Preface
Verse 82 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, like a luminous beacon in the sky of religious knowledge, depicts the relationships between religious groups and the believers. It elucidates, in a clear and eloquent manner, the intensity of hostility of some groups and the relative proximity of others to the faithful. This verse, with a direct address to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), unveils the realities of religious and ethical behaviours among diverse groups, emphasising the role of humility, knowledge, and asceticism in guiding or misleading societies. The present text, with a profound insight into this verse and reflections from a sagacious scholar, examines its theological, historical, and social dimensions. The objective is to present the sublime Quranic concepts in a coherent and scholarly format with clarity and dignity, so that it may serve as a bridge between religious knowledge and contemporary intellectual needs.
The imperative la-tajidanna in the verse, with emphatic certainty, calls upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) to carefully observe the relationships between religious groups and the believers, so as to guide the community towards the truth as an informed witness.
Verse 82 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, expressed in eloquent language, delineates the relationships between religious groups and the believers. The text of the verse and its translation are as follows:
لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَوَدَّةً لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Translation: Indeed, you will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward those who have believed to be the Jews and those who associate others with Allah, and you will surely find the nearest of them in affection to those who have believed to be those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.
This verse, like a mirror, reflects the relations between the believers and other religious groups. The imperative la-tajidanna, with the emphatic nun of certainty, stresses the inevitability of this observation and invites the Prophet (peace be upon him) to contemplate the religious and ethical behaviours of different groups. The verse identifies the Jews and polytheists as the most hostile groups, while the Christians are introduced as relatively closer to the believers due to their humility and the presence of scholars and ascetics among them.
Summary of Part One
Verse 82 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, with a direct address to the Prophet (peace be upon him), emphasises the distinction between religious groups ir behaviours and beliefs. By referencing the hostility of the Jews and polytheists and the relative proximity of the Christians, it highlights the role of humility and religious knowledge in guiding societies.
Intensity of Hostility from Jews and Polytheists
The Holy Quran in this verse presents the Jews as the group exhibiting the greatest hostility towards the believers. This enmity is rooted in theological and historical deviations that stem from the rejection of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and distortions of the heavenly scriptures. The Jews, due to their focus on political interests and material gains, have resisted the truth of faith, resulting in a profound animosity.
The polytheists mentioned in this verse include hypocrites who outwardly appear religious but secretly engage in mischief. This duplicity, like a dark shadow, threatens faith and, coupled with covert polytheism, culminates in hostility towards the believers. This group, under a deceptive guise, frequents mosques and performs acts of worship, yet harbours seditious intentions in their hearts.
The polytheists mentioned in the verse include hypocrites who, with a religious appearance, perpetrate mischief and hostility towards the believers. This hypocrisy, like a dagger in the back of faith, weakens religious truth.
Relative Proximity of the Christians
In contrast to the hostility of the Jews and polytheists, the Holy Quran distinguishes the Christians due to their relative affection towards the believers. This proximity does not imply complete acceptance of Islam but is attributed to the gentler and less hostile behaviour of the Christians. The presence of priests (religious scholars) and monks (ascetics) among the Christians, who are characterised by humility and avoidance of arrogance, is the cause of this affinity. These traits impart an ethical softness to Christian society, like a refreshing breeze.
Nevertheless, the outward gentleness of the Christians is sometimes accompanied by an underlying severity. In media portrayals and superficial interactions, the Christians appear mild-mannered, but history and the conduct of some in wars and conflicts reveal a harsher reality. This contradiction, like a mask upon the face of truth, warns that judgements about religious groups must be made with profound insight and attention to the inner realities of their conduct.
The Christians, despite an outward gentle demeanour and calm behaviour in some interactions, sometimes possess a harsh inner reality revealed in history and global conflicts. This duality necessitates profound scrutiny in judging religions.
Summary of Part Two
This section, through an examination of religious relations in verse 82 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, demonstrated that the hostility of the Jews and polytheists is rooted in theological deviations and hypocrisy, whereas the Christians, due to relative humility and asceticism, are closer to the believers. Nevertheless, both outward appearances and inner realities must be carefully examined to avoid deception by superficial impressions.
The Influence of Priests and Monks
The Holy Quran attributes the proximity of the Christians to the believers to the presence of priests and monks. Priests, as religious scholars, and monks, as ascetics, by renouncing worldly attachments and concentrating on asceticism, possess the capacity to influence the moral fabric of society. This group, like spiritual gardeners, can either draw people closer to God or lead them away. Their humility, manifest in avoidance of arrogance, is like a pure spring cleansing society from moral corruption.
Priests and monks, through knowledge and asceticism, can act as torchbearers in darkness, guiding society towards truth and ethics, provided they remain free from arrogance.
Criteria for Evaluating Scholars
The conduct of the people is a mirror reflecting the calibre of religious scholars. If a society is ethical and compassionate, its scholars are likewise virtuous; however, if people incline towards violence and arrogance, the scholars have failed in their mission of societal guidance. This criterion functions as a precise scale measuring the authenticity of scholars and underscores their heavy responsibility in societal upbringing.
Summary of Part Three
Scholars and ascetics, by virtue of knowledge and humility, hold a fundamental role in guiding society. The Holy Quran, by highlighting the role of priests and monks, emphasises the importance of avoiding arrogance and the positive influence of scholars on societal ethics.
Deviations within Religions
The original text, with a critical perspective, points to deviations within Judaism, Christianity, and even some Muslims. These deviations, which have at times resulted in violence and extremism, originate from a departure from monotheistic principles. The Crusades, contemporary conflicts in Yemen and Syria, and other unrests are symptoms of these deviations, which have ravaged societies like a destructive storm.
Among these, certain global powers have exacerbated these disturbances through deceitful policies. These interventions, like a hidden hand, have propelled Islamic societies toward chaos and obstructed religious reforms and political independence.
Interventions by global powers, through deception and covert strategies, have intensified unrest in the Islamic world, highlighting the necessity of vigilance against such conspiracies.
Distortion of Heavenly Scriptures
A fundamental distinction between the Holy Quran and other heavenly scriptures is the immunity of the Quran from distortion. While the Torah and the Gospel have undergone multiple revisions and alterations, the Quran remains, like a flawless gem, free from any tampering. This characteristic, akin to a crown upon the truth, emphasises the Qurans superiority and authenticity.
Accusation of Quranic Plagiarism
The Jews and Christians have sometimes alleged that the Holy Quran is derived from their scriptures. This accusation, rooted in the denial of the Qurans legitimacy, requires a scholarly and precise response. The Holy Quran, as divine revelation, is independent of prior scriptures, and any comparison must be made with fairness and evidence.
Summary of Part Four
Religious deviations and foreign interventions, as obstacles to truth, have driven societies towards chaos and degradation. The Holy Quran, with its immunity from distortion and emphasis on monotheism, offers a clear path for reforming these deviations.
Avoidance of Arrogance
Arrogance, like a consuming fire, destroys faith and ethics. The Holy Quran, by praising the humility of priests and monks, stresses abstinence from arrogance. Whoever succumbs to arrogance incurs loss in this world and the hereafter; this loss, like a dark shadow, affects generations and societies.
Arrogance, like a lethal poison, annihilates faith and ethics and leads individuals and communities towards worldly and eternal ruin.
Behaviour towards the Weak and the Arrogant
A true believer treats the weak with kindness and justice, refraining from oppression. In contrast, engagement with the arrogant must adhere to principles of justice and fairness. Such conduct acts as a balance, measuring ones justice and faith, and underscores the importance of supporting the vulnerable.
An experience involving young individuals engaging in inappropriate behaviour in an alley illustrates a wise approach. Instead of hasty judgement, avoiding unwarranted interference and inviting calmness, like a gentle breeze, contributes to societal reform. This conduct, grounded in the behaviour of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), highlights the importance of preserving social peace.
Summary of Part Five
Humility and justice in dealing with the weak, and purposeful engagement with the arrogant, are attributes of a true believer. Avoidance of arrogance and premature judgement pave the way for societal reform and strengthening of faith.
Experience of Church Attendance
A twelve-year presence in the church and study of heavenly scriptures represented an effort to gain deeper understanding of religions. This experience, like a journey through the sea of knowledge, reveals the difficulties inherent in comparative religious studies and the necessity of divine assistance on this path.
Aspiration for Comparative Exegesis
The aspiration to compose a comparative exegesis among the Holy Quran, the Torah, the Gospel, and other heavenly scriptures was a noble goal that remained unrealised due to obstacles. This ambition, like a star in the firmament of knowledge, emphasises the importance of comparative religious studies for defending the authenticity of the Quran.
Summary of Part Six
Scholarly experiences and lofty aspirations in comparative religious studies demonstrate the depth and challenges of this field. These endeavours underscore the importance of scientific defence of the Holy Quran and the reinforcement of religious knowledge.
Verse 82 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, like a radiant torch, illuminates the path of truth amidst the darkness of religious deviations. This verse
