115 Page Notes

05 Surah Al-Maidah (continued)

Page 115 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

5:42

5:43

5:44

5:45

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 115 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 115 of the standard Uthmani Mushaf comprises Surah Al-Ma'idah (Chapter 5), verses 42 through 45.

This page contains profound legal frameworks, detailing the Prophet's ﷺ role as a multi-community judge in Medina, affirming the divine origins of the Torah (Tawrat), and codifying the law of equal retaliation (Qisas) for bodily injuries.

The Hadith and Prophetic Sunnah provide the direct historical context, court judgements, and ethical rulings that stem from these verses.

1. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 42: Jurisdiction and Illicit Wealth (Suht)

"They are avid listeners to falsehood, devourers of what is unlawful (suht). So if they come to you, [O Muhammad], judge between them or turn away from them..." (5:42)

The Sunnah Definition of Suht (Unlawful Wealth)

The Prophet ﷺ explicitly defined what constitutes suht (the forbidden consumption of wealth mentioned at the top of page 115) to protect Muslims from financial corruption:

• Bribery: In a narration directly interpreting this verse, the Companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud stated that suht refers primarily to taking bribes in judicial matters. The Prophet ﷺ heavily cursed this practice: "The curse of Allah is upon the one who offers a bribe and the one who accepts it." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 2313).

• Illegal Trade: The Prophet ﷺ also stated: "When Allah forbids a thing, He also forbids its price [earning money from selling it]." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 3488).

The Option of Political Autonomy

The phrase "judge between them or turn away from them" granted the Prophet ﷺ the legal authority to choose whether or not to act as a judge for non-Muslim tribes living under the Constitution of Medina. The Sunnah shows that when he did choose to judge, he strictly upheld absolute equity, as ordered at the end of the verse: "Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly."

2. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verses 43-44: Upholding the Torah

"But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah? ... Indeed, We downed the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it..." (5:43-44)

The Hadith on the Respect for Divinely Revealed Books

The Sunnah preserves a remarkable moment showing the Prophet's ﷺ profound reverence for the original scriptures mentioned in verse 44. When the religious leaders of Medina brought him a legal case to arbitrate, he requested a copy of their scripture to verify the law himself:

Abdullah ibn Umar narrated: *"A group of men invited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to a schoolhouse (Bayt al-Midras). They said, 'O Abu al-Qasim, a man among us has committed adultery with a woman, so pass judgment on them.' They placed a cushion for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he sat on it. *

Then he said, 'Bring me the Torah.' It was brought to him. He removed the cushion from underneath himself and placed the Torah upon the cushion, saying: 'I believe in you and in the One Who revealed you.' Then he said, 'Bring me one of your scholars...'"

• Source: Sunan Abi Dawud (Book 40, Hadith 4449). Classified as Hasan (sound).

This historical event directly matches the reprimand in verse 43: why would they bypass their own scripture for a ruling if they truly believed it, unless they were seeking an easier compromise?

3. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 45: The Law of Retaliation (Qisas)

"And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him..." (5:45)

While this verse outlines the historical law given to the Children of Israel, the Prophetic Sunnah confirmed and enforced these exact ratios of physical justice within Islamic jurisprudence to curb tribal blood-feuds.

The Sunnah Application: "A Tooth for a Tooth"

The literal implementation of verse 45 is recorded in a famous case involving the aunt of the companion Anas ibn Malik:

Anas ibn Malik narrated: "My aunt, Ar-Rabi, broke the front tooth of an Ansari girl. Her family went to the Prophet ﷺ, and he decreed equal retaliation (Al-Qisas). Anas ibn al-Nadr (her brother) said, 'O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, my sister's tooth shall not be broken!' The Prophet ﷺ replied, 'O Anas! The decree of Allah is retaliation (Kitab Allahi al-Qisas).'

However, the family of the injured girl eventually agreed to accept financial compensation (Diyyah) and forgave her. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then remarked, 'Among the servants of Allah are those who, if they take an oath by Allah, Allah fulfills it.'"

• Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 60, Hadith 4561); Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1675).

Forgiveness as an Expiation

The conclusion of verse 45 states that choosing mercy over retaliation acts as an expiation (Kaffarah) for one's own sins. The Prophet's ﷺ personal Sunnah strongly favored this route:

The Companion Abu ad-Darda narrated that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say: "No man suffers an injury to his body and forgives it as charity, except that Allah raises him by one degree in Paradise and erases one of his sins."

• Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 1393); Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 2693).

References

• Al-Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Ismail. Sahih al-Bukhari (Chapters: Kitab al-Tafsir / Prophetic Commentary; Kitab al-Diyyat / Blood Money & Retaliation).

• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. Sahih Muslim (Chapters: Kitab al-Qasamah wal-Muharibin / Retaliation and Punishments).

• Sijistani, Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ash'ath. Sunan Abi Dawud (Book of Legal Judgements / Kitab al-Aqdiyah).

• Ibn Kathir, Ismail ibn Umar. Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azeem (Volume 3, Exegesis of Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verses 42–45).