari-hari saja, tidak dijiwai oleh rasa khusyu dan ketundukan. Kemudian itu, Allah meneruskan lagi firman-Nya kepada Bani Israil dengan mengingatkan kesalahan selama ini, “Apakah kamu suruh manusia berbuat kebajikan dan kamu lupakan dirimu (sendiri), padahal kamu membaca Kitab; apakah kamu tidak pikirkan?" (ayat 44) Teguran keras ini adalah kepada pemuka-pemuka dan pendeta-pendeta mereka. Bukan main keras larangan mereka, “Ini haram!" Bukan main keras perintah mereka, “Ini wajib," seakan-akan merekalah yang empunya agama itu, padahal diri mereka sendiri mereka lupakan. Hanya mulut mereka yang keras mempertahankan agama untuk dipakai oleh orang lain. Adapun untuk diri mereka sendiri, tidak usahlah dipersoalkan. Padahal mereka membaca Kitab, hafal nomor ayatnya, ingat pasalnya, bahkan salah titik dan salah baris sedikit saja, mereka tabu. Tetapi apa isi dan inti sari dari Kitab itu, apa maksudnya yang sejati, tidaklah mereka mau mengetahui dan tidak mereka pikirkan. Inilah penyakit pemuka-pemuka atau yang disebut pendeta atau ahbar mereka pada waktu itu. Dengan keras mengoyak mulut mempertahankan apa yang mereka katakan agama, padahal sudah tinggal hanya mempertahankan kata (textbook), tetapi tidak ada paham rnereka sama sekali akan maksud. Paham menjadi sempit dan fanatik, takut akan perubahan, dan gentar mendengar pendapat baru. Maka datanglah teguran: apakah tidak kamu pikirkan? Atau lebih tegas lagi: apakah kamu tidak mempergunakan akalmu? “Dan mohonlah pertolongan dengan sabar dan shalat" (pangkal ayat 45) Dipesankan dalam rangka nasihat kepada pemuka-pemuka Yahudi, sebagai merangkul mereka ke dalam suasana Islam, supaya meminta tolong kepada Tuhan, pertama dengan sabar, tabah, tahan hati dan teguh, sehingga tidak berkucak bila datang gelombang kesulitan. Maka adalah sabar sebagai benteng. Dengan shalat, supaya jiwa itu selalu dekat dan lekat kepada Tuhan. Ingatlah, betapa pun sabarnya hati, terkadang karena beratnya yang dihadapi, jiwa bisa bergoncang juga. Maka dengan shalat khusyu sekurang-kurangnya lima waktu sehari semalam, hati yang tadinya nyaris lemah, nis-caya akan kuat kembali. Maka sabar dan shalat itulah alat pengukuh pribadi bagi orang Islam. Akan tetapi, ayat selanjutnya mengatakan, “Dan sesungguhnya hal itu memang berat" Yang dimaksud ialah shalat; bahwa mengerjakan shalat itu amat berat. Orang disuruh sabar, padahal hatinya sedang susah. Lalu dia disuruh shalat; maka dengan kesalnya dia menjawab, “Hati saya sedang susah, saya tidak bisa shalat." Mengapa dia merasa berat shalat? Sebab jiwanya masih gelap, sukarlah menerima nasihat supaya sabar dan shalat. Kalau nasihat yang benar itu ditolaknya, tidaklah dia akan terlepas dari kesukaran yang tengah dihadapinya. Lalu datang penutup ayat, “Kecuali bagi orang-orang yang khusyu." (ujung ayat 45) Khusyuk artinya tunduk, rendah hati, dan insaf bahwa kita ini adalah hamba Allah. Dan Allah itu cinta kasih kepada kita. Nikmat-Nya lebih banyak daripada cobaan-Nya. Saat kita menerima nikmat itu lebih banyak daripada saat menerima susah. Lantaran yang demikian itu, jika diajak supaya sabar dan shalat, orang yang khusyu itu tidak bertingkah lagi. Sebab dia insaf bahwa memang keselamatan jiwanya amat bergantung kepada belas kasihan Tuhannya. Jika datang percobaan Tuhan, bukanlah dia menjauhi Tuhan, melainkan bertambah mendekati-Nya. Dan, siapakah orang yang bisa menjadi khusyu? “(Yaitu) orang-orang yang sungguh percaya bahwasanya Mereka akan bertemu dengan Tuhan Mereka, dan bahwasanya kepada-Nya Mereka akan kembali." (ayat 46) Untuk menambahkan khusyu, hendaklah kita ingat, sampai menjadi keyakinan bahwasanya kita ini datang ke dunia atas kehendak Tuhan dan akan kembali ke akhirat, dan akan bertemu dengan Tuhan. Di hadapan Tuhan akan kita pertanggungjawabkan semua amal dan usaha kita selama di dunia. Maka, dari sekarang hendaklah kita latih diri mendekati Tuhan. Ibaratnya ialah sebagai apa yang disebut di zaman sekarang dengan kalimat relasi (relation). Datang tiba-tiba saja kita berhadapan dengan Tuhan, padahal makrifat terlebih dahulu tidak ada, dan hubungan kontak jarang sekali, tentu akan membuat bingung karena tidak ada persiapan. Sampailah Imam Ghazali mengatakan bahwa jika kamu berdiri shalat, hendaklah sebelum kamu takbir kamu ingat seakan-akan itulah shalatmu yang terakhir. Mungkin nanti engkau akan mati. Sebab itu, engkau khusyukan hatimu menghadap Tuhan. Inilah beberapa seruan kepada Bani Israil untuk mengembalikan mereka kepada pangkalan agama yang sejati. Sebab inti agama yang mereka peluk selama ini itulah dia inti Islam dan marilah menjadi Islam. Kamulah yang lebih patut mula-mula menyambutnya.

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