Surah Al-Maidah, also known as “The Table Spread” or “The Feast”, is the fifth chapter of the Qur’an with 120 verses (Ayah). It is a Medinan Surah, meaning it was revealed after the Hijrah, the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina.
The Surah is named Al-Maidah after the miraculous table spread with food that was requested by the disciples of Prophet Jesus (Isa) as a sign from God, which is mentioned in verse 5:114.
The Surah addresses a variety of topics, often related to community life, law, and moral guidance. It contains guidelines on dietary laws, punishment for capital offenses, the prohibition of intoxicants, and rules concerning oaths and vows.
Significantly, it also addresses matters of religious tolerance and interaction between Muslims and People of the Book (Christians and Jews). For instance, it reinforces the continuity of divine revelation, confirming that the same fundamental religious truths were revealed to Prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all).
- Believers! Honour your bonds! Allah’s decrees and permissions
- Believers! Respect sacred symbols and the Holy House’s seekers
- Forbidden acts: carrion, blood, swine flesh, improper slaughter
- Believers! Teach hunting animals and invoke Allah’s name
- All good things made lawful Food and marriage with the People of the Book
- Purify yourselves for Prayer Allah’s desire for your purification
- Remember Allah’s favor and keep His covenant in your hearts
- Believers! Bear witness for justice and fear Allah
- Promise of forgiveness and great reward for believers
- Disbelievers destined for the Blazing Flame
- Remember Allah’s favor and trust in Him alone
- Allah’s covenant with the Children of Israel and their leaders
- Consequences of breaching the covenant and perverting words
- Covenant with Christians and their forgotten teachings
- People of the Book! Our Messenger reveals concealed teachings
- Allah guides seekers from darkness to light and the straight path
- Disbelief in Christ’s divinity Allah’s dominion and power
- Jews and Christians: Allah’s children or sinners like others?
- Our Messenger brings glad tidings and warns Allah is All-Powerful
- Moses reminds his people of Allah’s favor and their appointment
- Enter the ordained holy land, don’t turn back as losers
- Fearful people demand departure; two favored advise victory
- Favored ones advise victory and trust in Allah’s guidance
- Transgressors refuse to enter, Moses and Allah prepare for battle
- Moses seeks distinction from transgressors before Allah
- Allah forbids land to transgressors for forty years
- True story of two sons: acceptance, jealousy, and murder
- Refusing revenge, the righteous brother fears Allah
- A plea for sin-sharing and righteous recompense
- Evil drives him to murder, becoming a loser
- Remorse and the lesson of the raven’s actions
- Ordinance: Killing one is like killing all mankind
- Chastisement for those spreading mischief and waging war
- Repentance saves from degradation Allah is All-Forgiving
- Believers! Fear Allah, strive for success, seek nearness to Him
- Disbelievers’ ransom won’t be accepted Painful chastisement
- Wish to escape the Fire, but endure long-lasting punishment
- The thief’s punishment: cutting off both hands
- Repentance and amends find Allah’s forgiveness and compassion
- Allah’s dominion, chastisement, and forgiveness
- Warning against false believers, Jews, and distorted words
- Listeners of falsehood, greedy earners Judge with justice
- Torah’s judgment rejected: they turn away from Allah’s guidance
- Those who don’t judge by Allah’s revelation are wrong-doers
- Law of retaliation: expiation through charity Wrong-doers reject it
- Jesus confirms the remaining truth in the Torah and brings the Gospel
- Followers of the Gospel must judge by Allah’s revelation
- The Book revealed to Muhammad confirms previous scriptures
- Judge by Allah’s revelation, not their desires Affliction awaits
- Do they desire ignorant judgment over Allah’s perfect law?
- Believers, do not take Jews and Christians as allies
- Hypocrites fear misfortune, remorseful at their hypocrisy
- Sworn hypocrites exposed, their acts in vain
- If believers turn away, Allah raises a people firm in faith
- Allies are Allah, His Messenger, and the believers
- Allah’s party will triumph, taking Him and believers as allies
- Beware of mockers and those who sport with faith
- They mock the call to prayer, lacking understanding
- People of the Book, do you hate us for our faith?
- Those who serve false deities face worse retribution
- Hypocrites claim belief but conceal disbelief
- Sinful haste, transgression, and unlawful earnings
- Their scholars and jurists contrive evil, not forbidding sin
- Jews’ misconception: Allah’s hand is not fettered
- Belief and God-fearing lead to forgiveness and bliss
- People of the Book should follow their scriptures
- Messenger, deliver what’s revealed, Allah will protect you
- People of the Book, establish Torah and Gospel, do not grieve
- Believers of various faiths are guided, neither fear nor grieve
- The covenant with the Children of Israel, rejecting Messengers
- Disbelief led to blindness and deafness Allah sees their deeds
- Disbelief in Christ as God leads to Paradise’s denial Refuge: Fire
- Those who claim Allah is one of Three face painful chastisement
- Turn to Allah in repentance and seek His forgiveness
- Messiah, son of Mary, a Messenger with clear signs
- Serve Allah alone, for He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing
- People of the Book, follow truth, not the errors of the past
- Cursed rebels among the Children of Israel
- They did evil deeds, not forbidding one another
- Taking unbelievers as allies brings evil and Allah’s anger
- True believers do not ally with unbelievers
- Jews hostile, Christians closer to affection for believers
- Tears flow as they believe in the revealed Truth
- Why not believe in Allah and the righteous path?
- Good deeds rewarded with everlasting Gardens
- Disbelievers are inmates of the Blazing Flame
- Obey Allah, refrain from transgression He dislikes it
- Partake of lawful sustenance, obey Allah’s commandments
- Be mindful of oaths and fulfill them Expiation provided
- Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatry are Satan’s handiwork
- Intoxicants and games of chance lead away from Allah
- Obey Allah and the Messenger, deliver the message
- Believers, refrain from the forbidden, continue doing good
- A trial awaits believers to distinguish the God-fearing
- Do not kill game during pilgrimage, compensate for it
- Hunting during pilgrimage forbidden, obey Allah’s command
- The Ka’bah supports collective life, knowledge of all things
- Allah is severe in retribution yet All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate
- The Messenger’s duty is to deliver the message
- Bad things and good things are not equal Beware of disobedience
- Do not ask about things that may vex you Allah is forgiving
- Unbelievers before asked similar questions and fell into disbelief
- Allah has not appointed idolatrous practices, they are lies
- Appoint witnesses for bequests, maintain truth and justice
- Take heed of your own selves, return to Allah
- Appoint witnesses for bequests, maintain truth and justice
- Replacement witnesses stand if previous witnesses are guilty
- Bear right testimony and fear rebuttal Obey Allah
- Messengers gather, their knowledge limited to what Allah reveals
- Recall Allah’s favors upon Jesus, son of Mary
- Disciples believe and bear witness to submission
- Jesus’ disciples ask if Allah can send down food from heaven
- They bear witness to the truth, their hearts satisfied
- Jesus prays for a heavenly repast as a sign from Allah
- Allah promises to send it and afflict the disbelievers
- Jesus denies claiming divinity, glorifying Allah’s knowledge
- Jesus preached to serve Allah, Allah watches over all
- Whether punished or forgiven, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise
- Truthful ones find eternal Gardens, Allah’s pleasure
- Allah’s dominion encompasses all, full power over everything
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