Surah al-Ma'idah (The Table) 5 : 44

Overview (Verse 44)

Light and Guidance Shine from the Torah
 
Such is God’s verdict in relation to ordinary people who refuse to accept judgement in accordance with God’s law. These have been described as unbelievers. Beginning with this verse, the sūrah speaks of rulers who do not judge in accordance with God’s revelations. As we are soon to realise such judgements are endorsed by all religions revealed by God. The first reference is to the Torah: “Indeed, it is We who revealed the Torah, containing guidance and light. By it did the prophets, who had surrendered themselves to God, judge among the Jews, and so did the divines and the rabbis: [they gave judgement] in accordance with what had been entrusted to their care of God’s Book and to which they themselves were witnesses. So, have no fear of men but fear Me; and do not barter away My revelations for a paltry price. Those who do not judge in accordance with what God has revealed are indeed unbelievers. We decreed for them in it: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and a similar retribution for wounds. But for him who forgoes it out of charity, it will atone for some of his sins. Those who do not judge in accordance with what God has revealed are indeed wrongdoers.” (Verses 44-45)
 
Every religion revealed by God has been meant as a way of life. It has been so devised as to assume the leadership of human life and to organise, direct and protect it. No religion has been revealed by God only to be a set of personal, moral values or a set of rituals that are offered in a temple or a mosque. Necessary as both are for human life, and vital as they are in refining human conscience, they are not sufficient on their own to reorganise, direct and protect human life. They must provide the basis for a complete way of life and a code of law which are implemented and enforced. Any offence against them must be accounted for and punished, if necessary.
 
Human life cannot be properly organised unless it derives its faith, rituals, way of life and code of law from a single source which can exercise authority over consciences and behaviour alike. It must be able to administer reward and punishment according to its law in this life, and reward people in accordance with its own system of reckoning in the life to come.
 
Multiplicity of authority and source will only bring about results that are highly undesirable. If God’s authority over consciences and rituals is recognised, but not over the law of the land, when reward in the Hereafter is according to God’s law, but in this life it is subject to a different authority, then man is torn between two authorities moving in opposite directions. This leads to the total corruption of human life, as clearly and repeatedly mentioned in the Qur’ān: “Had there been in heaven or on earth any deities other than God, they both would have fallen into ruin.” (21: 22) “If the truth were to follow their caprice, the heavens and the earth and all those who live in them would have fallen into ruin.” (23: 71) “We have set you on a way by which he purpose [of faith] may be fulfilled. Follow it, then, and do not follow the vain desires of those who are devoid of knowledge.” (45: 18)
 
For this reason every religion revealed by God has been designed to serve as a way of life. Whether directed to a single village, or to a particular nation, or for all generations of humanity, every religion brought, in addition to a faith setting out the proper concept of life and a set of worship rituals providing a strong link with God, a code of law to regulate human practices. Certain elements or aspects form the basis of every Divine religion. Human life cannot be set on a proper footing unless it follows Divine faith.
 
Numerous references in the Qur’ān show that early religions, some of which might have been addressed to small communities, contained all three mutually complementary aspects in a fashion suitable to that particular community’s stage of development. At this point, such complementarity in the three major religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is outlined, starting with the Torah: “Indeed, it is We who revealed the Torah, containing guidance and light.” (Verse 44) As revealed by God, the Torah was the Book providing guidance for the Children of Israel, lighting up the way they should follow in life in order to lead them to God’s pleasure. It contained the essence of monotheistic faith, and a variety of worship rituals, as well as a code of law: “By it did the prophets, who had surrendered themselves to God, judge among the Jews, and so did the divines and the rabbis: [they gave judgement] in accordance with what had been entrusted to their care of God’s Book and to which they themselves were witnesses.” (Verse 44)
 
God revealed the Torah to provide guidance and light not only for hearts and consciences with the faith and rituals it outlined, but also to provide guidance and light generated by the code of law which regulated practical life and protected it in accordance with God’s system. The Prophets who had submitted themselves totally to God in absolute and complete dedication and who made no claim whatsoever to any attribute of Divinity, used to judge among the Jews on its basis. It was the law given to that particular community. So did the divines and rabbis, i.e. the Jewish scholars and judges, because they had been assigned the task of making sure that God’s law was implemented and they were required to be witnesses to its truth. They would fulfil this task through organizing their own lives in accordance with the directives and laws of the Torah and through implementing its laws within their communities.
 
Before finishing its reference to the Torah, the Qur’ān addresses the Muslim community with regard to judgements in accordance with revelations in general and the opposition people may show to such judgements. It also outlines the duty of everyone entrusted with the implementation of God’s law and the punishment incurred by neglecting this duty: “So, have no fear of men but fear Me; and do not barter away My revelations for a paltry price. Those who do not judge in accordance with what God has revealed are indeed unbelievers.” (Verse 44)
 
God knows that enforcing His revealed law will be met with opposition in every period of time and in every community. Some people will not easily submit to it. Those who have power, tyrants and despots, and those who claim authority by right of inheritance will put up stiff resistance to it, because they realise that its enforcement will deprive them of the mask of Godhead they wear and acknowledge Godhead as totally belonging to God alone. This is done through depriving them of their claimed authority to legislate and to judge in accordance with their legislation. Resistance will also be put up by those whose material interests can only be served through exploitation and injustice. God’s just law will never endorse their unjust interests. Similarly, there will always be opposition to the implementation of God’s law by those who pursue their vain desires and wanton caprice. A Divine religion will always require them to purify themselves from such evil, and will eventually punish indulgence in them. Further opposition will be put up by other quarters who dislike to see goodness, righteousness and justice flourish.
 
As God knows that opposition to His law will come from all these quarters, and that those to whose care His message is entrusted must face up to this opposition and make all the necessary sacrifices for its sake, He addresses them in these words: “Have no fear of men but fear Me.” (Verse 44) No fear of tyrants, exploiters or deluded masses should deter them from implementing God’s law. It is God alone that they should fear, because fearing Him dispels all other fear.