In The Name of Allah The Beneficent The Merciful

This Surah has been called Al-Ma'idah (the food), because of the invocation of Jesus (as) that he asked for the descent of heavenly food, mentioned in this Surah, verse 114.

The Arabic term /Ma'idah/ originally is used for a tray with food inside.

Surah Al-Ma'idah contains 120 verses, and, comparing all Suras of the Qur'an, the most frequency of the phrase 'O' you who have Faith!' has occurred in this Surah. For example, in Surah Al-Baqarah, No.2, this phrase has been repeated eleven times, but in this Surah it has been recited 16 times.

The subject matters referred to in this Surah are questions such as: master ship and leadership, rejecting the belief of trinity in Christians, fulfilling the promise, testifying with justice, prohibition of murder, some commandments upon edibles, ablution, dry ablution, social justice, and so on.

Since it is the last Surah which was revealed, at the beginning of the Surah it enjoins to fulfilling all the promises and pledges by the phrase: 'fulfil the promises '.

Section 1: General Discipline

Fulfilment of covenants -Obligations relating to Pilgrimage -Regulations regarding food -Perfection of the Faith -Islam chosen to be the Religion - Dealings with the non-Muslims.

Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 1

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‌ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُمْ بَهِيمَةُ الْأَنْعامِ إِلاَّ ما يُتْلی‌ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّي الصَّيْدِ وَ أَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ ما يُرِيدُ (1)

In The Name of Allah The Beneficent The Merciful

1. "O' you who have Faith! Fulfil the contracts (made by you or people). The four-footed animals are lawful to you (for food) except those which will be recited unto you, hunting is not permitted while you are in the state of Ihram. Verily Allah decrees whatever He intends."

Muslims should earnestly fulfil any covenant and every kind o contract that they have made. These covenants are irrespective of the recorded contracts and the oral contracts, whether they are political, economical, social, and both with authorative and weak people, friend or enemy.

The Holy Qur'an enjoins Muslims that the contracts with pagans should be fulfilled, too. Surah At- Taubah, No.9. verse 4 says:

"... so fulfil their contract ...".

According to a tradition from Imam Sadiq (as), recorded in Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 162 even the fulfilment of agreements with the sinners is necessary.

These covenants may be with Allah (s.w.t.) (like vows and promises), or with people who can be an individual or a group, young or old. The contracts may be with the countries in neighbourhood, or those of international formation.

However, as in the same manner that breach of promise and iniquity is the secret of deprivations,¹ fulfilling the promises is the cause of gains and enjoyments.

And it ought to be noted that the heavenly Books are also Allah's covenants to which should we be loyal and fulfil them entirely. The Old Testament (the Torah), the New Testament (the Evangel) and the Present Testament (the Qur'an) all are referred to in the Islamic literature. In a tradition, Imam Sadiq (as) said:

"Al-Qur'an is the covenant of Allah unto His people…."²

However, faith is the basis of fulfilling the promises and vows. The holy Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

"There is no religion for the person who does not fulfil his promise."

If the agreements and promises be not kept, the basis of the society and common confidence will fail, and, at that line, disorder comes forth.

"O' you who have Faith! fulfil the contracts (made by you or people). ..."

Then, following the ordinance of fulfilling the promise, which involves the entire ordinances and divine covenants, the Qur'an states a number of Islamic ordinances. At first, it refers to the meat of some animals that can be lawful. It says:

"...The four-footed animals are lawful to you (for food) ..."

But, in this ordinance, it has excepted the meat of two animals to be lawful. It says:

"...except those which will be recited unto you, hunting is not permitted while you are in the state of Ihram..."

And Allah is wilful to decree whatever ordinance He pleases, since He is Omniscient and 'Omni competent. This means that He decrees whatever ordinance which is good for the servants, and His Wisdom requires it.