5. Al-Maaida

The Virtues of Surat Al-Mā'idah and When It Was Revealed

At-Tirmidhi recorded that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said, "The last Surahs to be revealed were Surat Al-Ma'idah and Surat Al-Fath (chapter 48)." At-Tirmidhi commented, "This Hadith is Hasan, Gharib." and it was also reported that Ibn 'Abbas said that the last Surah to be revealed was,

إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ

(When there comes the help of Allah and the Conquest,)[110:1]

Al-Hakim collected a narration similar to that of At-Tirmidhi in his Mustadrak, and he said, "It is Sahih according to the criteria of the Two Shaykhs and they did not record it." Al-Hakim narrated that Jubayr bin Nufayr said, "I performed Hajj once and visited 'A'ishah and she said to me, 'O Jubayr! Do you read (or memorize) Al-Mā'idah?' I answered 'Yes.' She said, 'It was the last Surah to be revealed. Therefore, whatever permissible matters you find in it, then consider (treat) them permissible. And whatever impermissible matters you find in it, then consider (treat) them impermissible.'" Al-Hakim said, "It is Sahih according to the criteria of the Two Shaykhs and they did not record it. " Imam Ahmad recorded that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Mahdi related that Mu'awiyah bin Salih added this statement in the last Hadith, "I (Jubayr) also asked 'A'ishah about the Messenger of Allah's conduct and she answered by saying, 'The Qur'an.'" An-Nasa'i also recorded it.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ الْأَنْعَامِ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّي الصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ - يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحِلُّوا شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ وَلَا الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَلَا الْهَدْيَ وَلَا الْقَلَائِدَ وَلَا آمِّينَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَانًا وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَاصْطَادُوا وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

(In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.)

(1. O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations. Lawful to you (for food) are all the beasts of cattle except that which will be announced to you (herein), game (also) being unlawful when you assume Ihram. Verily, Allah commands that which He wills.)(2. O you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the Sacred Month, nor of the Hady brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands, nor the people coming to the Sacred House (Makkah), seeking the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when you finish the Ihram, then hunt, and let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah) lead you to transgression. Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa, but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment.)

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that a man came to 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud and said to him, "Advise me." He said, "When you hear Allah's statement,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ …

Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytah (the dead animals), blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than Allah, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns ـand that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal ـunless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) - and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An-Nusub (stone altars). (Forbidden) also is to make decisions with Al-Azlam (arrows)(all) that is Fisq (disobedience and sin). This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin (such can eat these above mentioned animals), then surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (3)

The Animals that are Unlawful to Eat

Allah informs His servants that He forbids consuming the mentioned types of foods, such as the Maytah, which is the animal that dies before being properly slaughtered or hunted. Allah forbids this type of food due to the harm it causes, because of the blood that becomes clogged in the veins of the dead animal. Therefore, the Maytah is harmful, religiously and physically, and this is why Allah has prohibited it. The only exception to this ruling is fish, for fish is allowed, even when dead, by slaughtering or otherwise. Malik in his Muwatta, also Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah in their Sunan, Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban in their Sahihs, all recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about seawater. He said,

هُوَ الطَّهُورُ مَاؤُهُ الْحِلُّ مَيْتَتُهُ

(Its water is pure and its dead are permissible.)

The same ruling applies to locusts, as proven in a Hadith that we will mention later. Allah's statement,

وَالدَّمُ

(blood...) This refers to flowing blood, according to Ibn 'Abbas and Sa'id bin Jubayr, and it is similar to Allah's other statement,

دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا

(Blood poured forth...) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn 'Abbas was asked about the spleen and he said, "Eat it." They said, "It is blood." He said, "You are only prohibited blood that was poured forth." Abu 'Abdullah, Muhammad bin Idris Ash-Shafi'i recorded that Ibn 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

أُحِلَّ لَنَا مَيْتَتَانِ وَدَمَانِ، فَأَمَّا الْمَيْتَتَانِ فَالسَّمَكُ وَالْجَرَادُ، وَأَمَّا الدَّمَانِ فَالْكَبِدُ وَالطحال

(We were allowed two dead animals and two (kinds of) blood. As for the two dead animals, they are fish and locust. As for the two bloods, they are liver and spleen.)

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ibn Majah, Ad-Daraqutni and Al-Bayhaqi also recorded this Hadith through 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, who is a weak narrator.

Allah's statement,

وَلَحْمُ الْخِنزِ

(the flesh of swine...) includes domesticated and wild swine, and also refers to the whole animal, including its fat, for this is what the Arabs mean by Lahm or 'flesh'. Muslim recorded that Buraydah bin Al-Husayb Al-Aslami said that the Messenger of …

They ask you what is lawful for them. Say: "Lawful unto you are At-Tayyibat (the good things). And those Jawarih (beasts and birds of prey) which you have trained as hounds, training and teaching them (to catch) in the manner as directed to you by Allah; so eat of what they catch for you, but pronounce the Name of Allah over it, and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is swift in reckoning. (4)

Clarifying the Lawful

In the previous Ayah Allah mentioned the prohibited types of food, the impure and unclean things, harmful for those who eat them, either to their bodies, religion or both, except out of necessity,

وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ

(while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity) After that, Allah said,

يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا أُحِلَّ لَهُمْ قُلْ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ

(They ask you what is lawful for them. Say, "Lawful unto you are At-Tayyibat...")

In Surat Al-A'raf Allah describes Muhammad ﷺ allowing the good things and prohibiting the filthy things. Muqatil said, "At-Tayyibat includes everything Muslims are allowed and the various types of legally earned provision." Az-Zuhri was once asked about drinking urine for medicinal purposes and he said that it is not a type of Tayyibat." Ibn Abi Hatim also narrated this statement.

Using Jawarih to Hunt Game is Permissible

Allah said,

وَمَا عَلَّمْتُم مِّنَ الْجَوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِينَ

(And those Jawarih (beasts and birds of prey) which you have trained as hounds...)

That is, lawful for you are the animals slaughtered in Allah's Name, and the good things for sustenance. [The game you catch] with the Jawarih are also lawful for you. This refers to trained dogs and falcons, as is the opinion of the majority of the Companions, their followers, and the Imams. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas said that,

وَمَا عَلَّمْتُم مِّنَ الْجَوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِينَ

(And those Jawarih (beasts and birds of prey) which you have trained as hounds...) refers to trained hunting dogs, falcons and all types of birds and beasts that are trained to hunt, including dogs, wild cats, falcons, and so forth. Ibn Abi Hatim collected this and said, "Similar was reported from Khaythamah, Tawus, Mujahid, Makhul and Yahya bin Abi Kathir." Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn 'Umar said, "You are permitted the animal that the trained birds, such as falcons, hunt for you if you catch it (before it eats from it). Otherwise, do not eat from it." I say, the majority of scholars say that hunting with trained birds is just like hunting with trained dogs, because bird's of prey catch the game with their claws, just like dogs. Therefore, there is no difference between the two. Ibn Jarir recorded that 'Adi bin Hatim said that he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the game that the falcon hunts and the Messenger ﷺ said,

مَا أَمْسَكَ عَلَيْكَ فَكُل

(Whatever it catches for you, eat from it.)

These carnivores that are trained to catch game are called Jawarih in Arabic, a word that is derived from Jarh, meaning, what one earns. The Arabs would say, "So-and-so has Jaraha something good for his family," meaning, he has …

Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibat. The food of the People of the Scripture is lawful to you, and your food is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture before your time when you have given them their due, desiring chastity, not illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girlfriends (or lovers). And whosoever rejects faith, then fruitless is his work; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers (5)

Permitting the Slaughtered Animals of the People of the Book

After Allah mentioned the filthy things that He prohibited for His believing servants and the good things that He allowed for them, He said next,

الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ

(Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibat.)

Allah then mentioned the ruling concerning the slaughtered animals of the People of the Book, the Jews and Christians,

وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ

(The food of the People of the Scripture is lawful to you..)

meaning, their slaughtered animals, as Ibn 'Abbas, Abu Umamah, Mujahid, Sa'id bin Jubayr, 'Ikrimah, 'Ata', Al-Hasan, Makhul, Ibrahim An-Nakha'i, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan stated. This ruling, that the slaughtered animals of the People of the Book are permissible for Muslims, is agreed on by the scholars, because the People of the Book believe that slaughtering for other than Allah is prohibited. They mention Allah's Name upon slaughtering their animals, even though they have deviant beliefs about Allah that do not befit His majesty.

It is recorded in the Sahih that 'Abdullah bin Mughaffal said, "While we were attacking the fort of Khaybar, a person threw a leather bag containing fat, and I ran to take it and said, 'I will not give anyone anything from this container today.' But when I turned I saw the Prophet ﷺ (standing behind) while smiling." The scholars rely on this Hadith as evidence that we are allowed to eat what we need of foods from the booty before it is divided. The scholars of the Hanafi, the Shafi'i and the Hanbali Madhhabs rely on this Hadith to allow eating parts of the slaughtered animals of the Jews that they prohibit for themselves, such as the fat. They used this Hadith as evidence against the scholars of the Maliki Madhhab who disagreed with this ruling. A better proof is the Hadith recorded in the Sahih that the people of Khaybar gave the Prophet ﷺ a gift of a roasted leg of sheep, which they poisoned. The Prophet ﷺ used to like eating the leg of the sheep and he took a bite from it, but it told the Prophet ﷺ that it was poisoned, so he discarded that bite. The bite that the Prophet ﷺ took effected the palate of his mouth, while Bishr bin Al-Bara' bin Ma'rur died from eating from that sheep. The Prophet ﷺ had the Jewish woman, Zaynab, who poisoned the sheep, killed. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions wanted to eat from that sheep and did not ask the Jews if they removed what the Jews believed was prohibited for them, such as its fat.

Allah's statement,

وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ

(and your food is lawful to them.) means, you are allowed to feed them from your slaughtered …

O you who believe! When you stand (intend) to offer the Salah (the prayer), then wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba, purify yourselves (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from the Gha'it (toilet) or you have touched women and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favor to you that you may be thankful (6)

The Order to Perform Wudu

Allah said,

إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ

(When you stand for (intend to offer) the Salah,)

Allah commanded performing Wudu' for the prayer. This is a command of obligation in the case of impurity, and in the case of purity, it is merely a recommendation. It was said that in the beginning of Islam, Muslims had to perform Wudu' for every prayer, but later on, this ruling was abrogated. Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded that Sulayman bin Buraydah said that his father said, "The Prophet ﷺ used to perform Wudu' before every prayer. On the Day of Victory, he performed Wudu' and wiped on his Khuffs and prayed the five prayers with one Wudu'. 'Umar said to him, 'O Messenger of Allah! You did something new that you never did before.' The Prophet ﷺ said,

إني عمدا فعلته يا عمر

('I did that intentionally O 'Umar!)'" Muslim and the collectors of the Sunan also recorded this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said,"Hasan Sahih."

Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-Fadl bin Al-Mubashshir said, "I saw Jabir bin 'Abdullah perform several prayers with only one Wudu'. When he would answer the call of nature, he performed Wudu' and wiped the top of his Khuffs with his wet hand. I said, 'O Abu 'Abdullah! Do you do this according to your own opinion?' He said, 'Rather, I saw the Prophet ﷺ do the same thing. So, I do what I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ doing.'" Ibn Majah also recorded this Hadith. Ahmad recorded that 'Ubaydullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Umar was asked; "Did you see 'Abdullah bin 'Umar perform Wudu' for every prayer, whether he was in a state of purity or not?" So he replied, "Asma' bint Zayd bin Al-Khattab told him that 'Abdullah bin Hanzalah bin Abi 'Amir Al-Ghasil told her that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was earlier commanded to perform Wudu' for every prayer, whether he needed it or not. When that became hard on him, he was commanded to use Siwak for every prayer, and to perform Wudu' when Hadath (impurity) occurs. 'Abdullah (Ibn 'Umar) thought that he was able to do that (perform Wudu' for every prayer) and he kept doing that until he died." Abu Dawud also collected this narration. This practice by Ibn 'Umar demonstrates that it is encouraged, not obligatory, to perform Wudu' for every prayer, and this is also the opinion of the majority of scholars.

Abu Dawud recorded that 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once left the area where he answered the call of nature, he was brought something to eat. They said, "Should we bring you your water for Wudu?" He said,

إنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ …

And remember Allah's favor to you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey." And have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Knower of that which is in the breasts (7)O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just, that is nearer to Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do (8)Allah has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)(9)And they who disbelieve and deny Our Ayat are those who will be the dwellers of the Hell-fire (10)O you who believe! Remember the favor of Allah unto you when some people desired (made a plan) to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) held back their hands from you. So have Taqwa of Allah. And in Allah let the believers put their trust (11)

Reminding the Believers of the Bounty of the Message and Islam

Allah reminds His believing servants of His bounty by legislating this glorious religion and sending them this honorable Messenger. He also reminds them of the covenant and pledges that He took from them to follow the Messenger ﷺ, support and aid him, implement his Law and convey it on his behalf, while accepting it themselves. Allah said,

وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا

(And remember Allah's favor upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, "We hear and we obey.")

This is the pledge that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when they embraced Islam. They used to say, "We gave our pledge of obedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to hear and obey, in times when we are active and otherwise, even if we were passed on for rights, and not to dispute leadership with its rightful people." Allah also said,

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

(And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord; and He has indeed taken your covenant, if you are real believers.)[57:8]

It was also said that this Ayah (5:7) reminds the Jews of the pledges and promises Allah took from them to follow Muhammad ﷺ and adhere to his Law, as 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas stated. Allah then said,

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ

(And have Taqwa of Allah.) in all times and situations. Allah says that He knows the secrets and thoughts that the hearts conceal,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

(Verily, Allah is All-Knower of the secrets of (your) breasts.)

The Necessity of Observing Justice

Allah said,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ

(O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah...) meaning, in truth for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of people or for fame,

شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ

(as just witnesses) observing justice and not transgression. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said, "My father gave me a gift, but 'Amrah bint Rawahah, my mother, …

And remember Allah's favor to you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey." And have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Knower of that which is in the breasts (7)O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just, that is nearer to Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do (8)Allah has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)(9)And they who disbelieve and deny Our Ayat are those who will be the dwellers of the Hell-fire (10)O you who believe! Remember the favor of Allah unto you when some people desired (made a plan) to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) held back their hands from you. So have Taqwa of Allah. And in Allah let the believers put their trust (11)

Reminding the Believers of the Bounty of the Message and Islam

Allah reminds His believing servants of His bounty by legislating this glorious religion and sending them this honorable Messenger. He also reminds them of the covenant and pledges that He took from them to follow the Messenger ﷺ, support and aid him, implement his Law and convey it on his behalf, while accepting it themselves. Allah said,

وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا

(And remember Allah's favor upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, "We hear and we obey.")

This is the pledge that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when they embraced Islam. They used to say, "We gave our pledge of obedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to hear and obey, in times when we are active and otherwise, even if we were passed on for rights, and not to dispute leadership with its rightful people." Allah also said,

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

(And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord; and He has indeed taken your covenant, if you are real believers.)[57:8]

It was also said that this Ayah (5:7) reminds the Jews of the pledges and promises Allah took from them to follow Muhammad ﷺ and adhere to his Law, as 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas stated. Allah then said,

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ

(And have Taqwa of Allah.) in all times and situations. Allah says that He knows the secrets and thoughts that the hearts conceal,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

(Verily, Allah is All-Knower of the secrets of (your) breasts.)

The Necessity of Observing Justice

Allah said,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ

(O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah...) meaning, in truth for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of people or for fame,

شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ

(as just witnesses) observing justice and not transgression. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said, "My father gave me a gift, but 'Amrah bint Rawahah, my mother, …

And remember Allah's favor to you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey." And have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Knower of that which is in the breasts (7)O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just, that is nearer to Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do (8)Allah has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)(9)And they who disbelieve and deny Our Ayat are those who will be the dwellers of the Hell-fire (10)O you who believe! Remember the favor of Allah unto you when some people desired (made a plan) to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) held back their hands from you. So have Taqwa of Allah. And in Allah let the believers put their trust (11)

Reminding the Believers of the Bounty of the Message and Islam

Allah reminds His believing servants of His bounty by legislating this glorious religion and sending them this honorable Messenger. He also reminds them of the covenant and pledges that He took from them to follow the Messenger ﷺ, support and aid him, implement his Law and convey it on his behalf, while accepting it themselves. Allah said,

وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا

(And remember Allah's favor upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, "We hear and we obey.")

This is the pledge that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when they embraced Islam. They used to say, "We gave our pledge of obedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to hear and obey, in times when we are active and otherwise, even if we were passed on for rights, and not to dispute leadership with its rightful people." Allah also said,

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

(And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord; and He has indeed taken your covenant, if you are real believers.)[57:8]

It was also said that this Ayah (5:7) reminds the Jews of the pledges and promises Allah took from them to follow Muhammad ﷺ and adhere to his Law, as 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas stated. Allah then said,

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ

(And have Taqwa of Allah.) in all times and situations. Allah says that He knows the secrets and thoughts that the hearts conceal,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

(Verily, Allah is All-Knower of the secrets of (your) breasts.)

The Necessity of Observing Justice

Allah said,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ

(O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah...) meaning, in truth for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of people or for fame,

شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ

(as just witnesses) observing justice and not transgression. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said, "My father gave me a gift, but 'Amrah bint Rawahah, my mother, …

And remember Allah's favor to you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey." And have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Knower of that which is in the breasts (7)O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just, that is nearer to Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do (8)Allah has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)(9)And they who disbelieve and deny Our Ayat are those who will be the dwellers of the Hell-fire (10)O you who believe! Remember the favor of Allah unto you when some people desired (made a plan) to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) held back their hands from you. So have Taqwa of Allah. And in Allah let the believers put their trust (11)

Reminding the Believers of the Bounty of the Message and Islam

Allah reminds His believing servants of His bounty by legislating this glorious religion and sending them this honorable Messenger. He also reminds them of the covenant and pledges that He took from them to follow the Messenger ﷺ, support and aid him, implement his Law and convey it on his behalf, while accepting it themselves. Allah said,

وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا

(And remember Allah's favor upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, "We hear and we obey.")

This is the pledge that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when they embraced Islam. They used to say, "We gave our pledge of obedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to hear and obey, in times when we are active and otherwise, even if we were passed on for rights, and not to dispute leadership with its rightful people." Allah also said,

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

(And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord; and He has indeed taken your covenant, if you are real believers.)[57:8]

It was also said that this Ayah (5:7) reminds the Jews of the pledges and promises Allah took from them to follow Muhammad ﷺ and adhere to his Law, as 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas stated. Allah then said,

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ

(And have Taqwa of Allah.) in all times and situations. Allah says that He knows the secrets and thoughts that the hearts conceal,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

(Verily, Allah is All-Knower of the secrets of (your) breasts.)

The Necessity of Observing Justice

Allah said,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ

(O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah...) meaning, in truth for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of people or for fame,

شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ

(as just witnesses) observing justice and not transgression. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said, "My father gave me a gift, but 'Amrah bint Rawahah, my mother, …