Surah al-Ma'idah (The Table) 5 : 62

Overview (Verses 62- 64)

A Confirmed Attitude of Unbelief
 
The sūrah moves on to draw a vivid picture of what these people do, as if we see their movements and actions through the words. “You see many of them rushing into sin and transgression and in devouring the fruits of unlawful gain. Evil indeed is that which they do.” (Verse 62) They are depicted as if they are racing at full speed towards sin and aggression, devouring all that is unlawful. Although this picture is drawn here to denounce those people and to show how ugly they appear, it depicts a certain condition of individuals and communities when they become infested with corruption, lose their values, and give in to evil. When we look at communities that have so degenerated, it appears to us as if all these people race towards evil, plunge into sin and aggression. The strong and the weak among them are alike in such actions. In corrupt societies, sin and aggression are not the monopoly of the powerful. Even the weak move with the tide of sin. It is true that they cannot assault the strong, but some of them can assault others and violate what God has sanctified. In corrupt societies, what God has restricted has become subject to violation, because neither the ruler nor the ruled are ready to honour God’s action. When a society becomes corrupt, sin and aggression feature high among its characteristics.
 
Such was the Jewish community in those days, and such was their devouring of what was unlawful. Indeed, devouring what is forbidden is characteristic of the Jews at all times. “Evil indeed is that which they do.” (Verse 62)
 
The sūrah points out another characteristic of corrupt societies, as it denounces the silence adopted by divines and rabbis, supposedly those scholars who guard the implementation of Divine law. Instead, they remain silent when they see their people plunging into sin and aggression and devouring what is unlawful, when they should be condemning such practices: “Why do not their divines and their rabbis forbid them to make sinful assertions and to devour the fruits of unlawful gain? Evil indeed is that which they contrive.” (Verse 63) This is, indeed, a feature of societies that are on the verge of collapse, after becoming corrupt. As described in the Qur’ān, the Children of Israel used not to counsel each other against committing evil.
 
A main feature of a good, virtuous and strong society is the high esteem given to enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Such a society is rich with people who undertake this task and with ones who are ready to listen to them. Its traditions are such that those who deviate from their path do not turn their back on this quality or abuse those who speak out, encouraging what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Hence, God’s description of the Muslim community: “You are the best community that has ever been raised for mankind: you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid what is wrong and you believe in God.” (3: 110) He describes the Children of Israel as people who “would never restrain one another from wrongdoing.” (Verse 79) This is the criterion by which the two communities are separated.
 
The divines and rabbis, however, do not speak out against sin, aggression or devouring what is forbidden. Nor do they fulfil the covenant by which God’s revelations were entrusted to them. Hence, they are strongly denounced. This denunciation serves as a warning to the people of every religion. For a society to be good depends on the fulfilment by its divines and scholars of their duties to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. As we have said on more than one occasion in this commentary, this requires the presence of an “authority” which commands and forbids. This is different from advocacy, which is mainly concerned with explaining the message and conveying it to people, for it requires power and authority. Therefore, those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong should be equipped with the power that makes their task effective, and not confined to verbal statements.
 
As an example of their most ghastly and sinful assertions, the Qur’ān tells us of the following statement made by the Jews: “The Jews say: ‘God’s hand is shackled!’ It is their own hands that are shackled. Rejected [by God] are they for what they say. Indeed, both His hands are outstretched. He bestows [His bounty] as He wills.” (Verse 64) Such a statement is the outcome of the Jews’ wrong concept of God, limitless is He in His glory. The Qur’ān has given us many examples of the results of this wrong concept. When they were told to give money in charity they said: God is poor and we are rich. Here they say that God’s hand is shackled in order to justify their miserliness. They claim that God does not give people enough, and that He gives them very little. How, then, could they be required to give money in charity?
 
They are too insensitive and too hard-hearted to use the straightforward description of the meaning they had in mind, namely, miserliness. False as that is, they went further choosing an even more aggressive and blasphemous expression. They claimed that God’s hand is shackled!
 
The answer to them asserts that they are the ones to be described in such terms, and furthermore that they are cursed and deprived of God’s mercy: “It is their own hands that are shackled. Rejected [by God] are they for what they say.” (Verse 64) This is indeed an apt description, for they are the most stingy and miserly people on earth. Then, God is described by His most appropriate attribute, whereby He bestows His limitless bounty on His servants: “Indeed, both His hands are outstretched. He bestows [His bounty] as He wills.” (Verse 64) His inexhaustible bounty is apparent to everyone. It gives irrefutable proof of His limitless grace, giving testimony to His outstretched hands. It speaks in every language, but the Jews do not hear it, because they are preoccupied with gathering as much gain as they can, using obscene language even when they speak of God Himself.
 
God tells His Messenger (peace be upon him) about what those people will do and what will happen to them because of the grudge they harbour against him. He further describes the hostility they show the Prophet because God has chosen him to be His Messenger and because his message exposes their attitude, both past and present: “But that which has been revealed to you by your Lord is bound to make many of them more stubborn in their overweening arrogance and unbelief” (Verse 64) Having refused to accept the faith, it was inevitable that they should go to the other extreme and remain entrenched in their arrogance and disbelief. Hence, God’s Messenger will bring mercy to believers and Divine punishment to unbelievers.
 
God then tells His Messenger of the inevitability of His will to cause enmity and hatred among them, and to render their schemes futile even when they are at their strongest. Hence, their war against the Muslim community will end in defeat: “We have cast enmity and hatred among them, [to last] until the Day of Resurrection. Every time they light a fire for war, God puts it out.” (Verse 64)
 
Jewish groups continue to be hostile to one another, even though world Jewry may appear to be united at this period of time and capable of launching wars against Muslim countries and winning them. We must not, however, look at only a short period of time or cast only a partial view. Over 13 centuries, indeed since pre- Islamic days, the Jews have been hostile to one another, humiliated, and dispersed all over the globe. They will inevitably share the same fate, despite all the support they are receiving. The key to the whole matter is the existence of a true Islamic community, to whom God fulfils His promise. Where do we find today such a community which receives God’s promise and becomes the means by which God accomplishes His purpose?
 
When the Muslim nation returns to Islam, truly believes in it and conducts its whole life in accordance with Islamic law and constitution, God’s warning to His most evil creatures will come true. The Jews know this and they use all their power and wicked scheming against the advocates of Islamic revival throughout the world. They level at them, through their puppets and stooges, brutal blows in total disregard of all laws and values. God, will, however, accomplish His will. His promise will certainly come true: “We have cast enmity and hatred among them, [to last] until the Day of Resurrection. Every time they light a fire for war, God puts it out.” (Verse 64)
 
The evil and corruption which the Jews represent will inevitably be smashed by God’s will. For God does not like corruption to spread on earth. What God does not like will certainly be removed and uprooted by some of His servants, whom He entrusts with this task: “They labour hard to spread corruption on earth; and God does not love those who spread corruption.” (Verse 64)