آلِ عِمْرَان – لْمَاٱئِدَة

3. Surah ‘Al ‘Imran(آلِ عِمْرَان)

The Family of Imraan, The House of ʿImrān

This is the 3^rd Surah of the Qur’an according to its arrangement, but it is 89^th Surah according to the order of revelation. It is a Madani Surah. This means that it was revealed after the Hijrah, some part of it was revealed in the 3^rd year of Hijrah and some later.

‘Al ‘Imran means “the family of ‘Imran”. Imran was the father of Prophets Musa and Haroon -peace be upon them. There are references in this Surah to these two great Prophets of Allah and then the story of Mary and birth of Jesus is mentioned.

The main topics of this Surah are Tawhid, Prophethood and the truth of the Qur’ an. As Surah al-Baqarah discussed the issues related to Bani Israel, this Surah discusses some issues related to the Christian community and their religious positions. It also discusses the subjects of Hajj, Jihad, Zakat and Riba. It ends, like Surah al-Baqarah, with a du’a.

This Surah consists of 200 verses divided in 20 sections.

Introduction to the Sections

Allah is the Ever-Living, Self-Subsisting. He sent the Qur’an as He sent before the Tawrat and Injil for the guidance of people. True believers are those who accept every thing of the Book of Allah and try to understand it. Believers pray always for Allah’s guidance for them.
Those who reject the truth, their wealth and their progeny will not avail them anything against the chastisement of Allah.
Allah bears witness for His own Tawhid as well as the angels and the people of knowledge. The religion acceptable in the sight of Allah is Islam.
To love Allah one must follow the Prophet. Obedience to Allah and His Messenger are necessary for faith. Allah chose Adam, Noah, Family of Ibrahim and the Family of Imran to guide humanity through them. Many prophets and messengers of Allah came for this purpose.
Birth of Jesus -peace be upon him- and his true message.
Jesus preached the message of Tawhid. His true followers are those who recognize Tawhid. Jesus’ birth was miraculous, just as Adam’s was miraculous. Some Christians argued with the Prophet. He asked them to come for an open Mubahalah.
Invitation to the People of the Book to come to a common word of Tawhid and obedience to Allah.
Some People of the Book try to discredit Islam. Muslims are warned to be conscious of this challenge.
Previous prophets and their scriptures confirm the truth of Islam.
Charity and sacrifice are necessary to attain faith and piety. Muslims should pay attention to the Ka’bah and stand firm to give the message of Islam to the world.
Muslims must remain conscious of Allah and must hold fast together the rope of Allah, i.e His Book and His guidance.
Role of the Muslim Ummah in the world.
Critical review of the Battle of Uhud
Prohibition of Riba and emphasis on charity. Believers must hasten to seek the forgiveness from their Lord. Some beautiful characters and qualities of the believers are mentioned.
Prophet Muhammad is only a Messenger of Allah like other messengers. His death should not mean giving up the faith. Believers must persevere and be patient in difficulties.
Criticism of those who showed weakness during the Battle of Uhud. Muslims should be strong in their commitment to faith.
True believers and the hypocrites. Hypocrites’ delinquency at the time of Uhud
Steadfast attitude of the Believers. Shaitan tries to frighten the Believers, but the true Believers become even stronger after trials and tests.
Some propaganda of the People of the Book against Islam and how to respond to such challenges.
Allah’s promise of success for the Believers. How the believers should pray to Allah and seek His blessings.

4. Surah al-Nisa'(ٱلنِّسَاء)

The Women

This is a Madani Surah revealed to the Prophet -peace be upon him- between the years 3 and 5 of Hijrah. There are three main themes of this Surah:

Establishment of the new Islamic social order after removing the pre-Islamic Jahili system.
Answers to the oppositions of Mushrik Arabs as well as neighboring Jews and Christians.
Da’wah of Islam to new people

This Surah consists of 176 ayat divided in 24 sections.

Introduction to the Sections

Responsibility to take care of the family. Special care of orphans.
Laws of inheritance. It is an obligation from Allah.
Relations between men and women should be based on the principle of equity and goodness.
Rules of marriage especially concerning the women who cannot be taken in marriage.
Men and women’s rights over their properties.
Disagreement and reconciliation between husband and wife.
Internal and external purity: rules of wudu, ghusl and prayers.
Fulfill the trusts and refer all disputes to Allah and His Messenger.
Those who decline to accept the decisions of Allah’s Messenger are the hypocrites.
It is the duty of the Believers to establish justice and protect the poor and oppressed.
Hypocrites’ attitude to the Prophet and to the Believers
How to deal with the hypocrites who are prone to fighting
Believers must respect the life of other Believers, Murder and its punishment.
Believers must join and live with other Believers unless they are unable to do so.
Prayers for the travelers and those who are in the battlefield.
Always be just and do not take the side of the unjust.
The secret councils of the hypocrites.
Allah will not forgive Shirk. Shaitan’s misleading of humans through deceptions and false promises.
Some more directions about dealing with orphans and family disputes.
Believers must stand for justice for all. Must pay attention to their faith.
Hypocrites try to deceive Allah. They are lazy in their prayers. Their end will be the lowest part of hell.
Allah’s punishment for those who broke their covenant with Him. Some People of the Book tried to crucify Jesus, but Allah saved him.
The message of Islam is the same as the message of previous Prophets.
Invitation to the People of the Book to accept Islam and recognize the true teachings of Jesus. Some more elaboration on the law of Inheritance.

5. Surah al-Ma’idah(لْمَاٱئِدَة)

The Food, The Repast, The Table

This is the 5^th Surah according to the arrangement of the Qur’an and 112^th according to the order of revelation. It was revealed in Madina soon after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah either towards the end of the 6^th year of Hijrah or at the beginning of the 7^th year of Hijrah. In this Surah there is a verse (5:3) that is believed to be the last verse revealed to the Prophet -peace be upon him. The Surah consists of 120 verses in 16 sections.

There are six main points discussed in this Surah:

All obligations whether they are divine or human should be fulfilled. When we have a pledge or promise or sign a treaty we must abide by it. Also Allah gave some rules for life to keep us clean and sober. Cleanliness of the body, living with justice, being upright and moral, avoiding sin, corruption and superstition, and doing the deeds of piety and righteousness are important rules and principles and must be observed.
Message to the People of the Book i.e. Christians and Jews to recognize the truth. Allah’s punishment comes on those who reject Allah’s rules and knowingly violate them.
The story of the two children of Adam is told. This story has many lessons. Sometime even your brothers become envious of you and they harm you. Just and righteous persons sometimes suffer at the hands of their own family members, but God’s judgment also comes. The righteous under no situation give up right attitude and behavior.
Muslims must deal with justice with all people. Justice should be impartial, even to their enemies they must be just. However, relations among Muslims themselves should be deeper. There should not be only justice but also love, brotherhood, care and concern for each other.
Enjoy the good things that Allah has given, but guard against excesses. Do not indulge in swearing, gambling, intoxicants, superstitions, violation of the sanctities of the Sanctuary of Allah (the Ka’bah).
Jesus -peace be upon him- was a great prophet of Allah. He performed many miracles, but his teachings were not followed and they were corrupted after his departure from this earth.

Introduction to the Sections

General Rules of Discipline
Cleanliness for prayers, Command to abide by justice.
Allah’s covenant with the Children of Israel.
Children of Israel broke the covenant of God.
Musa -peace be upon him- warned the Children of Israel.
Story of the two children of Adam, Punishment for the offenders.
Allah’s rules must be established.
The relations of Muslims with their opponents.
Those who make the mockery of the truth.
How Christians deviated from the truth.
Some Christians came closer to Islam and recognized the truth.
Prohibition against intoxicants, gambling and shirk.
Respect of the Ka’bah.
Rules against idolatry and about testimony.
Some miracles of Jesus -peace be upon him.
How the teachings of Jesus were corrupted after his departure.