Al-Baqarah (215-21)
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi/
Shehzad Saleem
 

يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ وَصَدٌّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ الْقَتْلِ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّى يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَنْ دِينِكُمْ إِنْ اسْتَطَاعُوا وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُوْلَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَأُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَةَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلْ الْعَفْوَ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ الْيَتَامَى قُلْإِصْلَاحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ وَإِنْ تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْمُفْسِدَ مِنْ الْمُصْلِحِ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ وَلَا تَنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْأَعْجَبَتْكُمْ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُوا وَلَعَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ أُوْلَئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ   (215-221).

 

    They ask you about what they should spend1. Tell them: ‘Whatever much you spend is for your parents and kinsfolk and for the orphan and the destitute and the wayfarer of your society. [And rest assured] whatever good you do [will never go waste] because God is fully aware of it’2.  (215)
    Warfare is ordained for you displeasing as it may be to you [as much as it is displeasing for you to spend in the way of Allah]. It is very much possible that may dislike a thing even though it is good for you, and it is very much possible that you like a thing even though it is bad for you.3 [And in reality] God knows, but you have no knowledge [of many such things]. (216)
    They ask you of warfare in the sacred month.4 Tell them: ‘Warfare in this month is a grave offence but to impede others from the path of God, to deny Him, and to stop people from going to Sacred Mosque and to expel its dwellers therefrom, is far more grave in His sight. To force people to give up their religion is more grievous than bloodshed’. And [O Prophet! you should know that these people against whom you have been directed to fight have decided between themselves that] they will not cease to fight against you until they force you to renounce your faith – if they are able to. But whoever of you recants and dies in a state of disbelief [should know that] it is such people whose deeds shall bear no fruit in this world and in the world to come5. Such men shall be the dwellers of the Fire, wherein they shall abide forever. [On the other hand], those who fully adhered to faith6 and those who migrated from their land and fought for the cause of God, may hope for God’s mercy7. God is most-forgiving and ever-merciful.  (217-18)
    They ask you about drinking and gambling [because in their society these are also a means of helping the poor]8. Tell them: ‘There is great sin in both, [and no doubt] they have some benefit for people; but their sin is far greater than their benefit’.9 And they ask you [to explain] what they should spend [in charity]. Tell them: ‘Whatever is above your needs.’10 Thus God explains to you His verses so that you may reflect on the matters of both this world and of the next.11 And they ask you [that if war takes place and people are killed then] what should be done with the orphans? Tell them: ‘In whatever is their welfare is best. And if [by marrying their mothers], you share [their affairs] with yours, they are your brothers12. God knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good13. If God wished, He could have made matters difficult for you [by not giving you this permission]. Indeed, God is mighty and wise.’14  (219-20)
    And [even for the welfare of the orphans], you shall not wed idolatrous women15, unless they embrace faith. And [remember]a believing slave-girl is better than an idolatrous woman, although you may fancy her. Nor shall you wed your women to the Idolaters, unless they embrace faith. And [remember] a believing slave is better than an Idolater, although you may fancy him.16 These [idolatrous people] call you to the Fire; but God calls you, by His grace, to Paradise and to forgiveness17. And explains His verses to people so that they may take heed.  (221)
 

Researcher’s Companion


I Meaning & Morphology (الصرف و اللغة )

1. al-Mushrikun (‘المشركون’)
    As pointed out by the author (ref. 15), in the ‘عرف’ (‘urf: conventional usage) of the Qur’an, the word al-Mushrikun (‘المشركون’) is specifically used for the Idolaters of Arabia. These Idolaters of Arabia subscribed to the creed of polytheism and worshipped other deities besides the Almighty and insisted that polytheism is the very religion revealed by the Almighty. Accordingly, they were called al-Mushrikun (‘المشركون’) because of their declared adherence to polytheism.
    In contrast to them, the People of the Book of Arabia (the Jews and Christians) were basically monotheists though they had become incriminated with certain blatant forms of polytheism. The Qur’an points out their polytheistic practices in the following words:

وَقَالَتْ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَتْ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُمْ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ يُضَاهِئُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ قَاتَلَهُمْ اللَّهُ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ (9: 30-1).

The Jews call [of Arabia] ‘Uzayr son of God, and the Christians call Christ the son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; [in this] they but imitate what the disbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and [they take as their Lord] Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One God: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: [far is He] from having the partners they associate with Him. (9:30-1)

    However, the Qur’an nowhere in its entire text calls them as polytheists. A person becomes a polytheist when he openly admits that he is a polytheist. A person who claims to be a monotheist in spite of being involved in polytheistic practices, cannot be regarded as a polytheist. The reason is that such a person might be doing something wrong without realizing that what he is doing.
    Moreover, the distinction the Qur’an makes between declared adherents to polytheism (the Idolaters of Arabia) and those who were adverse to polytheism yet had become involved in it (the People of the Book of Arabia), can be appreciated in its subtle choice of words for both these religious denominations. While referring to the polytheistic practices of the People of the Book, it always employs a verb; never are they referred to in the form of an adjective. The reason for this distinction is that an adjective qualifies states of permanence and perpetuity while a verb qualifies a temporary or transient statei. In other words, the mention of the polytheistic practices of the People of the Book in the form of verbs shows that they at times indulge in polytheism (that too without realizing it) and are not its positive advocates.

2. ‘فتنهFitnah
    The word ‘فتنه’ (2:217) literally means ‘trial’ and ‘test’ii. One form of this trial is that people are subjected to torture for following a particular ideology and thereby forced to give it up. Since at the time of revelation of the Qur’an this practice was rampant in the Arab society, the Qur’an used this word in the above sense. When used in this sense it becomes equivalent to the English word ‘persecution’. The following verses bear witness to this usage:

فَمَا آمَنَ لِمُوسَى إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ عَلَى خَوْفٍ مِنْ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَهُمْ وَإِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ لَعَالٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنْ الْمُسْرِفِينَ (83:10).

But none believed in Moses except some children of his People; because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them; and certainly Pharaoh was mighty on the earth and one who transgressed all bounds. (10:83)

ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا فُتِنُوا ثُمَّ جَاهَدُوا وَصَبَرُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (110:16).

But surely your Lord – to those who leave their homes after they are subjected to persecution – and who thereafter strive and patiently persevere – your Lord, after all this, is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (16:110)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ (10:85)

Those who persecute the believers, men and women, and do not turn in repentance, will face the torment of Hell and they will have [to endure] the torment of the Burning Fire. (85:10)


II Eloquence & Style (الاساليب و البلاغة)

1. The ‘يَسْأَلُونَكَ’ format of queries
    It is essential to be aware of the fact that in the language and diction of the Qur’an the questions posed by the words      ‘يَسْأَلُونَكَ’ format must always be understood by the answer given. The reason for this is that such questions are quoted in a very brief and concise manner and normally carry no details about what is actually being inquired. This can be observed in verses 215 and 220. Consequently, if the answer to the question in verse 215 is deliberated upon, it can be see that it is not that the heads of infaq that required any explanation (as is contended by most commentators), rather it is the fact that mere spending in the way of Allah was a hard ask from these people. They are thus chided that their money is not going to fill the coffers of the Almighty, rather it will be spent on their own brethren and that they shall be duly rewarded for the smallest of amounts they spend since the Almighty has knowledge of everything they do. When in verse 219 the question is repeated, the answer this time focuses on what the ultimate limit of spending is.
    Moreover, another aspect needs to be kept in mind with regard to the queries stated in this section of verses. While some of them are mentioned right after the particle of copulation ‘و’, others are not. The reason for this is that the former ones were asked one after the other without any time lapse and hence were placed right after one another while the latter ones belong to another time.

2. Contrast between ‘اِثْم’ and ‘نَفْع
     As pointed out by the author (ref. 9) the contrast between the words ‘اِثْم’ and ‘نَفْع’ (2:219) needs to be noted by the reader since it is this contrast which actually brings out the true connotation of ‘نَفْع’. As the author has pointed out, here the contrast points to the fact that the word ‘نَفْع’ actually means the moral benefit and utility that liquor and gambling have. The reason is that the word ‘اِثْم’ used in contrast to it refers to moral ills. In other words, the way liquor and gambling were morally beneficial for the Arab society (see ref. 8) is being referred to and therefore the real reason for the question. Some commentatorsiii have pointed out the fact that the Qur’an has acknowledged that gambling and liquor possess some utility for people like for example the former gives access to money earned without much effort and the latter to a temporary state of pleasure and relief. Whether this is true or not is not the concern of the Qur’an. Had this been the concern, the contrast explained above would have been made in different words. The word ‘ضَرَر’ (or some other word of similar connotation) would have been used since ‘ضَرَر’ means ‘worldly damage’ in contrast to ‘moral damage’ connoted by the word ‘اِثْم’.

3. Use of the Verb ‘آمَنُوا
    In the Arabic language, a verb may be used in various degrees. For example, a verb may express intention, result or completeness depending upon the context in which it is used. The verb ‘آمَنُوا’ (2:218), as pointed by the author (ref. 6), expresses completeness. This means that the people who are being referred to by this word are not merely the ones who professed faith, rather they diligently adhered to in spite of the difficult circumstances they were put through. Consequently, the subsequent words ‘هَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ’ (they migrated and waged war in the way of Allah) show how steadfast and diligent they were in their faith.
 

III Coherence and Placement (النظم و النظام )

1. The Tabyin Verses
    Verses 217 and 221 (‘كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ’ and ‘وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ’) are the tabyi#n verses which in accordance with the promise made by the Almighty in Su#rah Qiya#mah (75:19) are actually an explanation of a previous directive. They were revealed later and placed adjacent to the directive(s) they explain. (For more examples of such verses see: 2:187, 2:219. 2:266, 3:103, 24:58, 24:61)

2. Placement and relationship of Verses 219, 220 and 221
    Questions which pertain to Jihad and Infaq are primarily discussed in the section of verses given in the main text of the article (verses 215-221). While the relevance of the rest of the questions with these two topics is obvious, that of the questions regarding drinking and gambling (219), orphans (220) and marriage with idolaters (221) at first glance seem out of place. The author has tried to point out the relevance of all these questions to Jihad and Infaq in his translation: Gambling and drinking in pre-Islamic Arabia were a means of Infaq. The issue of the orphans emerged from the fact that loss of lives during Jihad could result in their increase in the society. Similarly, the issue of marriage with Idolaters is actually related to the directive of the orphans. As such, verses all these three questions bear a deep relation with the topics of Jihad and Infaq.
 

IV Scriptures and Testaments (العهود و الصحف)

1. Marriage with Idolaters
    Like the Qur’an (2:221), the Old and New Testaments prohibit marriage with Idolaters as well:

Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for their sons for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. (Dt. 7:3-4)

Do not be yoked together with the unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? (2 Co. 6:14-16)

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1. This and other questions which follow were arising in the minds of the Hypocrites and the Muslims weak in faith regarding the Jihad and Infaq the previous verses discuss. The topic of the revival of the Shari‘ah that began with the directive of Qisas (verse: 178) will now go on to conclude after these questions are answered.
2. This answer actually takes into account the mentality of the people who were posing it. The Qur’an tells them that as far as the amount which they should spend in the way of Allah is concerned, they must determine it themselves keeping in view their own grit and capacity. What they should understand is the fact that they must not be unnerved if they are urged by the Almighty to spend in His way; whatever they spend would obviously not fill the coffers of the Almighty; it would fulfill the needs of their own brethren; instead of taking money from them, the Almighty would in fact reward them from ten to seven hundred times for this benevolence; the virtuous deeds that they do are in His knowledge and He would certainly not forget them.
3. This is a statement of an obvious fact: things which morally uplift and develop a person are often disliked by him and those which morally degrade and lower him are often relished by him and he is readily drawn into them.
4. Although the Qur’an has already answered the question of warfare in the sacred months in verses 190-95, yet these people posed it again thinking that this might save them from the obligation of warfare. This time not only are they answered in detail but also explained the ultimate outcome of their attitude keeping in view their intention and inclination of relinquishing faith that their minds clearly possessed.
5. A mention of the fact that the deeds of such people would go waste in both this world and in the one to come actually implies that those who deliberately deny a Messenger of God sent to them are punished in this world and this punishment continues in the Hereafter. 
6. The original word used is آ مَنُوا’ (amanu: they professed faith). The context in which it is used here shows that it denotes completeness and is translated as ‘they fully adhered to faith’, keeping in view this aspect.
7. Even after being blessed with the facility and backing by the Almighty to do deeds as great as Jihad and Hijrah (migration), a true believer only becomes hopeful for God’s mercy because salvation is in fact dependent on His mercy and grace. Consequently, the verses aptly end on the words: He is most-forgiving and ever-merciful.
8. Gambling and drinking in pre-Islamic times were a means through which the rich showed their generosity and helped the poor and needy. In winters, when cold winds blew in and caused conditions akin to drought, the courageous would gather at various places, drink liquor and, in their state of inebriation, slaughter any camels they could get hold of. They would pay the owner of the camels whatever price he demanded. They would then gamble on the meat of the slaughtered camels. Whatever parts of meat a person won in this gambling, he would generously distribute them among the poor who would gather around on such occasions. In pre-Islamic Arabia, this was a matter of great honour and people who took part in this activity were considered very philanthropic and generous. The poets would narrate the accounts of their benevolence in their odes. On the other hand, people who stayed away from this activity would be called ‘Barm’ (stingy). It was this very benefit of drinking and gambling which prompted people to make an inquiry when they were regarded as prohibited items.
9. The words in the text are أَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِمَا وَإِثْمُهُمَا’. It is evident from the answer given by the Qur’an that the real reason for prohibiting something is the moral harm it causes. The Qur’an generally does not discuss the ills and harms which are not moral in nature. That the moral harm of drinking and gambling is what is implied here is evident from the fact that the word ‘نَفْع(nafa‘: benefit) is used in contrast with the word  word ‘اِثْم’ (ithm: sin). Had a comparison between their worldly benefits and harms been intended, the word ‘ضَرَر’ (darar: damage) would have been used instead ‘اِثْم’.
10. After repeated questions on this topic, the Qur’an has replied that while setting aside money for personal and business use whether of the present or of the future what remains is the right of the society they live in. The obligation of Infaq pertains to this over and above amount. This is the utmost limit of the obligation of Infaq that is imposed on a Muslim by his Creator. He is not required to do anything over and above this.
11. The Qur’an here has stated the real utility of the explanation of something which was originally left very brief. Writes thus Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi:

If all the questions discussed above are deliberated upon, it comes to light that these questions arose because generally a person is unable to assess in a balanced manner the benefits of this world and of the world to come. It is because of this imbalance that if people become inclined to religion they go as far as becoming ascetics and hermits so much so that to them warfare, in all circumstances, becomes something adverse to righteousness and piety; similarly, if they become inclined to mundane pursuits they go as far as to try to regard things like gambling and drinking as virtuous deeds merely because they provide a few benefits. The guidance provided by the Qur’an to human intellect actually equips it to overcome this unbalanced and extreme attitude and view the requisites of both worlds in the correct perspective. (Amin Ahsan Islahi, Tadabbur-i-Qur’an, 4th ed., vol. 1, (Lahore: Faran Foundation, 1991), p. 515)

12. The implied meaning being that in this regard the real thing is the welfare of the orphans – which must always remain in consideration. If this objective can be achieved by combining their affairs, then this should be done and if it can be achieved by keeping them independent, then this measure should be resorted to.
13. A warning is sounded by these words. People must know that God is fully aware of their intentions. He knows those who intend good for the orphans by this measure and those who have evil hidden intentions behind it. They should, therefore, must never try to exploit the permission given in this matter.
14. The implication being that had not this permission of combining their affairs been given, people would have ended up in great difficulty but since the Almighty is wise (حَكِيمٌ), He has been kind enough to make things easier for them so that they are easily able to serve the society in this manner. Hence, they must be grateful to the Almighty. If they try to misuse this opportunity, they must remember that He is also Powerful (عَزِيزٌ); no one can save them from His grasp.
15. The word ‘Idolaters’ here qualifies the Idolaters of Arabia. The Qur’an specifically uses this word for them. Other people of the world can be regarded as idolaters if they positively subscribe to idolatry (polytheism) like the Idolaters of Arabia. They cannot be called Idolaters if they have not willingly and intellectually adopted idolatry. For example, the Jews and Christians of Arabia were also involved in blatant forms of polytheism but since they were originally upholders of monotheism and shunned polytheism, they cannot be called idolaters.
16. This explanation has been made so that it becomes evident to people that the standards of likes and dislikes must change once a person professes faith. While commenting on this aspect, Islahi  writes:

In Islam, the standards of likes and dislikes are neither looks, nor social status nor race; being a free man or a bond man is also not bases in this matter. They are in fact based upon faith and righteous deeds. Muslims have therefore been told that their relationships and associations are not bound by race, creed or brotherhood; they are in fact subservient to faith and deeds. A charming princess of the Quraysh has no worth for them if she is not decked with the ornament of faith and a jet black African lady is like the graceful Hur of Paradise for them if her heart is illuminated with the light of faith. (Amin Ahsan Islahi, Tadabbur-i-Qur’an, 4th ed., vol. 1, (Lahore: Faran Foundation, 1991), p. 519)

17. The verse delineates the underlying wisdom of prohibiting marriage with upholders of polytheism. If someone does so, he would actually surrendering his household to the calls of Hell. The reason is that People who ardently adhere to polytheism would never be forgiven by the Almighty nor would they ever enter His Paradise. A person who marries among polytheists is actually making his abode in Hell. No sane person can do such a blunder.
i. See: Farahi, Hamidu’l-Din, Rasa’il fi ‘Ulumi’l-Qur’an, 2nd ed., vol. 1, (Azamgarh: Da’irah Hamidiyyah, 1991), p. 252
ii. Says Ibn Manzur: جماع معنى الفتنه الابتلاء و الامتحان والاختبار. (Ibn Manzur, Lisanu’l-‘Arab, 1st ed., vol. 13, (Beirut: Dar Sadir, 1400 AH), p. 317
iii. See for example: Qurtubi, al-Jami‘ ‘al-Ahkam al-Qur’an, 1st ed., vol. 2, (Beirut: Dar Ahya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, 1952), p. 57