A Translation that includes The Last Sermon
Surah 5 al-Ma'idah
(In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
O you who Believe, remember to give Thanks to our Sustainer, and remember to fulfill all treaties you have entered into.
What is given to all of you is given to you from God's Bounty, The Most Bountiful. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables of every kind of beautiful variety, some four-footed animals, with the named exceptions,
(such as pigs and others who dwell in their own filth.)
But, hunting animals is forbidden
while you are in the sacred precincts, or in pilgrimage clothing.
And, know that you can exist without consuming other animals, God's other creations.
For God does command according to His Will and Plan.
O you who Believe, do not violate the sanctity of the symbols of God, nor of the Sacred Month, nor of the sacrificial animals, nor of the garlands that mark out such animals, nor of the people resorting to the Sacred House, seeking the Bounty and good pleasure of their Lord God. But, when you are clear of the sacred precincts, and of pilgrimage clothing, you may hunt, if you feel you must do so.
And, let not the hatred of some people who once shut you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to sin and aggression on your part. Help one another in righteousness and piety, but do not help one another out of spite and sin. Fear God, for He is strict in punishment.
Forbidden to you to eat are: dead meat, blood, swine flesh, (and other forbidden flesh), and that on which has been invoked the Name of other than God, that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which has been partly eaten by a wild animal (unless you are able to slaughter it before its death), and that which is sacrificed on stone altars.
Also forbidden, is the division of meat by gambling, that is lack of respect for the sustenance God gives us. The Day those who reject Faith have given up all hope.
You fear them not, but fear God.
This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed God's favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
And, remember to give in charity in others, and help those in need.
But, if any is forced by hunger to eat forbidden food, with no inclination to sin thereby, Allah is indeed, the Most Forgiving, The Most Merciful.
And, do not distort of waste of God’s Bounty, and give in charity to others.
Remember to give thanks to Allah, The Most Bountiful,
for all that which He has given you.
They ask you what is lawful to them to eat as food. Say: lawful unto you are all things good and pure, such as legumes, nuts and fruits of every beautiful kind and variety. But, if you must consume of the animal flesh, eat of what you have taught your hunting animals to catch in the manner directed to you by God. Eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the Name of God over it, and fear God.
For, God is ever so swift in taking account.
This day are all things good and pure made lawful unto you. Food that is halal is lawful to you, that you bless with God's Holy Name.
Lawful to you for company are the Believing People, because of trust.
And, desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues.
And, if any one rejects Faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost all Spiritual Good.
O you who Believe, when you prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands and arms to the elbows; rub your heads with water; and wash your feet to the ankles (with as little water as possible.)
If you are in a state of impurity, bathe your whole body. But, if you are ill, or on a journey, or if you have used the restroom, or if you have had sex, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean soft sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands to clean yourself. For, God does not wish to place you in difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete His Favor to you, and so that you may be grateful to Him.
And, remember the favor of Allah upon you, and His Covenant, which He confirmed with you, when you said, "We hear and we obey."
And fear God, for God knows well the secrets of your hearts.
O you who Believe! Stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to do wrong and depart from justice.
Be just, that is next to Righteousness.
And fear God. For, Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.
And, to those who Believe and do righteous good deeds,
God has promised Forgiveness and a great reward.
But, those who reject Faith, and deny God's Signs, will be Companions of Hellfire.
O you who Believe! Remember the favor of God upon you when certain men stretched out their hands in aggression against you, but Allah held back their hands from you.
And, fear God. And, in God, let the Believers put all their trust.
Before God did take a Covenant from the people of Israel, and He appointed twelve captains among them. And God said, "I am with you, if you will but establish regular prayers, practice regular charity, Believe in my Messengers, honor and assist them, and loan to God a beautiful loan. Indeed, I will wipe out your evil deeds out, and admit you to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath.
But, if any of you, after this, resists Faith, he has truly wandered from the Right Path."
But some, because of their breach of their Covenant, God cursed them, and made their hearts grow hardened. They changed the meaning and forgot a good part of the Message that was sent them. And, you will still see deceit among them, except for a few of them. But, it is best to forgive. For Allah loves those who are kind to others.
From those, too, who call themselves Christians, God did take a Covenant, but they also forgot a good part of the Message that was sent them.
So we estranged them, one from the other sects, until the Day of Judgment.
And, soon, God will show them what it is they have done.
O People of the Scripture! There has come to you our Messenger, Revealing to you that which you used to conceal in the Scripture, and that which you passed over. There has come to you from Allah a New Light and a Clear Book (the Qur'an).
God Guides all who pursue His Mercy to ways of peace and safety, and leads them out of the Darkness by His Will into the Light, Guiding them to the Right Path.
Indeed, out of disrepect for God, there are some who say that God is Christ, the son of Mary. Say: "Who then has the least power against God, if His Will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and everyone that is on the earth? For, to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is in between.
And, He creates what He pleases, for God has Power over all things."
Both the Jews and the Christians say, "We are sons of God, and His beloved." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins? No, you are but people, and of the people he has created. He forgives whom He Wills to, and He punishes whom He Wills to. And, to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is in between. And, unto Him is the ultimate goal of all creation."
O People of the Scripture! Now has come unto you, making things clear unto you, Our Messenger, after the break in the series of our Messengers, less you should say: "There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings, nor any warner from evil." But, now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner from evil. And, Allah has Power over all things.
Remember, Moses said to his people, "O my people! Call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.
They said, "O Moses! In this land are a people of exceeding strength. Never shall we enter it until they leave it. If they leave, then shall we enter it."
But, among their God-fearing men were two on whom Allah had bestowed His Grace. They said, "Enter through the proper Gate. When once you are in, victory will be yours.
But, in God put your trust, if you have Faith."
They said, "O Moses! While they remain there, never shall we be able to enter, to the end of time. Go then, and thy Lord, and fight you two, while we sit here and watch."
He said, "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother. So separate us from this rebellious people!"
Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! They each presented a sacrifice to God. It was accepted from one, but not from the other. Said the latter, "Be sure I will slay you." "Surely," said the former, "He does accept the sacrifice of those who are righteous.
"If you stretch your hand against me, to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against you to slay you. For I do fear God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of all the Worlds.
"For me, I intend to let you draw on yourself my sin as well as your own, for you will be among the Companions of the Fire, and that is the reward of those who do wrong."
The selfish soul of the other led him to the murder of his brother. He murdered him, and became himself one of the Lost.
Then Allah sent a raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. "Woe is me!" said he, "Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?" Then, he became full of regrets.
On that account, God ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person - unless it was murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed all of mankind. And, if any one saved a life, it would be as if one saved the life of all humanity. And yet, although there came to them God's Messengers with Clear Signs, and, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.
The punishment of those who wage war against God and His Messenger, and strive with might for mischief throughout the land is death, or exile from the country. That is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.
Except for those who repent before they fall into your power. In that case, know that Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
As to those who reject Faith, if they had everything on earth, and twice repeated, to give as ransom for the penalty of the Day of Judgment, it would never be accepted of them, theirs would still be a grievous punishment.
Their wish will be to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom. Their punishment will be one that endures forever.
But, if the thief repents after the crime, and amends the conduct, Allah will turn to him or her with forgiveness. For, God is the Most Forgiving, The Most Merciful.
Do you know that to God alone belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth?
He punishes whom He pleases, and He forgives whom He pleases.
And, God has power over all things.
They are fond of listening to falsehood, of devouring everything forbidden. If they do come to you, either judge between them, or decline to interfere. If you decline, they cannot hurt you in the least. If you judge, judge in equity between them. For Allah loves those who judge fairly.
But, why do they come to you for decision, when they have their own laws before them? Therein, is the plain command of God. Yet, even after that, they would turn away. For, they are really not people of Faith.
It was God who revealed the Law to Moses. Therein was Guidance and Light. By its standard have been judged the Hebrews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to God's Will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law. For to them was entrusted the protection of the first of God's Word, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore, do not fear people, but fear God, and sell not His Signs for a trifling gain. If any do fail to judge by the Light of what God has Revealed, they are no better than the Unbelievers.
And, in their footsteps God sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him. He sent him the Gospel. Therein was Guidance and Light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a Guidance and an admonition to those who fear God.
To you, God sent the Scripture in Truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it, intending for it to be guarded in safety. So, judge between them by what God has Revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that has come to you. To each among you God has prescribed a law and a given path. If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but His Plan is to test you in what He has given you. So, strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to God. It is He that will show you the Truth of the matters in which you dispute.
And, this He commands: judge between them by what God has Revealed, and follow not their vain desires. And, follow God's teachings that He has sent down to you. And, if they turn away, it is God's intention to punish them. And, truly most people are rebellious.
Do they seek then a judgment of the days of ignorance? But who, for a people whose Faith is assured, can give better judgment than God?
O you who Believe! Do not take the Disbelievers for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And, he among you that turns to them for friendship is one of the DisBelievers. Indeed, God does not Guide an unjust people.
Those in whose hearts is a sickness - you see how eagerly they run about among them, saying, "We do fear less a change of fortune brings us disaster." Ah! Perhaps, God will give you victory, or perhaps a decision according to His Will. Then, will they repent for the thoughts which they secretly harbor in their hearts?
And those who Believe will say, "Are these the people who swore their strongest promises by God, that they were with you in Belief?" All that they do will be in vain, and they will fall into nothing but ruin.
O you who Believe! If any from among you turn back from Faith, soon will God produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him, lowly with the Believers, mighty against the rejectors, striving in the way of God, and never afraid of reproach. That is the Grace of God, which He will bestow on whom He pleases. And, God encompasses all,
and He Knows all things.
Your true friends are God, His Messenger, and the fellowship of the Believers, those who establish regular prayers and who practice regular charity, and who bow down humbly in worship to God alone.
As to those who turn for friendship to God, His Messenger, and the fellowship of Believers, it is the fellowship of God that must certainly triumph.
O you who Believe! Take not for friends and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport, whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or among those who reject Faith. But fear God, if you indeed have Faith.
When you proclaim your call to prayer they take it as mockery and sport. That is because they are a people without Understanding.
Say: "O people of the Scripture! Do you disapprove of us for no other reason than that we Believe in God, and the Revelation that has come to us, and that which came before us? And, most of you believe that we are rebellious and disobedient."
Say: "Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, as judged by the treatment it received from God: those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath; those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine; and those who worship evil. These are many times worse in rank, and far more astray from the Right Path!"
When they come to you, they say, "we Believe." But, in fact, they enter with a mind against Faith, and they go out with the same. But, God knows fully all that they hide.
Many of them do you see, racing with each other in sin and discontent, and eating things forbidden to mankind. Evil indeed are the things that they do.
Why don't the rabbis and the doctors of Law forbid them from their sinful habit of uttering sinful words and eating things forbidden to them? Evil indeed are their works.
The Hebrews say, "God's hands are tied up." No! Their hands are tied up, and they are cursed for the lies they utter against Him. No, both His hands are widely outstretched. He gives and spends of His bounty as He Wills. But, the Revelation that comes to you from God increases in most of them their obstinate rebellion and disrespect for Him. Amongst them we have placed animosity and hatred until the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, God does extinguish it. But, they ever strive to do mischief on earth. And, God does not love those who do mischief.
If only the People of the Scripture would Believe in God alone, and be Righteous, Allah would blot out their sins, and admit them to Gardens of Bliss.
If only they would hold fast to the Law, the Gospel, and all the Revelation that was sent to them from their Lord God, they would enjoy happiness from all sides. There is from among them a group on the Right Path. But, many of them follow a Path that is evil.
O Messenger! Proclaim the Message which has been sent to you from your Lord God. If you did not, you would not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And, God will defend you from people who mean mischief. For, God does not Guide those who reject Faith.
Say, "O People of the Scripture! You have no ground to stand upon unless you stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the Revelation that has come to you from Your Sovereign Lord God." It is the Revelation that comes to you from your Lord God. Yet, they increase in most of them their obstinate rebellion and disrespect for God. But, do not have sorrow over these people without Faith.
Those who Believe in the Qur'an, those who follow the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Sabians and Christians who Believe in God alone, any who Believe in God and the Last Day, and do not associate others with Him, and who do righteous good deeds, and give in charity, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
God gave the Covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them Messengers. Every time, there came to them a Messenger with what they themselves did not want to know, some of whom they called impostors, they killed.
They thought there would be no trial or punishment. So, they became Unseeing and Unhearing to the Truth. Yet, God does turn to them with His Mercy if they repent as He Will. Yet, again, many of them became Unseeing and Unhearing.
But, God sees well all that they do.
They do disrespect God those who say, "God is Christ, the son of Mary." But, in reality, Jesus, the Prophet, said, "O Children of Israel! Worship God, my Lord and your Sovereign Lord God." Whoever joins others with God, He will forbid them from the Gardens of Paradise, and the Fire will be their abode. For the wrongdoers, there will be none to help them.
They do disrespect God those who say: God is one of three in a Trinity. For, there is no God except the One True God. If they do not desist from their disrespectful words against Him, indeed, a grievous punishment will befall them.
Why don't they turn to God, and seek His forgiveness?
For, God is the Most Forgiving, The Most Merciful.
Jesus, the son of Mary, was a Messenger, and a Prophet, as well. Many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of Truth. They both had their daily food to eat. See how Allah does make His Signs clear to them. Yet, see in what ways they are deluded away from the Truth!
Say, "Will you worship any other besides God, something which has no power either to harm or benefit you? But, God, He it is that Hears and Knows all things."
Say, "O people of the Scripture! Exceed not in your religion the bounds of what is proper, trespassing beyond the Truth, nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by, who were misled by many, and strayed themselves from the Right Path.
Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, the son of Mary, because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses against God, and associated themselves as equals with God.
Nor did they usually forbid one another from the sins that they committed. Evil indeed were the deeds that they did.
You see many people turning in friendship to the DisBelievers. Evil indeed are the works which the DisBelievers' souls have sent forward before them. God's Wrath is upon them, and in torment they will abide forever.
If only they had Believed in God, in the Messenger, and in what has been Revealed. Never would they have taken the DisBelievers for friends and protectors, but most of them are rebellious wrongdoers.
Strongest in animosity to the Believers are those who are hypocrites, those who kill the prophets, and those who associate others with God. And, you will find the nearest in affection to the Believers will be those who say, "We are Believers in the One True God," because these are people devoted to learning, who have renounced their worldly belongings, and are not arrogant.
And, when they listen to the Revelation received by the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the Truth.
They pray, "Our Lord God! We do Believe!
Write us down among the witnesses to the Truth.
"We have cause to Believe in God and the Truth that has come to us, seeing that we long for our Lord God to welcome us to the company of the Righteous."
And, for this, God has rewarded their prayers with Gardens of Paradise, with rivers flowing beneath, their eternal home. Such is the reward of those who do good deeds and who Believe in God, and the Last Day.
But, those who reject Faith and ignore our Creator's Signs,
they shall be companions of Hellfire.
O you who Believe! Do not make unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, but commit no excesses or commit wastefulness.
For, God does not love those given to excess.
Eat of the things which God has provided for you, lawful and good.
But, fear God, in whom you Believe.
God will not call you to account for what is merely carelessness in your promises. However, He will call you to account for your deliberate violations of promises and actions.
For His Mercy, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families, or clothe them, or free a slave. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the attonement for the promises you have sworn.
But keep to your promises.
Thus, does Allah make clear to you His Signs, so that you might be grateful to Him.
O you who Believe! Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing on stone altars, and divination by arrows, are sins, and are of Satan's handiwork. Avoid these things so that you may prosper.
Satan's plan is to cause animosity and hatred between all of you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God, and from prayer.
Will you not then abstain from sin?
Obey God, and obey the Messenger, and beware of evil. If you do turn back, know that it is Our Messenger's duty to proclaim the Message in the clearest manner.
Those who Believe, and do righteous deeds, there is no blame for what they have eaten in the past if they now fear God and repent. Follow His Laws, Believe in Him, and do righteous good deeds. Then, fear God and Believe! Then, fear God and do good!
For, Allah loves those who do good deeds.
O you who Believe! Allah may surely test you through a little matter of game well within reach of your hands and your spears, so that He may make evident those who fear him unseen. And, whoever transgresses thereafter, will have a grievous punishment.
O you who Believe, do not kill game while in the sacred precincts, or in pilgrimage clothing. If any of you does so intentionally, the compensation is an offering, brought to the Ka'bah, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one killed, as adjudged by two just men among you; or by way of atonement, the feeding of the indigent; or its equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of the penalty of his deed. Allah forgives what is past if one repents unto Him. But, whoever continues to violate His Laws, God will exact from him the penalty. For God is Exalted in Might, and the Owner of Retribution.
Lawful to you is the pursuit of water fowl and its use for food, for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel. But, forbidden is the pursuit of land game, as long as you are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrimage clothing.
And fear God, to whom you all shall be gathered back.
God made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, standing in His Name as a place for His people, and He sanctified also the Sacred Months, the animals for offerings, and the garlands that mark them. That is so that you may know that God has knowledge of all that is in the Heavens and on earth, and that God is well acquainted with all things.
Know that God is strict in punishment, but He is the Most Forgiving, The Most Merciful to those who repent.
The Messenger's duty is but to proclaim the Message. But, God Knows all that you reveal and that which you hide.
Say: "Things that are bad and things that are good are not the same, even though the abundance of the bad may dazzle you.
So fear God, all of you that Understand, so that you may prosper."
O you who Believe! Do not ask questions about things which, if made plain to you, will distress you. But, if you ask about things when the Qur'an is being Revealed, they will be made plain to you, and Allah will forgive you.
For God is The Most Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
Some people before you did ask questions and turned away in DisBelief, and on that account,
they lost all Faith.
It was not God who placed superstitions like those of a slit ear she-camel, or a she-camel let loose for free pasture, or idol sacrifices for twin-births in animals, or camels freed from work.
It is those who do not Believe, and who invent lies against God, who lack Understanding.
When it is said to them, "Come to what God has Revealed; come to the Messenger," they say, "Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following," even though their fathers were void of Knowledge of the Truth and Guidance.
O you who Believe! Guard your own souls. If you follow the Right Guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who are astray from the Right Path. The goal of all of you is to God. It is He that will show you the Truth of all that you do.
O you who Believe! When death approaches any of you, take witnesses among yourselves when making bequests, two just peopl of your own brotherhood, or others from outside if you are journeying. If you doubt their honesty, detain them both after prayer, and let them both swear by God. "We do not wish in this for any worldly gain, even though the beneficiary be a near relation to us. We shall not hide the evidence before God. If we do, then behold! The sin will be upon us!"
But, if it is known that these two were guilty of the sin of perjury, let two others stand in their places, near in kin from among those who claim a lawful right, and let them swear by God. "We affirm that our witness is truer than that of those two, and that we have not trespassed against the truth. If we did, behold! The wrong would be upon us!"
That is most suitable, that they may give the evidence in its true nature and shape, or else they would fear that other promises would be taken after theirs. But fear God, and listen to His counsel. For, God does not Guide a rebellious people.
One Day God will gather the Messengers together, and ask, "What was the response you received from people to your teaching?"
They will say, "We have no knowledge about this. It is You Who Knows in full all that is hidden."
Then God will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary! Recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in adulthood. Behold! I taught you the Scripture and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And, when you made out of clay the figure of a bird, by My leave, I breathed life into it, and it became a bird. By My leave, you heal those born blind, and healed the lepers. And behold, you brought forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from violence against you when you did show them the Clear Signs, and the DisBelievers among them said, 'This is nothing but evident magic.'
"And behold! I inspired the disciples to have Faith, "Believe in Me and My Messenger." They said, "We have Faith, and do bear witness that we bow to God in submission."
Behold! the disciples, said, "O Jesus, the son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table set with food from heaven?" Jesus said, "Fear God, if you have Faith."
They said, "We only wish to eat thereof and satisfy our hearts, and to know that you have indeed told us the Truth; and that we ourselves may be witnesses to the miracle."
Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O God, our Sovereign Lord! Send us from heaven a table set spread with food, that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a festival and a Sign from You; and provide for our sustenance, for You are the Best Sustainer of our needs."
God said, "I will send it down to you. But, if any of you after that resists Faith, I will punish him with a punishment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among all the peoples."
And beware of the day when God will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say to the people, "Worship me and my mother as deities besides God?" He will say, "Exalted are You! Never could I say that which I had no right to say. Had I said such a thing, You would indeed have known it. You Know what is in my heart, although I know not your heart.
For, only God Knows in full all that is unseen."
"Never did I say to them except that which You did command me to say - to worship God, my Sovereign Lord God, and your Sovereign Lord God. And, I was a witness over them while I lived amongst them. But, when You did take me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, a Witness.
"If You should punish them, indeed they are Your servants. But, if You do forgive them, You are the Exalted in Power, the Most Wise."
God will say, "This is a day when the Truthful will benefit from their truthfulness. For them are Gardens of Paradise, with rivers flowing beneath, where they will abide therein forever." For, God is well-pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment!
To God belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, and it is He Who has Power over all things.
Amen
