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5. Maida
Name
This Sarah takes its' name from verse 112 in which the word Mai'dah
occurs. Like the names of many other suras this name has no special relation to the
subject of the Sura but has been used merely as a symbol to distinguish it from other
suras.
Period of Revelation
The theme of this Sura indicates and traditions support it that it
was revealed after the treaty of Hudaibiyah at the end of 6 A. H. or in the beginning of 7
A. H. That is why it deals with those problems that arose from this treaty.
The Holy
Prophet with 1400 Muslims went to Makkah in Zil-Qaadah 6 A. H. to perform Umrah but the
Quraish spurred by their enmity prevented him from its performance though it was utterly
against all the ancient religious traditions of Arabia. After a good deal of hard and
harsh negotiations a treaty was concluded at Hudaibiyah according to which it was agreed
that he could perform Umrah the following year. That was a very appropriate occasion for
teaching the Muslims the right way of performing a pilgrimage to Makkah with the true
Islamic dignity and enjoining that they should not prevent the disbelievers from
performing pilgrimage to Makkah as a retaliation for their misbehavior. This was not
difficult at all as many disbelievers had to pass through Muslim territory on their way to
Makkah. This is why the introductory verses deal with the things connected with pilgrimage
to Makkah and the same theme has been resumed in vv. 101-104. The other topics of this
Sura also appear to belong to the same period.
The continuity of the subject shows that
most probably the whole of the sura was revealed as a single discourse at one and the same
time. It is also possible that some of its verses were revealed at a later period and
inserted in this Sura at different places where they fitted in. But there appears to be
not the least gap anywhere in the sura to show that it might have comprised two or more
discourses.
Occasion of Revelation
This Sura was revealed to suit the requirements of the
changed conditions which were now different from those prevailing at the time of the
revelation of Al-i-'Imran and An- Nisa. Then the shock of the set-back at Uhud had made
the very surroundings of Al-Madinah dangerous for the Muslims but now Islam had become an
invulnerable power and the Islamic State had extended to Najd on the east to the Red Sea
on the west to Syria on the north and to Makkah on the south. This set-back which the
Muslims had suffered at Uhud had not broken their determination. It had rather spurred
them to action. As a result of their continuous struggle and unparalleled sacrifices the
power of. the surrounding clans within a radius of 200 miles or so had been broken. The
Jewish menace which was always threatening Al-Madinah had been totally removed and the
Jews in the other parts of Hijaz had-become tributaries of the State of Al-Madinah. The
last effort of the Quraish to suppress Islam had been thwarted in the Battle of the Ditch.
After this it had become quite obvious to the Arabs that no power could suppress the
Islamic movement. Now Islam was not merely a creed which ruled over the minds and hearts
of the people but had also become a State which dominated over every aspect of the life of
the people who lived within its boundaries. This had enabled the Muslims to live their
lives without let or hindrance in accordance with their beliefs.
Another development had also taken place during this period. The Muslim civilization had
developed in accordance with the principles of Islam and the Islamic viewpoint. This
civilization was quite distinct from all other civilizations in all its details, and distinguished
the Muslims clearly from the non Muslims in their moral, social and cultural behavior.
Mosques had been built in all territories, prayer had been established and Imam (leader)
for every habitation and clan had been appointed. The Islamic civil and criminal laws had
been formulated in detail and were being enforced through the Islamic courts. New and
reformed ways of trade and commerce had taken the place of the old ones. The Islamic
laws of marriage and divorce, of the segregation of the sexes, of the punishment for
adultery and calumny and the like had cast the social life of the Muslims in a special
mould. Their social behavior, their conversation, their dress, their very mode of living,
their culture etc., had taken a definite shape of its own. As a result of all these changes,
the non-Muslims could not expect that the Muslims would ever return to their former fold.
Before the treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Muslims were so engaged in their struggle with the
non-Muslim Quraish that they got no time to propagate their message. This hindrance
was removed by what was apparently a defeat but in reality a victory at Hudaibiyah. This
gave the Muslims not only peace in their own territory but also respite to spread their
message in the surrounding territories. Accordingly the Holy Prophet addressed letters to
the rulers of Iran, Egypt and the Roman Empire and the chiefs of Arabia, inviting them to
Islam. At the same time the missionaries of Islam spread among the clans and tribes and
invited them to accept the Divine Way of Allah. These were the circumstances at the time
when Al-Ma'idah was revealed.
Topics
It deals with the following three main topics:
- Commandments and
instructions about the religious cultural and political life of the Muslims. In this
connection a code of ceremonial rules concerning the journey for Hajj has been prescribed;
the observance of strict respect for the emblems of Allah has been enjoined; and any kind
of obstruction or interference with the pilgrims to the Kaabah has been prohibited.
Definite rules and regulations have been laid down for what is lawful and unlawful in the
matter of food and self-imposed foolish restrictions of the pre-Islamic age have been
abolished. Permission has been given to. take food with the people of the Book and to
marry their women. Rules and regulations for the performance of Wudu (ablutions) and bath
and purification and tayammum (ablutions with dust) have been prescribed. Punishment for
rebellion disturbance of peace and theft have been specified. Drinking and gambling have
absolutely been made unlawful. Expiation for the breaking of oath has been laid down and a
few more things have been added to the law of evidence.
- Admonition to the Muslims. Now
that the Muslims had become a ruling body it was feared that power might corrupt them. At
this period of great trial Allah had admonished them over and over again to stick to
justice and to guard against the wrong behavior of their predecessors the people of the
Book. They have been enjoined to remain steadfast to the Covenant of obedience to Allah
and His Messenger and to observe strictly their commands and prohibitions in order to save
them- selves from the evil consequences which. befell the Jews and the Christians who had
violated them. They have been instructed to observe the dictates of the Holy Quran in the
conduct of all their affairs and warned against the attitude of hypocrisy.
- Admonition
to the Jews and the Christians. As the power of the Jews had been totally weakened and
almost all their habitations in north Arabia had come under the rule of the Muslims they
have been warned again about their wrong attitude and invited to follow the Right Way. At
the same time a detailed invitation has also been extended to the Christians. The errors
of their creeds have been clearly pointed out and they have been admonished to accept the
guidance of the Holy Prophet. . Incidentally it may be noted that no direct invitation has
been made to the Majusis and idolaters living in the adjoining countries because there was
no need for a separate address for them as their condition. had already been covered by
the addresses to the mushrik Arabs.
Subject: Consolidation of the Islamic Community.
In
continuation of the instructions about the consolidation of the Islamic Community given in
Sura AN-NISA the Muslims have been directed to observe and fulfill all their obligations:
further regulations have been prescribed to train the Muslims for that purpose. They have
also been particularly warned as rulers to guard against the corruption of power and
directed to observe the Covenant of the Quran. They have also been exhorted to learn
lessons from the failings of their predecessors the Jews and the Christians who in their
turn have been admonished to give up their wrong attitudes towards the Right Way and
accept the guidance taught by Prophet Muhammad (God's peace be upon him).
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