Surah 5: The Repast

Surah 5: The Repast - Overview

Verses	Description
5:1-5	Obligations and Duties, Human and divine, are sacred and interconnected: laws of food and social intercourse
5:6-11	Cleanliness and Purity; justice and right conduct; trust in God
5:12-26	How God's grace was withdrawn for falsity to trust and rebellion against truth
5:27-43	Jealousy of Cain and Abel led to murder; crimes against individuals and communities
5:44-86	Justice above men's selfish desires: be not afraid to proclaim the truth of God: keep away from evil, but recognize the sincere and the humble, even if not of your flock
5:87-108	Avoid excess, rash vows, drinking, gambling, and superstition
5:109-120	Miracles of Jesus, but he claimed no divinity

Introduction

This Surah deals, by way of recapitulation, with the backsliding of the Jews and Christians from their pure religions, to which the coping stone was place by Islam. It refers particularly to the Christians, and to their solemn Sacrament of the Last Supper, to whose true meaning they are declared to have been false. (R)

As a logical corollary to the corruption of the earlier religions of God, the practical precepts of Islam, about food, cleanliness, justice, and fidelity are recapitulated.

The third verse contains the memorable declaration: "This day have I perfected your religion for you.", which was promulgated in 10 H. during the Prophet's last Pilgrimage to Makkah. Chronologically it is considered by many the last verse to be revealed.

Summary

Fulfilling Obligations [5:1-5] All obligations are sacred, human or divine. In the spiritual world we owe duties to God, which must be fulfilled. But while we are in this world of sense, those duties are by no means isolated from what we owe to ourselves and our fellows in the world of men. We must respect the laws and customs of the Sacred Mosque and Sacred Sanctuary. In food our laws are simple: all things good and pure are lawful. We refuse not social intercourse with men and women -- People of the Book.

2- Cleanliness of body; and justice and uprightness of dealing are nearest to Piety (5:6-11)

Right Conduct [5:6-11] God wishes us to be clean and pure, at prayer and at other times. But justice and right conduct, even in the face of spite and hatred, are nearest to Piety and the love of God: in Him we put our trust.

3- If the Jews and the Christians turned back from the Truth and violated their Covenants, they have had their warning. (5:12-26)

Twisting the Truth [5:12-26] If the men who received revelations before were false in their trust, if they broke their agreements and twisted God's Message from its aim, if they rebelled against Truth and followed their fancies, God's grace was withdrawn from them and they wandered in the wilderness.

4- The murder of Abel by Cain is the type of the treatment which the just man suffers from the envious. There is punishment from God. The just man must not grieve. (5:27-43)

Dangers of Jealousy [5:27-43] The jealousy of Cain against Abel, which led to the murder of innocent Abel, is the type of the jealousy between the People of the Book and their younger brethren in Islam. Jealousy leads to envy and murder. Such crimes against individuals are often crimes against whole peoples. There are men who are ready to catch up every lie told against a just man. The just man should not grieve, for that is their way.

5- Muslims must do impartial justice, but must protect their own Brotherhood and their Faith from insult and scorn; they must appreciate piety, humility, and other good points among the Christians. (5:44-86)

Selfish Desires [5:44-86] True Justice accords with God's Law. Follow not men's selfish desires, but God's Will, which was revealed to Moses and Jesus, and now to Muhammad. Take not for friends and protectors those in whose hearts is a disease -- to whom religion is a mockery or a plaything -- who worship evil. Proclaim the Truth of God, and be not afraid. Eschew their iniquities, which were denounced by David and Jesus. But recognize with justice those who are sincere and humble, though they may be themselves not of your flock, if they witness to Truth.

6- They must enjoy with gratitude all that is good and lawful, but guard against excess. Swearing, intoxication, gambling, violation of the Sanctuary, superstitions of all kinds, and false evidence are condemned. (5:87-108)

Learn to Distinguish [5:87-108] In the physical pleasures of life the crime is excess: there is no merit in abstention from things that are good and lawful. Take no rash vows, but to solemn oaths be faithful. Shun as abominations drinking and gambling, and superstitions of all kinds. But be reverent to what is sacred in rites and associations. Not the same are things good and things evil. Learn to distinguish, but pry not into questions beyond your ken. Guard your own souls in truth and justice, and no harm can befall you.

7- The miracles of Jesus, and how they were misused by those who bore his name. (5:109-120)

A True Servant [5:109-120] Jesus did feed his disciples by miracles, but he claimed not divinity: he was a true servant of God, to Whom doth belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth: Glory and Power are His, and His alone.