Surah Al-Ma'idah, one of the Medinan chapters of the Holy Quran, centres upon jurisprudential, ethical, and social injunctions, serving as a mirror reflecting divine guidelines for human guidance. Verse 13 of this Surah, with a profound focus on the breach of covenant by the Children of Israel, the hardness of heart, distortion of words, and forgetfulness of divine favours, issues a warning to all nations, particularly scholars and religious elites. This treatise, relying upon the discourses of religious scholars, elucidates this verse and examines its spiritual, ethical, and social dimensions comprehensively. The objective is to provide an exposition that conveys the spirit of the verse in a clear and eloquent language while unveiling its epistemological richness through semantic connections for the readers.
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِمْ مِيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ ۙ وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَائِنَةٍ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْهُمْ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Because of their breach of covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their places and forgot a portion of that whereof they were reminded. You shall always observe treachery from among them except a few of them. So pardon them and forgive; surely Allah loves the beneficent.
Verse 13 of Surah Al-Ma'idah continues the Divine discourse with the Children of Israel, which in the preceding verse (Verse 12) referred to their covenant and pledge with God. This verse unveils the spiritual and ethical consequences of breaching the covenant. Breach of covenant is likened to a wind extinguishing the flames of Divine grace, turning the heart into cold and hard ash. This section meticulously analyses the verses concepts, exploring three primary themes: breach of covenant, hardness of heart and distortion of words, and the command to forgive and pardon.
The phrase فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِمْ مِيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ refers to the breach of covenant by the Children of Israel and their consequent estrangement from Divine mercy. The term curse here does not signify a general curse but rather denotes deprivation from Divine favour and guidance. This deprivation acts as a heavy shadow, depriving the heart of the light of faith and paving the way for hardness. Breach of covenant is a severance of the bond with God that distanced the Children of Israel from the fountain of Divine mercy.
The phrase وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً points to the hardness of heart of the Children of Israel, which is a result of estrangement from God. The human heart is like a fire that remains aflame and warm through Divine grace. When this grace is withdrawn due to disobedience, the heart turns into cold and hard ash. This hardness prevents the perception of truth and acceptance of Divine guidance.
The phrase يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ refers to the distortion of Divine words. This sin was especially committed by the religious elite and scholars among the Children of Israel who knowingly displaced the Divine verses from their rightful context. This distortion, executed by the religious elites, is a deliberate and conscious sin, unlike animalistic errors since animals lack such capacity. This grave responsibility reflects the critical role of scholars in preserving the trust of religion.
The phrase وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ points to the forgetfulness of admonitions and Divine blessings. This forgetfulness is a Divine punishment that deprives knowledge and guidance following the breach of covenant. Oblivion acts like a veil drawn over the intellect and heart, barring comprehension of truth. This punishment chiefly befalls those who knowingly turn away from religion.
The phrase وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَائِنَةٍ مِنْهُمْ serves as a warning to the Prophet that he will continually observe treachery among the Children of Israel. This treachery encompasses breach of covenant, distortion of words, and forgetfulness of admonitions. The warning is particularly directed towards the religious elite who deliberately betrayed the religion.
The phrase إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْهُمْ refers to a small group among the Children of Israel who remained faithful to the covenant. This group, like stars in the dark sky of misguidance, preserved the light of faith and piety. This exception is a hope that even amidst deviations, a path of salvation remains open for the faithful.
In analysing this verse, a dialogue arises between master and student concerning whether the small exception refers to the distorting elites or to ordinary sinners. The conclusion is that the exception pertains to ordinary sinners (such as thieves and drinkers), not the distorting elites, since the latter, due to their arrogance and awareness, are less likely to be forgiven.
The phrase فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ commands the Prophet to forgive and pardon the sinners among the Children of Israel. Forgiveness means passing over faults, and pardon means not holding the sin against them. These two are like the wings of mercy, elevating a person towards the station of Divine benevolence.
The phrase إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ demonstrates that God loves the beneficent. Benevolence here equates to forgiveness and pardon, inviting the Prophet to emulate Divine mercy. This act resembles a mirror reflecting Divine beauty within human behaviour.
Animalistic sins, such as intoxication and adultery, though reprehensible, are less severe than distortion of religion. These sins resemble behaviours observed among animals and stem from ignorance. By contrast, distortion of religion is a conscious sin unique to knowledgeable humans and admits no excuse.
Distortion of Divine words is akin to a dagger plunged into the heart of religion. This sin is unique to the elite and scholars who knowingly alter and displace Divine verses. Animals are incapable of such acts; therefore, this sin admits no excuse and entails severe punishment.
Forgetfulness of Divine favours and admonitions is a punishment God inflicts upon covenant-breakers. This oblivion acts as darkness engulfing intellect and heart, depriving humans of knowledge and guidance. This punishment primarily befalls those who knowingly turn away from religion.
Divine oblivion sometimes manifests as ignorance and lack of awareness in religious knowledge. A recollection of dialogue with a person devoid of religious knowledge exemplifies this punishment. This ignorance is like ash resting upon the fire of knowledge and cognition, extinguishing it.
Tampering with the Holy Quran and religious knowledge without piety leads a person into the abyss of oblivion and ignorance. Scholars, as custodians of the trust of religion, must approach this domain with piety; otherwise, the punishment of forgetfulness will befall them. This warning serves as a clarion call urging scholars to preserve piety in religious knowledge.
