5. Al-Maaida

(O ye who believe!) this was revealed about Harith Ibn Yazid who asked the Prophet (pbuh)-when the verse (And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind) was revealed: �Is it once every year, O Messenger of Allah?� So Allah forbade him from asking such questions, and started by addressing him with (O ye who believe!), (Ask not) your Prophet (of things) that Allah has relieved you of (which, if they were made known unto you) if they were made obligatory upon you, (would trouble you; but if you ask of them) if you ask of the things that you were relieved of (when the Qur'an is being revealed) when Gabriel brings down the Qur'an, (they will be made known unto you) they will be made obligatory upon you. (Allah pardoneth this) this questioning, (for Allah is Forgiving) of the one who repents, (Clement) vis-�-vis your ignorance.

(A folk before you asked) their prophets ((for such disclosures) and then disbelieved there in) when things were made clear to them, they disbelieved in them.

(Allah hath not appointed anything in the nature of a Bahirah or a Sa'ibah or a Wasilah or a Hami) He says: Allah has not prohibited the Bahirah, the Sa'ibah, the Wasilah or the Hami. As for the Bahirah, it was the norm that if a she-camel delivered on its fifth birthing a male camel, the latter would be immolated and both men and women would eat from it, but if it were a female, they would cleave its ear. The latter is called a Bahirah. The latter's milk and benefits were for men only, to the exclusion of women, and when she died both men and women could share her meat. As for the Sa'ibah, people used to give whatever they were willing to give of cattle and hand it over to the custodians of idols. The latter would offer it to travellers who passed by, the men not the women. The animals offered were also male and never female. When these died both men and women shared its meat. As for the Wasilah, when a sheep had delivered seven times, they used to check the seventh birth. If it were male, they used to immolate it and its meat was shared by men and women. If it were female, women would not be allowed to benefit from it until the animal died. When the animal died, both men and women shared its meat. If it were a twin delivery, male and female, both were spared for the benefit of men only, until their death. When the animal died, both men and women shared their meat. As for the Ham, it is the male camel whose offspring has produced its own offspring, it is said that such an animal has protected its back. This animal is left alone: it is not used for riding or transporting things. It cannot be stopped from drinking of any water or grazing in any pasture, nor can it be stopped from copulating with any she-camel that comes its way. When this animal gets too old or dies, its meat is shared by men and women. Allah says that He did not prescribe any of these practices described above; (but those who disbelieve) i.e. 'Amr ibn Luhayy and his followers (invent a lie against Allah) by declaring the above unlawful [for some]. (Most of them) all of them (have no sense) in relation to Allah's command, that which He has made lawful and that which He has made unlawful.

(And when it is said unto them) when the Prophet (pbuh) said to the idolaters of Mecca: (Come unto that which Allah hath revealed) come and make lawful that which Allah has clarified in the Qur'an (and unto the messenger) and come to that which the Messenger has shown you to be lawful, (they say: Enough for us) enough prohibition for us (is that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever) regarding Allah's divine Oneness and religion, (and no guidance) to the practice of any prophet; it is also said that this means: were not their fathers completely ignorant of the religion and not guided to the practice of the Prophet? How then can their example be followed?

(O ye who believe! Let there be witnesses between you) in settlement or upon travelling (when death draweth nigh unto one of you, at the time of bequest) of the dead person (two witnesses) should testify, just men from among you) two free men; it is also said: two of your own people, (or two others from another tribe) who adhere to your religion, as it is said that this means: two people from outside your own people. Then, leaving the question in the case of settlement, Allah mentioned the same question in the case of travelling, saying: (in case you are campaigning in the land) if you are out in the land or travelling (and the calamity of death befall you). This verse was revealed about three men who travelled together for trade to Historic Syria. On the way, one of them, Budayl Ibn Abi Mariyah, a client of 'Amr Ibn al-'As, who was a Muslim, died. But before he died, he requested his two companions, 'Adiyy Ibn Bida' and Tamim Ibn Aws al-Dari, who were Christians, to hand over his property to his people. They however betrayed his testament. So Allah said to the custodians of the deceased person: (You shall empanel them both) the two Christians (after the prayer) of 'Asr, (and, if ye doubt) O custodian of the deceased person that they gave back less than the deceased person had with him, (they shall be made to swear by Allah (saying): We will not take a bribe) let them say: we will not exchange our oath for a paltry portion of this world, (even though it were (on behalf of) a near kinsman) even if the deceased person is one of our kinsmen (nor will we hide the testimony of Allah) let them also say: we will not withhold our testimony, if asked, (for then) for if we withhold our testimony (indeed we should be of the sinful) i.e. of the wrong-doers.

However, it became clear after their testimony that they had betrayed the dead person, and the custodians of the deceased found out. Allah said: (But then, if it is afterwards ascertained that both of them merit (the suspicion of) sin) of betrayal, (let two others) representing the deceased person, 'Amr Ibn al-'As and Muttalib Ibn Abi Wada'ah (take their place) the place of the two Christians (of those nearly concerned) about such a betrayal, i.e. the two Christians, and it is said that the reference here is to those from whom the property was taken away, i.e. the custodians of the deceased person, (and let them) the custodians of the deceased person (swear by Allah) that the property that was with the deceased person was more than what the two Christians gave back, ((saying): Verily our testimony) the testimony of the Muslims (is truer than their testimony) the testimony of the Christians (and we have not transgressed) let them say: we have not transgressed in our claim, (for then) for if we have transgressed (indeed we should be of the evil-doers) liars who harm others.

(Thus it is more likely) it is more appropriate and worthier (that they) the Christians (will hear true witness or fear) i.e. the Christians (that after their oath the oath (of others) will be taken) i.e. the oath of the Muslims will be taken, so let them not withhold their testimony. (So be mindful of your duty (to Allah)) fear Allah regarding that which is entrusted to you (and hearken) to that with which you are commanded and obey Allah. (Allah guideth not the froward folk) He does not guide to His religion or clear proof lying, transgressing disbelievers nor does He guide those who are not fit for His guidance.

(In the day when Allah gathereth together the messengers) this is on the Day of Judgement, (and saith) in some place, at the time of bedazzlement: (What was your response (from mankind)) how did people respond to you? (They say) due to the intensity of the situation, which is that place: (We have no knowledge. Lo! Thou, only Thou art the Knower of Things Hidden) i.e. that which is hidden from us of the response of people. But later, they answer and testify that they have delivered the message to their people.

(When Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favour) recollect My grace (unto thee) by bestowing prophethood upon you (and unto thy mother) by gracing her with complete surrender to Allah and with worship; (how I strengthened thee with the holy Spirit) the pure Gabriel: he taught and helped you talk to people, (so that thou spakest unto mankind in the cradle) in your mother's lap and in your cot, saying: I am Allah's servant and anointed one (as in maturity) as did Gabriel help you after you reached your thirtieth year when you said to them: I am Allah's Messenger to you; (and how I taught you the Scripture) the Scriptures of past prophets; and it is said that this means: writing with the pen (and Wisdom) the wisdom of past sages; it is also said that this means: the lawful and the unlawful (and the Torah) and taught you the Torah in the womb of your mother (and the Gospel) after you were born; (and how thou didst shape of clay as it were the likeness of a bird) a bat (by My permission) by My command, (and didst blow upon it) like the breathing of a sleeping person (and it was a bird) flying in the air (by My permission) by My command and will, (and thou didst heal him who was born blind and the leper by My permission) by My command, will and power; (and how thou didst raise the dead) by means of My will and through Me give life to the dead, (by My permission and how I restrained the Children of Israel from you) when they decided to kill you (when thou camest unto them with clear proofs) with commands, prohibitions and the wondrous things that you showed them, (and those of them who disbelieved) from among the Children of Israel (exclaimed: This) which Jesus is showing us (is naught else than mere magic);