Sūra 5: Māida, or The Table Spread

1. O ye who believe! fulfil (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals with the exceptions named: but animals of the chase are forbidden while ye are in the Sacred Precincts or in pilgrim garb: for God doth command according to His Will and Plan.

2. O ye who believe! violate not the sanctity of the Symbols of God nor of the Sacred Month nor of the animals brought for sacrifice nor the garlands that mark out such animals nor the people resorting to the Sacred House seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of the Sacred Precincts and of pilgrim garb ye may hunt and let not the hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear God: for God is strict in punishment.

3. Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat blood the flesh of swine and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than God that which hath been killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a headlong fall or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any forced by hunger with no inclination to transgression God is indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

4. They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food): say: Lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained 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 swift in taking account.

5. This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers but chaste women among the People of the Book revealed before your time when ye give them their due dowers and desire chastity not lewdness nor secret intrigues. If anyone rejects faith fruitless is his work and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

6. O ye who believe! when ye 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. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity bathe your whole body. But if ye are ill or on a journey or one of you cometh from offices of nature or ye have been in contact with women and ye find no water then take for yourselves clean sand or earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. God doth not wish to place you in a difficulty but to make you clean and to complete His favor to you that ye may be grateful.

7. And call in remembrance the favor of God unto you and His Covenant which He ratified with you when ye said: “We hear and we obey”: and fear God for God knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.

8. O ye 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 wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear God for God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

9. To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness hath God promised forgiveness and a great reward.

10. Those who reject faith and deny our signs will be companions of hell- fire.

11. O ye who believe! call in remembrance the favor of God unto you when certain men formed the design to stretch out their hands against you but (God) held back their hands from you: so fear God. And on God let believers put (all) their trust.

12. Allah did aforetime take a Covenant from the Children of Israel and We appointed twelve captains among them and God said: “I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers practice regular charity believe in My apostles honor and assist them and loan to God a beautiful loan verily I will wipe out from you your evils and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you after this resisteth faith he hath truly wandered from the path of rectitude.”

13. But because of their breach of their Covenant We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard: they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the Message that was sent them nor wilt thou cease to find them barring a few ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds): for God loveth those who are kind.

14. From those too who call themselves Christians We did take a Covenant but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent them: so We estranged them with enmity and hatred between the one and the other to the Day of Judgment. And soon will God show them what it is they have done.

15. O People of the Book! there hath come to you Our Apostle revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from God a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.

16. Wherewith God guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety and leadeth them out of darkness by His Will unto the light guideth them to a Path that is Straight.

17. In blasphemy indeed are those that say that God is Christ the son of Mary. Say: “Who then hath the least power against God if His Will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary his mother and all everyone that is on the earth? For to God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For God hath power over all things.”

18. (Both) the Jews and the Christians say: “We are sons of God and His beloved.” Say: “Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay ye are but men of the men He hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all).”

19. O people of the Book! now hath come unto you making (things) clear unto you Our Apostle after the break in (the series of) Our apostles lest ye should say: there came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner (from evil): but now hath come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner (from evil): and God hath power over all things.

20. Remember Moses said to his people: “O my people! call in remembrance the favor of God 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.

21. “O my people! enter the holy land which God hath assigned unto you and turn not back ignominiously for then will ye be overthrown to your own ruin.”

22. They said: “O Moses! in this land are a people of exceeding strength: never shall we enter it until they leave it: if (once) they leave then shall we enter.”

23. (But) among (their) God-fearing men were two on whom God had bestowed His Grace: they said: “Assault them at the (proper) gate: when once ye are in victory will be yours. But on God put your trust if ye have faith.”

24. They said: O “Moses! while they remain there never shall we be able to enter to the end of time. Go thou and thy Lord and fight ye two while we sit here (and watch).”

25. He said: “O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother so separate us from this rebellious people!”

26. God said: “Therefore will the land be out of their reach for forty years; in distraction will they wander through the land: but sorrow thou not over these rebellious people.”

27. 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 thee.” “Surely” said the former “God doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.

28. “If thou dost stretch thy hand against me to slay me it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee: for I do fear God the Cherisher of the worlds.

29. “For me I intend to let thee draw on thyself my sin as well as thine for thou wilt be among the companions of the fire and that is the reward of those who do wrong.”

30. The (selfish) soul of the other led him to the murder of his brother: he murdered him and became (himself) one of the lost ones.

31. Then God 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.

32. On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone slew a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear Signs yet even after that many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.

33. The punishment of those who wage war against God and His Apostle and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution or crucifixion of the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.

34. Except for those who repent before they fall into your power: in that case know that God is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

35. O ye who believe! do your duty to God seek the means of approach unto Him and strive with might and main in His cause: that ye may prosper.

36. 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 be a grievous penalty.

37. Their wish will be to get out of the fire but never will they get out therefrom: their penalty will be one that endures.

38. As to the thief male or female cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example from God for their crime: and God is Exalted in Power.

39. But if the thief repent after his crime and amend his conduct God turneth to him in forgiveness; for God is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

40. Knowest thou not that to God (alone) belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth? He punisheth whom He pleaseth and He forgiveth whom He pleaseth: and God hath power over all things.

41. O Apostle! let not those grieve thee who race each other into unbelief: (whether it be) among those who say: “We believe” with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be among the Jews men who will listen to any lie will listen even to others who have never so much as come to thee. They change the words from their (right) times and places; they say “If ye are given this take it but if not beware:” If anyone’s trial is intended by God thou hast no authority in the least for him against God. For such it is not God’s will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.

42. (They are fond of) listening to falsehood of devouring anything forbidden. If they do come to thee either judge between them or decline to interfere. If thou decline they cannot hurt thee in the least. If thou judge judge in equity between them; for God loveth those who judge in equity.

43. But why do they come to thee 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 not (really) people of faith.

44. It was We who revealed the law (to Moses); therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews by the Prophet 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 God’s Book and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men but fear Me and sell not My Signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed they are (no better than) unbelievers.

45. We ordained therein for them: “Life for life eye for eye nose for nose ear for ear tooth for tooth and wounds equal for equal.” But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed they are (no better than) wrong-doers.

46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the law that had come before him: We 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.

47. Let the people of the Gospel Judge by what God hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed they are (no better than) those who rebel.

48. To thee We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture that came before it and guarding it in safety; so judge between them by what God hath revealed and follow not their vain desires diverging from the truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way. If God had so willed He would have made you a single people but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath 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 ye dispute.

49. And this (He commands): Judge thou between them by what God hath revealed and follow not their vain desires but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which God hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away be assured that for some of their crimes it is God’s purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.

50. Do they then seek after a judgment of (the Days of) Ignorance? But who for a people whose faith is assured can give better judgment than God?

51. O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust.

52. Those in whose heart is a disease thou seest how eagerly they run about amongst them saying: “We do fear lest a change of fortune bring us disaster.” Ah! perhaps God will give (thee) victory or a decision according to His Will. Then will they repent of the thoughts which they secretly harbored in their hearts.

53. And those who believe will say: “Are these the men who swore their strongest oaths by God that they were with you?” All that they do will be in vain and they will fall into (nothing but) ruin.

54. O ye who believe! if any from among you turn back from his faith soon will God produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him lowly with the believers mighty against the rejecters fighting in the way of God and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the Grace of God which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth: and God encompasseth all and He knoweth all things.

55. Your (real) friends are (no less than) God His Apostle and the (fellowship of) believers those who establish regular prayers and regular charity and they bow down humbly (in worship).

56. As to those who turn (for friendship) to God His Apostle and the (fellowship of) believers it is the fellowship of God that must certainly triumph.

57. O ye 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 ye God if ye have Faith (indeed).

58. When ye proclaim your call to prayer they take it (but) as mockery and sport; that is because they are a people without understanding.

59. Say: “O People of the Book! do ye disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in God and the revelation that hath come to us and that which came before (us) and (perhaps) that most of you are rebellious and disobedient?”

60. 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 God and His wrath those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine those who worshipped Evil; these are (many times) worse in rank and far more astray from the even Path!

61. When they come to thee they say: “We believe”: but in fact they enter with a mind against Faith and they go out with the same: but God knoweth fully all that they hide.

62. Many of them dost thou see racing each other in sin and rancor and their eating of things forbidden. Evil indeed are the things that they do.

63. Why do not the Rabbis and the doctors of laws forbid them from their (habit of) uttering sinful words and eating things forbidden? Evil indeed are their works.

64. The Jews say: “God’s hand is tied up.” Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter. Nay both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the revelation that cometh to thee from God increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. Amongst them We have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war God doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And God loveth not those who do mischief.

65. If only the people of the Book had believed and been righteous We should indeed have blotted out their iniquities and admitted them to gardens of Bliss.

66. If only they had stood fast by the Law the Gospel and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course; but many of them follow a course that is evil.

67. O Apostle! proclaim the (Message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord. If thou didst not thou wouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission: and God will defend thee from men (who mean mischief). For God guideth not those who reject faith.

68. Say: “O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law the Gospel and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith.

69. Those who believe (in the Qur’an) those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures) and the Sabians and the Christians any who believe in God and the Last Day and work righteousness on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

70. We took the Covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them Apostles. Every time there came to them an apostle with what they themselves desired not some (of these) they called impostors and some they (go so far as to) slay.

71. They thought there would be no trial (or punishment); so they became blind and deaf: yet God (in mercy) turned to them: yet again many of them became blind and deaf. But God sees well all that they do.

72. They do blaspheme who say: “God is Christ the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O children of Israel! worship God my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with God God will forbid him the garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.

73. They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy) verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.

74. Why turn they not to God and seek His forgiveness? For God is Oft- forgiving Most Merciful.

75. Christ the son of Mary was no more than an Apostle; many were the Apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how God doth makes His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!

76. Say: Will ye worship besides God something which hath no power either to harm or benefit you? But God He it is that heareth and knoweth all things.”

77. Say: “O people of the Book! 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 misled many and strayed (themselves) from the even way.

78. 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.

79. Nor did they (usually) forbid one another the iniquities which they committed: evil indeed were the deeds which they did.

80. Thou seest many of them turning in friendship to the unbelievers. Evil indeed are (the works) which their souls have sent forward before them (with the result) that God’s wrath is on them and in torment will they abide.

81. If only they had believed in God in the Apostle and in what hath been revealed to him never would they have taken them for friends and protectors but most of them are rebellious wrong-doers.

82. Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say: “We are Christians:” because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world and they are not arrogant.

83. And when they listen to the revelation received by the Apostle thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears for they recognize the truth: they pray: “Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses.

84. “What cause can we have not to believe in God and the truth which has come to us seeing that we long for our Lord to admit us to the company of the righteous?”

85. And for this their prayer hath God rewarded them with gardens with rivers flowing underneath their eternal home. Such is the recompense of those who do good.

86. But those who reject faith and belie our Signs they shall be companions of hell-fire.

87. O ye who believe! make not unlawful the good things which God hath made lawful for you but commit no excess: for God loveth not those given to excess.

88. Eat of the things which God hath provided for you lawful and good: but fear God in Whom ye believe.

89. God will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation feed then indigent persons on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth God make clear to you His Signs that ye may be grateful.

90. O ye who believe! intoxicants and gambling (dedication of) stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork: eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper.

91. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and hinder you from the remembrance of God and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?

92. Obey God and obey the Apostle and beware (of evil): if ye do turn back know ye that it is Our Apostle’s duty to proclaim (the Message) in the clearest manner.

93. On those who believe and do deeds of righteousness there is no blame for what they ate (in the past) when they guard themselves from evil and believe and do deeds of righteousness (or) again guard themselves from evil and do good. For God loveth those who do good.

94. O ye who believe! God doth but make a trial of you in a little matter of game well within reach of your hands and your lances that He may test who feareth Him unseen: any who transgress thereafter will have a grievous penalty.

95. O ye who believe! kill not game while in the Sacred Precincts or in pilgrim garb. If any of you doth so intentionally the compensation is an offering brought to the Ka’ba of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he 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. God forgives what is past: for repetition God will exact from him the penalty: for God is Exalted and Lord of Retribution.

96. Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game 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 ye are in the Sacred Precincts or in pilgrim garb. And fear God to whom ye shall be gathered back.

97. God made the Ka’ba the Sacred House an asylum of security for men as also the Sacred Months the animals for offerings and the garlands that mark them: that ye may know that God hath knowledge of what is in the heavens and on earth and that God is well acquainted with all things.

98. Know ye that God is strict in punishment and that God is Oft- Forgiving Most Merciful.

99. The Apostle’s duty is but to proclaim (the Message): but God knoweth all that ye reveal and ye conceal.

100. Say: “Not equal are things that are bad and things that are good even though the abundance of the bad may dazzle thee; so fear God O ye that understand! that (so) ye may prosper.”

101. O ye who believe! ask not questions about things which if made plain to you may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur’an is being revealed they will be made plain to you: God will forgive those: for God is Oft-Forgiving Most Forbearing.

102. Some people before you did ask such questions and on that account lost their faith.

103. It was not God Who instituted (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 stallion-camels freed from work; it is blasphemers who invent a lie against God but most of them lack wisdom.

104. When it is said to them: “Come to what God hath revealed; come to the Apostle”: they say: “Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following.” What! even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?.

105. O ye who believe! guard your own souls: if ye follow (right) guidance no hurt can come to you from those who stray. The goal of you all is to God: it is He that will show you the truth of all that ye do.

106. O ye who believe! when death approaches any of you (take) witnesses among yourselves when making bequests two just men of your own (brotherhood) or others from outside if ye are journeying through the earth and the chance of death befalls you (thus). If ye doubt (their truth) detain them both after prayer and let them both swear by God: “We wish not in this for any worldly gain even though the (beneficiary) be our near relation: we shall hide not the evidence before God: if we do then behold! the sin be upon us!”

107. But if it gets known that these two were guilty of the sin (of perjury). Let two others stand forth in their places nearest in kin from among those who claim a lawful right: let them swear by God: “We affirm that our witness is truer than that of those two and that we have not trespassed (beyond the truth): if we did behold! the wrong be upon us!.

108. That is most suitable: that they may give the evidence in its true nature and shape or else they would fear that other oaths would be taken after their oaths. But fear God and listen (to His counsel): for God guideth not a rebellious people.

109. One day will God gather the apostles together and ask: “What was the response ye received (from men to your teaching)? They will say: “We have no knowledge: it is thou who knowest in full all that is hidden.

110. Then will God say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! recount my favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom the Law and the Gospel. And behold! thou makest out of clay as it were the figure of a bird by My leave and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave and thou healest those born blind and the lepers by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the Clear Signs and the unbelievers among them said: `This is nothing but evident magic’.

111. “And behold! I inspired the Disciples to have faith in Me and Mine Apostle: they said `We have faith and do thou bear witness that we bow to God as Muslims’.”

112. Behold! the disciples said: “O Jesus the son of Mary! can thy Lord send down to us a table set (with viands) from heaven?” Said Jesus: “Fear God if ye have faith.

113. They said: “We only wish to eat thereof and satisfy our hearts and to know that thou hast indeed told us the truth; and that we ourselves may be witnesses to the miracle.

114. Said Jesus the son of Mary: “O God our Lord! send us from heaven a table set (with viands) that there may be for us for the first and the last of us a solemn festival and a sign from Thee; and provide for our sustenance for Thou art the best Sustainer (of our needs).

115. God said: “I will send it down unto you: but if any of you after that resisteth faith I will punish him with a penalty such as I have not inflicted on anyone among all the peoples.

116. And behold! God will say “O Jesus the son of Mary! didst thou say unto men `worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God”? He will say: “Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden.

117. “Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say to wit `Worship God my Lord and your Lord’; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up thou wast the Watcher over them and Thou art a Witness to all things.

118. “If Thou dost punish them they are Thy servants: if Thou dost forgive them Thou art the Exalted the Wise.

119. God will say: “This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens with rivers flowing beneath their eternal home: God well-pleased with them and they with God: that is the great Salvation (the fulfillment of all desires).

120. To God doth belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein and it is He who hath power over all things.