Surah Maidah (5)

Maidah is a surah known by two titles: Maidah, meaning table, and al Uqud meaning "the covenants". Al Uqud indicates the surah's many subjects while Maidah comes from Isa's (peace be upon him) supplication to God for food from heaven. Al Maidah contains some of the final revelations of law that were revealed to the Beloved Prophets (May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), as it was one of the final chapters to be revealed.

As this is a surah that makes many references to law, Allah swt explains the permissibility in consuming land animals and water animals. Here it is explained that the meat of the camel, sheep, cows are permissible for consumptions as long as they are found alive and slaughtered in the name of Allah. Qatadah said, "The meat of the dead animals are animals slaughtered without Allah's name being pronounced at the time of slaughtering" are those that are being referred to as prohibited for consumption. This type of animal is considered to be both religiously and physically harmful. Fish is an exception; it is reported that the Messenger of Allah was asked about seawater. He said, "Its water is pure and its dead are permissible." Allah has demanded mercy and kindness amongst human beings numerous times in the Qur'an. He demands this kindness and mercy be extended even into our interactions with his other creations, even if they are the animals that we eat. Allah has made forbidden to the Muslims, the meat of an animal that died by strangulations, violent blows, or beatings. It is necessary to make the process as easy on the animal as possible and out of view of other animals.

Allah swt references in this surah, as we have seen in Baqarah and Al Imran, the importance of maintaining a covenant. As was discussed in the previous readings, these are covenants that are made between people but are also the covenants that are made between God and His servant. When we are submitting ourselves to Allah we are agreeing to accept the commands He has sent down. We cannot choose which of his commands we will obey and which we will leave.

Allah swt sends down the command to perform wudu for prayer in this surah. Ibn Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, "Allah does not accept charity from one who commits prayer without purity. He made it a requirement if the person is the case of impurity and recommended in the case of purity as well as mentioning the name of Allah before making wudu. Wudu is a means to Ibadah but it is also an act of ibadah itself. Wudu is a spiritual cleansing. It should be done with concentration and should not be rushed as each motion purifies the believer of his sins. Wudu helps with mental preparation for the salah, the time of connection with Allah swt. In addition wudu is also a means of reducing stress and anger.

Surah Maidah also shares a story of Prophet Isa (May Allah be pleased with him) and the Injil. The Qur'an recognizes the miracles connected to this great Prophet of Allah. He swt puts great emphasis on Isa (AS) being the son of Mary (May Allah be pleased her). He mentions her name numerous times with the name of Isa, while no father is mentioned, making it clear there is not biological father Isa (AS). Surah Maidah mentions the Holy Spirit, which in the Islamic perspective is in reference to the angle Jibraeel. Isa (AS) was given the ability to speak in the cradle and was granted knowledge and a unique ability to cure people of their illnesses. The Qur'an makes it clear these are not because Isa (AS) possessed any attribute of God, rather that God had blessed him with these unique abilities.

Verse 32 of Maidah talks about the value of human life and the severity of unjustly taking life. It relates it to the story of Adam (May Allah be pleased with him) and his two children, one taking the life of the other. There were no nations and races at that time, only this family and the removal of one life was a detriment to all of humanity. Also mentioned in this surah are references to the prohibition of alcohol, something that can kill a person and permission to eat what is otherwise unlawful in order to protect a person's health. Allah swt is expressing the value of life in these versus and the flexibility of the law in preservation of life.