109 Page Notes

05 Surah Al-Maidah (continued)

Page 109 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

5:10

5:11

5:12

5:13

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 109 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Al-Ma'idah (Chapter 5), verses 10 through 13, located on page 109 of the standard Uthmani Mushaf, cover transitional themes contrasting the destiny of disbelievers with Allah’s interventions for the believers, followed by an exposition on the historical covenants made with the Children of Israel.

The Prophetic Hadiths and Sunnah provide the contextual reasons for revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul) and clarify the theological and practical warnings outlined in these specific verses.

1. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 10 & 11: Divine Protection from Plots

"And those who disbelieved and denied Our signs - those are the companions of Hellfire. O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when a people determined to extend their hands against you, but He withheld their hands from you..." (5:10-11)

The Hadith Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)

Classical commentators like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi point to major historical events recorded in the Sunnah where enemies plotted to assassinate Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, only for divine intervention to shield him.

• The Plot of Banu Nadir: A prominent Hadith found in the historical biographical traditions (Seerah) and referenced in Hadith literature notes that the Prophet ﷺ went to the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir to request assistance with blood money (Diyyah). While he sat next to the wall of one of their fortresses, their leaders plotted to drop a large stone on his head from above. The angel Gabriel descended to warn him, prompting him to stand up and walk away safely.

• The Incident of Ghawrath ibn al-Harith: Another prominent authentic narration relates an event during a military campaign where the Prophet ﷺ was resting alone under a tree, having hung his sword on a branch. A bedouin polytheist named Ghawrath ibn al-Harith approached him, drew the Prophet’s sword, and asked, "Who will protect you from me?" The Prophet ﷺ calmly replied, "Allah." The sword fell from the man's hand due to sudden trembling. The Prophet ﷺ picked it up and asked, "Who will protect you from me?" The man repented, and the Prophet ﷺ forgave him.

These events are categorized under the Prophetic Sunnah demonstrating absolute reliance (Tawakkul) on Allah, directly tying into the conclusion of verse 11: "And upon Allah let the believers rely."

2. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verses 12 & 13: Covenants and the Disease of a "Hard Heart"

"And Allah had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders... But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard..." (5:12-13)

The Hadith on the Twelve Leaders (Nuqaba)

Verse 12 mentions that twelve leaders or chieftains (Nuqaba) were appointed over the tribes of Israel to oversee their compliance with the covenant. This structure is mirrored explicitly in the Sunnah during the early founding of Islamic society:

• The Second Pledge of Al-Aqabah: When the early Muslims of Medina (the Ansar) met the Prophet ﷺ secretly before the Migration (Hijrah) to pledge their allegiance, the Prophet ﷺ requested that they appoint representatives. As documented in foundational biographical texts, he said: "Bring out to me twelve leaders from among you who will be responsible for their people, just as the disciples of Jesus, son of Mary, were responsible." Thus, the Sunnah consciously instituted twelve leaders mirroring the historical framework highlighted in Al-Ma'idah.

The Hadith on "Hardness of the Heart" (Qaswah)

Verse 13 states that breaking divine covenants leads directly to a spiritual curse and the hardening of the heart (Faj'alna qulubahum qasiyah). This psychological and spiritual degradation is a major theme within the spiritual Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ:

• The "Lump of Flesh" Hadith: In a universally recognized authentic Hadith, the Prophet ﷺ warned that spiritual decay manifests physically and behaviorally through the state of the spiritual heart. He stated:
  "Behold, there is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is good, the whole body is good, but if it is spoiled, the whole body is spoiled, and that is the heart." (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) (Fauziyyah, 2022).

• The Accumulation of Sins: Exegetes link the "hard heart" mentioned in verse 13 to the Prophetic warning regarding unrepentant sinning. The Sunnah teaches that when a servant commits a sin, a black spot is cast upon their heart. If they repent, it is cleared. However, if they continue to sin without seeking forgiveness, the stains accumulate until a rust (Ran) completely seals the heart, making it impervious to guidance or moral reminders.

References

• Fauziyyah, A. N. (2022). Characteristics of a hard heart from the perspective of Tafsir Al-Azhar. QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies, 1(3), 309–315.

(Note: Additional contextual details on the historical contexts of revelation are sourced universally across foundational classical Islamic exegeses—including Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qurtubi, and the Sahih collections of Bukhari and Muslim—where these narratives are paired directly with the instruction of Surah Al-Ma'idah).