Sūrah al-Mā’idah

Believers! Fulfil [all] your promises [made with your Lord]. It is lawful for you to eat the flesh of all beasts which are cattle except those which you are being informed of. But, in the state of iḥrām, do not hunt animals. [This is the decree of God and] God decrees what He intends.

Believers! Do not violate the sha‘ā’ir of God, or the sacred months, or the animals of ḥadī or [specifically those among them] whose necks are decked with collars of vow or those people who have set out for the Sacred House to seek God’s grace and pleasure. However, once you take off your iḥrām you are free to hunt. Some people had stopped you from coming to the Sacred House. So, even your animosity against them should not incite you so much that you cross the limits. [No, abide by these limits come what may] and collaborate with one another in what is virtuous and pious but not in what is unjust and oppressive. And remain fearful of God because God is stern in retribution.

Prohibited to you is the meat of dead animals, blood, flesh of the swine, and that on which God’s name has not been invoked while slaughtering, and also [subsumed under this directive of prohibition] is an animal which has been killed by strangling, or by a blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns and that also which has been eaten by a wild animal unless you are able to slaughter it [after finding it alive]. Similarly, also forbidden to you are those animals slaughtered at an altar and [forbidden also] is the division [of meat] by arrows of gambling. [You should know that] all these are acts of disobedience to God. These disbelievers have now lost hope in your religion. So, [with regard to these prohibitions,] have no fear of them; fear Me only. This day I have completed your religion for you and have completed My favour to you and have chosen Islam as your religion. [Hence follow these directives that I have given.] But he who, constrained by hunger, is compelled to eat any of these things not intending to commit sin, then there is no harm in this because God is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

They ask you what is lawful for them. Say: All pure things are lawful to you as well as the hunting animals you have taught to hunt, training them from the knowledge God has taught you, [the animal hunted by them is also allowed.] So, eat of what they catch for you and [before you let loose the animal to catch the prey,] pronounce upon it the name of God. And remain fearful of God. Indeed, swift is God in taking account.

All pure things have now been made lawful to you. [Consequently,] the food of the People of the Book is lawful to you and yours to them. Similarly, [the bounds and limits of polytheism and monotheism have also become evident; hence] lawful to you are the chaste women of the Muslims and also the chaste women of those who were given the Book before you when you give them their dowers with the condition that you too desire chastity not lewdness nor becoming secret paramours. [However, always keep your faith pure] and [do bear in mind that] those who reject faith, all their hard work ended in vain, and in the world to come they will be among the losers.

Believers! [This very cleanliness is also needed to come in God’s presence. So,] when you rise to pray, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads and wash your feet to the ankles also. And if you are [ceremonially] unclean, bathe yourselves to become clean. And if [at times] you are sick or on a journey, or when any of you has relieved himself or if you have had intercourse with women and no water is available to you, find some clean surface and wipe your faces and your hands from it. God does not wish to burden you; He certainly seeks to purify you. [Thus He makes it mandatory on you to do wuḍū and take the ceremonial bath] and wants to perfect His favour upon you. [Thus in compelling circumstances allows you to do dry ablution] so that you are grateful to Him.

[Benefit from this concession] and keep in remembrance this favour of God to you, and also His covenant with which He bound you when you said: “We have heard and we are obedient.” [Keep it in remembrance] and have fear of God because God knows even the secrets of the hearts. Believers! [It is the requisite of this covenant that you] stand up for God bearing witness to justice and your animosity for a people should not induce you to turn away from justice. Be just; this is nearer to piety. And keep fearing God because God is well aware of all your deeds. God has promised those who have embraced faith and done righteous deeds that for them is forgiveness and a great reward. On the contrary, those who are disbelievers and have denied Our revelations, it is they who shall go to Hell. Believers! And remember also this favour which God bestowed upon you when He restrained the hands of a people who sought to harm you and keep fearing God. And [remember that] believers should put their trust in God only.

In a similar manner, God had taken a covenant from the Israelites as well and [to protect it] We had deputed on them twelve chiefs from among them. And God took this promise from them: “I shall be with you. If you diligently adhered to the prayer, paid the zakāh and acknowledged My messengers and helped them and kept giving a generous loan to God [their Lord], then you should rest assured that I shall brush away your mistakes from you and will definitely admit you into orchards below which streams flow.” Then even after this [covenant] those of you who disbelieve should know that they have strayed from the straight path. So, because they broke this covenant of theirs, We cursed them and hardened their hearts. [Now their situation is that] they sever words from their context and occasion, and have forgotten a part of that through which they had been reminded. And [it is a result of this that] every now and then news of one fraud of theirs or the other comes to your notice. Very few of them do not indulge in this. [You can expect nothing good from them now.] So, [O Prophet] pardon them and keep forgiving them because God likes those who are thorough.

In a similar manner, We took a covenant from those also who said: “We are Nazarenes.” Then they too forgot a part of that through which they were reminded. Therefore, We stirred among both of them the fire of enmity and hatred, which will endure until the Day of Judgement. [They are now burning in it.] And soon God will inform them of what they have been doing.

O People of the Book! to you has come Our Messenger who is revealing much of what you have been concealing of the Book of God, and is also ignoring many things. This light has come to you from God: a Book which explains [everything related to religion]. Through it God guides to the paths of peace those who seek to please Him; and through His grace and blessing leads them from the vastness of darkness to light and guides them to a straight path.

There is no doubt that those who declared: “God is only this Messiah, the son of Mary,” have committed disbelief. Ask them: Who can prevent God, if He so willed, from killing the Messiah, the son of Mary, his mother, and all the people of the earth? [No one can influence his decisions because] God has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. He creates whatever He wills, and God has power over all things.

These Jews and the Christians claim: “We are the sons of God and His loved ones.” Ask them: Why then has He been punishing you for your sins? Certainly not! In fact, You are also mortals from among the mortals created by Him. He will forgive whomsoever He wants [from among you] and punish [according to His law] whomsoever He wants. [No one can influence His decisions because] the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them belongs to Him. And [each of you] shall return to Him.

O People of the Book! This Messenger of Ours has come to you after an interval which saw no messengers and is explaining [religion] to you [from all aspects], lest you say: “No one has come to us to deliver glad tidings and warnings.” So, see that a deliverer of glad tidings and warnings has come to you [so that God conclusively conveys the truth to you before seizing you]. And God has power over all things. (19)

[People of the Book! Fear the consequences of your crimes] and bear in mind the incident when Moses said to his nation: “People of My Nation! Think, of the favour which God has bestowed upon you: He has raised up prophets among you, made you kings, and has given you that which He has given to no other nation. People of My Nation! [For this,] enter the holy land which God has ordained for you. And do not turn on your backs; otherwise, you will lose everything.” They replied: “Moses! Very powerful people dwell here; we shall certainly not set foot in it until they go away. Indeed if they go away, we shall definitely enter it.” However, from among their God-fearing men, there were two whom God had favoured; they said: “Enter you upon the people [of this city] by forcing yourselves in through the gate. Then when you enter it, you will be victorious, and trust God only if you believe in Him.” But they again said: “Moses! As long as they are there, we shall never enter it. So, go you and your Lord, and fight; we shall sit here.”¹

At this, Moses prayed: “Lord! I have no authority on anyone except on my own self and on my brother; so, totally separate us and these insolent people.” God said: “If this is the case, then this land is forbidden to them for forty years; they will keep wandering about in the land. So, [now] do not lament on these insolent.”

[O Prophet! In your enmity, they are now bent upon creating disorder.] Narrate to them in all truth the tale of Adam’s two sons when each of them offered an animal for sacrifice; then the offering of one was accepted while that of the other was not. [Then he whose offering had not been accepted] said: “I will kill you.” The other replied: “God accepts the offerings of only those of His servants who fear Him. If you raise your hand on me to kill me, even then I will not raise my hand on you to kill you. I fear God, Lord of the worlds. I want that [if you have decided to kill me, then] you bear the burden of your own sin and that of mine as well and be among the companions of Hell.” This is the punishment of such unjust people.

[Even this did not stop him and] his instinct finally persuaded him to kill his brother, and after killing him he became one of those who procure loss. Then God sent a raven who began digging the earth to show him how to hide the corpse of his brother. [Seeing this,] he cried: “Woe be to me! I could not even be like this raven so that I may have just hidden my brother’s corpse.” Thus, he was very ashamed [on this].

It is this [rebelliousness of human beings] because of which [when We gave the sharī‘ah to Moses,] We wrote [in it] the directive for the Israelites also that he who killed a human being without the latter being guilty of killing another or of spreading anarchy in the land, then it is as if he killed all mankind, and he who gave life to one person, it is as if he gave life to all mankind. [Moreover, besides it] this also is a reality that [to conclusively communicate the truth to them] Our messengers came to them with very clear signs; however, in spite of this, there are many among them who transgress in the land.

[They should be told that] the punishment of those who wage war against God and His Messenger and in this way strive to spread anarchy in the land is to execute them in an exemplary way or to crucify them or to amputate their hands and feet from opposite sides or to banish them from the land. Such is their disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter, for them shall be an awful doom except those who repent before you overpower them; so, [do not commit excess against them and] you should understand well that God is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

[This is the sharī‘ah of God.] Believers! Fear God [about it,] seek His nearness and for this continue to strive in His cause so that you may prosper. As for those who [in spite of conclusive communication of the truth from the Messenger still] disbelieve [in him], if they are able to acquire all the riches of the earth and as much besides so that in return for it they can redeem themselves from the torment of the Day of Judgement, it will not be accepted from them and for them surely is a woeful punishment. They will like to come out from the Fire but they shall never be able to. For them is an eternal punishment there.

[This is the sharī‘ah of God; hold fast to it.] And as to the thief, male or female, [if their crime is proven] cut off their hands as a reward of their own deeds, and as an exemplary punishment from God. And [remember that] God is Dominant over all; He is very Wise. Then whoever repented and mended his ways after committing this oppression, God will look upon him with favour. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. Don’t you know that the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth belongs to God only? He will punish whomsoever He intends and forgive whomsoever He intends [according to His law and wisdom]. God has power over all things.

O Prophet! Let not those who are trying to compete with one another in rejecting [the sharī‘ah of God] put you in grief; those also who say with their tongues: “We have embraced faith,” even though there is no faith in their hearts and those also who have become Jews. They keep their ears tuned to lies, the lies of those people who are a separate group from them, who have never come to you, change what is said from its real meaning even after the context and occasion of what is said is ascertained; they say: “If this is the decision of your case, then accept it and if this is not so, then stay away from it.”[They are in a state of trial] and whoever God wants to inflict with trial, he is definitely inflicted with it. Then you cannot do anything for him in opposition to God. It is these whose hearts God did not want to purify. For them is humiliation in this world also and a great punishment in the Hereafter too. Their ears are tuned to hearing lies and [to bear false witness] consume what is unlawful [without any hesitation]. Thus, if they come to you [for verdicts], it is up to you to give a verdict or ignore them. If you ignore them, they will not be able to inflict any harm on you and if you give your decision, it is essential that you decide between them with justice because God likes those who give a just verdict. How do they make you give a verdict even though they have the Torah with them which contains God’s own verdict? Then after turning [to you] for verdict, they defy it as well. In reality, they are not even a people who believe.

We have revealed this Torah, in which there was both guidance and light. Through it the obedient prophets of God, the rabbis and the jurists would deliver verdicts for these Jews because they had been made custodians of this Book of God and witnesses to it. Then [they were also directed about it:] “Do not fear people; in fact, fear Me and do not sell my verses for a paltry sum, and [bear in mind that] those who do not judge according to the law revealed by God, it is they who are the rejecters.” And in precisely this Book, We enjoined on them: life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth and similarly there is qiṣāṣ for other wounds also. Then he who forgave it, this will become an atonement for his own self. [This is the law of God] and those who do not judge according to the law of God, it is they who are the unjust.²

In the footsteps of these [messengers], We sent forth Jesus son of Mary, who corroborated the Torah already present. And We gave him the Gospel in which there was guidance and light. And it also corroborated the Torah present before it, as a guide and an admonition for the God-fearing and with the directive: let those who follow the Gospel judge according to what God has revealed therein. And those who do not judge according to the law revealed by God, it is they who are the defiant.

Then [O Prophet!] We have revealed to you this Book with truth and in corroboration of the Book before it, and standing as a guardian over it. Therefore, give judgement among them according to the guidance revealed by God, and do not yield to their whims by swerving from the truth that has come to you – For each of you, We have ordained a sharī‘ah: a line of action. Had God pleased, He could have made you one community, but he did not do this because He wanted to try you by whatever He has blessed you with. So, try to outdo one another in good deeds. To God shall you all [one day] return. Then He will disclose upon you all the things in which you have been differing – and the same thing that you judge them according to the law revealed by God and do not follow their desires and beware of them lest they turn you away from some part of the guidance which God has revealed to you. Then if they show aversion, be informed that God wants to punish them for some of their sins. And, in reality, most among these people are defiant. [Leaving aside the sharī‘ah of God,] do they then wish to be judged by pagan laws? Even though who can have a better verdict than God for those who have conviction in [God and the Hereafter]?

Believers! Take not these Jews and Christians for your friends. They are friends of one another and [remember that] if anyone befriends them [in spite of this warning], then he will be counted among them. In reality, God never guides such unjust people. Thus you see those who have the ailment [of hypocrisy] in their hearts are hastening to befriend them. They say: “We fear that we might be inflicted by a calamity.” But it may well be that God grants [you] victory or reveals something else from Himself so that they may regret what they conceal in their hearts. [Be convinced that this is what will happen to them] and the believers [at that time] will say: “Are they the same ones who would swear vehement oaths by God to assure you that they are with you?” [Alas!] All their deeds came to nothing and they ended up in loss.

Believers! [This is the attitude of renouncing religion. So, remember that] he among you who renounces his religion, God does not care about him because God will soon bring forth people whom God will love and who will love God; who are gentle to the believers and very stern to these disbelievers; they will fight for the cause of God and [in it] will not care about the reproaches of a reproacher. This is God’s grace. He will bestow it [according to His law and wisdom] to whomsoever He desires. God is Munificent; He knows everything.

[They are not your friends.] Your friends are in fact God and His Messenger and those believers who with humility and submission adhere diligently to the prayer and pay zakāh. And those who befriend God and His Messenger and true believers, it is they who will be dominant because it is God’s faction which is to be dominant.

Believers! Do not befriend those from among the people who were given the Book before you who have made your religion a jest and an amusement nor befriend other disbelievers and fear God if you are true believers. [Don’t you see that] when you give the call to the prayer, they make fun of it and make it an amusement. This is because they are ones who are devoid of understanding. Tell them: O People of the Book! Are you venting your anger on us merely because we have professed faith in God and in that which has been revealed to us and in that also which was revealed before us and because most of you are disobedient. Tell them: Shall I inform you of people who will have with God a fate even worse [than what you contemplate for us]? They are those who God has cursed, who were inflicted by His wrath, from among whom He made apes and swine, and who have worshipped Satan. They are worse in status and have strayed very far from the right path.

When they come to you, they say: “We have embraced faith,” even though with disbelief they come and with disbelief they depart and [do not understand that] God knows full well what they conceal in their hearts. You see that most of them are deeply involved in usurping rights, committing excesses and consuming what is prohibited. How evil is what they are doing! Why don’t their rabbis and scholars stop them from saying what is sinful and consuming what is prohibited? How evil is what they are doing!

The Jews say: “God’s hands are tied.” – may their own hands be tied and may they be cursed for this statement of theirs – By no means! In fact, both His hands are outspread; He bestows as He intends. In reality, what has been revealed to you from your Lord is bound to increase the rebelliousness and disbelief of many of them. [It is because of this attitude of theirs due to which] We have stirred among them enmity and hatred that will continue until the Day of Judgement. Whenever they ignite the fire of war, God puts it out [otherwise they would have kept spreading rebelliousness in this manner] and they try to spread anarchy in the land; but God never likes those who spread anarchy.³

On the other hand, if these People of the Book had professed faith [in Our messenger] and adopted piety, then [as its reward] We would have brushed away their sins from them and would have admitted them into orchards of delight. And if [in their collective capacity,] they had diligently adhered to the Torah and the Gospel and that which has been revealed to them by their Lord, they would have found sustenance from above and from beneath their feet. [There is no doubt that] there is also one group among them which is righteous; but most among them are those whose deeds are very evil.

[Do not be concerned about them] O Prophet [and] whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord, communicate it to them the way it should be and [remember that] if you do not do so, it will be considered that you failed to convey God’s message. [Rest assured!] God will protect you from these people because God shall never show the path of success to this disbelieving nation.

Tell them clearly: O People of the Book! You have no basis until you diligently adhere to the Torah, the Gospel and that which has been revealed to you from your Lord. But all that will happen is that what has been revealed to you from your Lord shall definitely increase the rebelliousness and disbelief of many of them. So, do not grieve for these disbelieving people. In reality, [no one has any monopoly of attaining salvation from God; hence,] those who are Muslims and those [before them] who became Jews and those who are called the Sabaeans and the Nazarenes – whoever among them have believed in God and in the Last Day and who have done righteous deeds for them there shall be nothing to fear [in the presence of God] nor shall they ever grieve.⁴

We indeed made a covenant with the Israelites [that they will obey the sharī‘ah] and [for its reminder] sent many messengers towards them [but it happened that] whenever a messenger came to them with something which was against their desires, some they rejected and some they have been putting to death, and thought that they would not be seized for it; thus they became blind and deaf. Then God was gracious to them and accepted their repentance. Even after that, most among them continued to become blind and deaf. [Same is the situation now as well,] and God is watching whatever they are doing.

Those who said: “God is this Messiah, the son of Mary,” surely have committed disbelief also, even though the Messiah himself had said: “O Israelites! Serve God, Who is my Lord and yours too.” [They should know that] whoever associates partners with God, God has denied him Paradise, and Hell is his abode and for such unjust people, there will be no one to help them there. In the same way, those people have also definitely committed disbelief who said: “God is the third of three,” even though there is but one God. If they do not desist from their statements, a painful torment will visit those of them who persist in their disbelief [even after the truth has been conclusively communicated to them by the Prophet]. Will then they not turn to God in penitence and seek forgiveness from Him? In reality, God is the Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. The Messiah, the son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger; several messengers also came before him, and his mother was a righteous servant [of God]. Both of them ate food. See how We are plainly stating Our revelations before them. Then see how they turn back. Tell them: While leaving aside God, do you worship those who neither have any authority to help or harm you, even though it is only God Who hears all and knows all? Say: O People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion without any basis and do not follow the religious innovations of those people who had already been led astray and who led many others astray and who strayed from the straight path.

Those of the Israelites who committed disbelief [before this] were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary because they were disobedient [to God] and would cross the limits [prescribed by God even in matters of their fellow human beings]. They would not desist in any way from the wrongs they would do. Very evil was the attitude they had adopted. [At this time also,] you see many people from among them befriending the rejecters. Very evil is the provision which they have prepared for themselves to send for the future: they incurred the wrath of God and they shall endure an everlasting torment. Had they really believed in God and His Prophet and that which has been revealed to the Prophet, they would never have befriended these [rejecters]; but most among them have become insolent.

The truth is that you will find the Jews and Idolaters to be the most ruthless in enmity with the Muslims, and you will find nearest in friendship to Muslims those who said: “We are Nazarenes.” This is because there are scholars and monks among them, and because they are not arrogant. And when they listen to that which has been revealed to the Messenger of God, you see their eyes shed tears because of recognizing the truth. They call out: “Lord! We have believed; so, count us among its witnesses. And why should we not believe in God and in the truth that has come to us when we hope that our Lord will include us among the righteous?” So, it is the verdict of God that as reward of these words of theirs, He shall grant them orchards below which streams flow; they shall dwell therein forever. This is the reward of those who are thorough. As for those who disbelieved and have denied Our revelations, it is they who are the companions of Hell.

1. Believers! Do not forbid the pure and wholesome things which God has made lawful for you. And do not transgress bounds; God does not like people who transgress bounds. Eat of the lawful and wholesome things which God has given you and fear [your] God in whom you have professed faith. [Some people among you swear an oath to forbid something to themselves; so, you should know that] God will not hold you accountable for oaths which you swear inadvertently; but He will definitely hold you accountable for the oaths which you swear with firm intent of the heart. So, if such an oath is broken, its atonement is that ten needy persons should be fed with food which is of the same standard as the one with which you normally feed your own families or providing clothes to them or the liberation of one slave. Then whosoever cannot afford these, for him is three days of fasting. This is the atonement for your oaths when you swear them. [Make this atonement] and protect oaths. Thus God explains to you His verses that you may be grateful to Him.⁵

2. Believers! This liquor and gambling and stone altars and divining arrows are all filthy handiworks of Satan. So, avoid them that you may succeed. Satan only seeks to stir up enmity and malice among you by getting you involved in liquor and gambling and to keep you from the remembrance of God and from the prayer. Then will you abstain from [these things? Abstain from them] and obey God and His Messenger and continue to abstain [from disobedience]. But if you turn away [from this guidance of Ours], then be informed that the only responsibility of Our Messenger is clear communication. Those [among you] who have embraced faith and have begun doing righteous deeds have incurred no sin for what they have eaten or drunk earlier as long as they were pious, professed faith and did righteous deeds. Then, moreover, they adhered to piety and persevered on their faith. Then, not only this, they adhered to piety and followed [every directive of God] in a thorough way. And, in reality, God likes those who are thorough in their attitude.

3. Believers! God will surely test you through a prey which will be accessible to your hands and spears so that God may see who [among you] fears Him without observing [and who does not]. Then he who transgressed the bounds prescribed by God even after this admonition, for him there is a woeful punishment. Believers! Do not hunt while wearing the iḥrām; [this is prohibited] and [remember that] anyone of you who deliberately does so, then its penalty is a similar animal from among your beasts to the one he had killed, whose decision will be made by two just men among you. And this will be sent to the Baytullāh as an offering or, if this is not possible, then, in expiation, either the poor should be fed or a similar number of fasts be kept so that he may taste the consequences of his deed. God has forgiven what has been done in the past but if anyone does it again God will exact revenge from him. God is Mighty; capable of revenge. Lawful for you is the prey you catch from the sea and its eating as a provision for you and for your caravans. However, you are forbidden the prey hunted on land as long as you are wearing the iḥrām. [Do not go near it] and keep fearing God, before whom you will all be assembled. God has made the sacred house Ka‘bah as a centre for people and made the sacred months, sacrificial animals and all animals whose necks are decked with collars [to make them a sign of offering] as religious symbols. They [have been regarded as religious symbols] so that it remains clear to you that God has knowledge of all that the heavens and the earth contain and this also that God is aware of all things. Be on guard! God is stern in retribution, and God is very Forgiving and also Merciful. The only responsibility of the Messenger is to communicate, and God knows what you reveal and what you conceal. Say: The pure and the impure are not alike, even though the abundance of the impure may however much infatuate you. Thus, keep fearing God, you men of understanding, so that you may succeed.

4. Believers! Do not ask questions about things which, if made known to you, would burden you and if you ask them while the Qur’ān is being revealed to you, they will be made evident to you. [At this time,] God has pardoned these things, and God is Forgiving, very Gracious. Before you, a nation inquired about similar things, then they became their very rejecters. [The answer to your question nevertheless is that] God has prescribed neither a baḥīrah, nor a sā’ibah, nor a waṣīlah, nor a ḥām. But these disbelievers invent falsehoods about God and most of them are those who do not use their intellect. And when they are told: “Come to what God has revealed, and to the messenger of God,” they reply: “Sufficient for us is what we have found from our forefathers.” Even in the case when their fathers knew nothing nor were rightly guided? Believers! Concentrate on your own selves; if you are on the right path, then those who have strayed cannot harm you at all. To God shall you all have to return. Then He will let you know what you have been doing.

5. Believers! When death approaches someone among you, and he is making a bequest, then for him the testimony will take place between you in a way that two just men from among you will be made witnesses, or if you are somewhere on a journey and the calamity of death arrives there, then two just men from outside your community should be picked. [In the first case,] if you have any doubt [about them], you will detain them after the prayer. Then they will swear by God: “We shall not accept any price for this testimony even if some kinsman offers it, neither will we hide the testimony of God. If we do this, we would be counted among the sinners.” Then if it becomes known that these two have been dishonest, let two others stand forth in their place from among the people who have been deprived of their right by the previous two witnesses; then they should swear by God: “Our testimony is truer than both of theirs and that we have not in any way exceeded the limits in our testimony; if we have done this, we would be among the wrongdoers.” In this way, it is more likely that they will bear true witness or at least they will fear that their oaths will get refuted by those of the others. Fear God and listen [to whatever directive is given to you. If you do not do this, then this is clear defiance] and God never shows the way to the defiant.⁶

[Those who have hidden the evidence of God should] remember the Day when God will gather all the messengers; then will ask them: “What response was given to you [from your nations]?” They will say: “We have no knowledge. Only you know all what is hidden.” When God will say: “O Jesus son of Mary! Recall the favour I bestowed on you and on your mother at the time when I helped you through the Holy Spirit; you would talk even in the cradle [as a prophet] and also when you were advanced in age. And, at the time, when I taught you the law and the wisdom which is the Torah and the Gospel. And, at the time, when at My directive, you would fashion from clay the model of a bird, then would breathe into it and it would become a living bird at My directive; and you would cure the born-blind and those inflicted with leprosy with My directive; and, at the time, when you would restore the dead to life with My directive. And, at the time, when I withheld the Israelites from harming you when you came to them with clear signs and their disbelievers said: Nothing! This is but plain sorcery.” And, at the time, when I indicated to the disciples to profess faith in Me and in My messenger; so, they said: “We embrace faith and you bear witness that we are Muslims.” At the time, when the disciples said: “O Jesus, son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us from the heavens a table-spread [of food]?” Jesus said: “Fear God if you are true believers.” They replied: “We only want to eat from this table-spread and, as its result, our hearts receive satisfaction, and we are able to know that what you said to us is true and we become witnesses to it.” At this, Jesus, son of Mary, prayed: “O God, our Lord! Send down to us from the heavens a table-spread which becomes a memorable thing for our successors and for our predecessors and a sign from You. [Lord!] Provide us! And You are the best of Providers. God replied: “I shall definitely send it down to you; but after this those who disbelieve from among you, I shall give them such a stern punishment that I would not have given to anyone in the world.”

[Those who have concealed the evidence of God should keepin mind the day when this conversation takes place] and this also that when [after reminding people of it] God will ask: “Jesus son of Mary! Did you tell people: ‘Regard me and my mother as gods besides God?’” He will reply: “Glory be to You! How was it befitting for me to say something which I have no right to say? If I had said this, it would have been in Your knowledge [because] You know what is in my heart and I do not know what is in Your heart. Only You are aware of all hidden things. I only said to them what You commanded me: ‘Worship God, Who is my Lord and your Lord too.’ I watched over them as long as I remained among them. Then when You gave death to me, after that You have remained the Watcher over them and You are a witness to all things. If You now punish them, they are your servants, and if You forgive them, You only are Mighty, very Wise.” God will say: “This is the day when the truthfulness of the truthful will be of benefit to them.” For them shall be orchards below which streams are flowing; they shall dwell therein forever. God is pleased with them and they are pleased with God. This alone is great success. The sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and whatever they contain belongs to God, and He has power over all things.