Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:15

Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread): (15) O People of the Scripture...

After recounting how the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) broke their covenants and abandoned what they were commanded, the Almighty then calls them to believe in Muhammad (peace be upon him), saying:

{O People of the Scripture...}

The term "People of the Scripture" refers to the Jews and the Christians. The singular form "Scripture" is used because it refers to the genus (the divine revelation).

Then, the Almighty describes the Messenger (peace be upon him) with two descriptions:

1. The First Description: {There has come to you from Allah a Messenger who clarifies for you much of what you used to conceal.}
   • Ibn Abbas said: They concealed the description of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and they concealed the ruling on stoning (for adultery).
   • The Messenger (peace be upon him) clarified these matters for them. This is a miracle because the Prophet (peace be upon him) neither read a book nor learned knowledge from anyone. His informing them about the secrets within their own books was a report of the unseen, thus constituting a miracle.

2. The Second Description: {And he pardons much.}
   • This means he does not reveal much of what you hide.
   • The reason he did not reveal everything is that there was no religious necessity to expose it.
   • The benefit of mentioning this is that they would know the Messenger is aware of everything they conceal, which would prompt them to stop concealing things lest they be exposed.

Then the Almighty says: {There has come to you from Allah a Light and a clear Book.}

There are several interpretations regarding this:

1. The Light refers to Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the Book refers to the Qur'an.
2. The Light refers to Islam, and the Book refers to the Qur'an.
3. Both Light and Book refer to the Qur'an. (This view is weak because the conjunction "and" (wa) implies a difference between the two terms.)

The designation of Muhammad, Islam, and the Qur'an as "Light" is evident:

• The external light is what strengthens the sight to perceive external objects.
• The internal light is what strengthens the insight to perceive truths and rational concepts.

{By which Allah guides those who follow His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out of darkness into light by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.}