110 Page Notes

05 Surah Al-Maidah (continued)

Page 110 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

5:14

5:15

5:16

5:17

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 110 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 110 of the standard Uthmani Mushaf contains Surah Al-Ma'idah (Chapter 5), verses 14 through 17. These verses transition from discussing the broken covenants of the Jewish tribes to addressing the Christians (An-Nasara), exposing how scriptures were concealed, declaring the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a universal "light," and firmly refuting the deification of Jesus (peace be upon him).

The Hadith literature and Prophetic Sunnah provide critical historical context, explanations of specific rulings, and definitions of terms mentioned across these four verses.

1. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 14: The Split and Enmity Among Sects

"And from those who say, “We are Christians,” We took their covenant, but they forgot a portion of what they were reminded of. So We caused among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection..." (5:14)

The Hadith on the Splitting of Nations

Classical commentators like Ibn Kathir link the phrase "We caused among them animosity and hatred" directly to the Prophetic Hadiths outlining the theological fragmentation of former religious communities. The Prophet ﷺ detailed how abandoning parts of the scripture leads to sectarian division:

"The Jews split into seventy-one sects, and the Christians split into seventy-two sects, and this Ummah (nation) will split into seventy-three sects—all of them in the Fire except one."

• Source: Sunan Abi Dawud (Book 42, Hadith 4596); Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2640). Classified as Sahih (authentic).

The Sunnah explains that when a nation alters or abandons sections of its covenant, theological infighting (Al-Adawah wal-Baghda') becomes a natural psychological and sociopolitical consequence—manifesting historically as fierce hostility between early Christian factions (such as the Nestorians, Jacobites, and Melkites) over the nature of Christ.

2. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 15: Exposing What Was Hidden (The Law of Stoning)

"O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much..." (5:15)

The Hadith on the Hidden Verse of Stoning (Rajm)

Verse 15 emphasizes that the Prophet ﷺ was sent to explicitly uncover legal and theological truths that the People of the Book had intentionally hidden from their own text.

A prime historical example preserved in the Sunnah involves a delegation of Jewish leaders who came to the Prophet ﷺ in Medina seeking a judgment regarding a man and a woman who had committed adultery. They attempted to hide the legal punishment of stoning (Rajm) written in the Torah, claiming their book prescribed minor public shaming instead. The companion Abdullah bin Salam (a former Jewish rabbi) exposed the deception, proving that the verse of stoning was indeed present but intentionally covered up.

In his Mustadrak, Imam al-Hakim explicitly links this historical Sunnah event to the revelation of verse 15:

Ibn Abbas said: "He who disbelieves in stoning [the married adulterer] has inadvertently disbelieved in the Qur'an, for Allah said: 'O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture'—and stoning was among the things that they used to hide."

• Source: Al-Mustadrak 'ala al-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim. Al-Hakim stated that the chain of transmission is Sahih (authentic), an evaluation supported by classical exegesis (Tafsir Ibn Kathir for 5:15-16).

3. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verses 15 & 16: The Prophet and Quran as a "Light"

"...There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. Whereby Allah guides those who seek His pleasure to the ways of peace..." (5:15-16)

The Hadith on the Nature of the "Light" (Noor)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly identified the path of guidance highlighted in verse 16 (Subul as-Salam—the ways of peace) by visually drawing it out for his companions.

The Companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud narrated: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew a straight line in the dust with his hand and said, 'This is the straight path of Allah.' Then he drew lines to the right and left of it and said, 'These are other paths, and on every path is a devil calling people to it.' Then he recited: 'And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it...'"

• Source: Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 4437); Sunan An-Nasa'i. Classified as Sahih.

Furthermore, the Prophet ﷺ used to make a frequent supplication (Du'a) during his night prayers (Tahajjud) asking Allah to firmly implant this internal "light" (Noor) mentioned in verse 15 inside his senses, highlighting its profound spiritual status in the Sunnah:

"O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight, light in my hearing, light on my right, light on my left, light above me, light below me, light before me, light behind me, and make for me a light."

• Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 6316); Sahih Muslim (Hadith 763).

4. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 17: Refuting the Deification of Jesus

"They have certainly disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary.' Say, 'Then who could prevent Allah at all if He intended to destroy the Messiah, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?'..." (5:17)

The Hadith Warning Against Extreme Adulation (Ghuwluww)

Verse 17 issues a severe theological correction against elevating a creation to the status of the Creator. To ensure his own followers did not repeat this historical error, the Prophet ﷺ strictly forbade extreme, hyperbolic praise that could lead to polytheism (Shirk):

Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say, 'The servant of Allah and His Messenger.'"

• Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 60, Hadith 3445).

The Hadith on the True Status of Jesus

The Sunnah emphasizes that affirming the exact, non-divine status of Jesus as outlined in verse 17 is a core condition for a believer to enter Paradise:

Ubadah ibn as-Samit narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone... and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, and that Jesus is the servant of Allah, His Messenger, His word which He bestowed upon Mary, and a spirit created by Him... Allah will admit him into Paradise through any of its eight gates he wishes."

• Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3435); Sahih Muslim (Hadith 28).

References

• Al-Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Ismail. Sahih al-Bukhari (Chapters on Prophetic Commentary / Kitab al-Tafsir & Stories of the Prophets).

• Al-Hakim, Muhammad ibn Abdullah. Al-Mustadrak 'ala al-Sahihayn (Section on the Virtues/Exegesis of Surah Al-Ma'idah).

• Ibn Kathir, Ismail ibn Umar. Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azeem (Exegesis of Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verses 14–17).

• Sijistani, Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ash'ath. Sunan Abi Dawud (Book of Trials and Tribulations / Kitab al-Fitan).