Surah Al-Ma'idah (5): 63

Meaning of the Verse

The particle {لولا} (Lāw lā) here signifies restriction/specification and reproach, equivalent to Halā (Why don't they?).

The discussion regarding the interpretation of al-Rabbāniyyūn (the Rabbis/Scholars) and al-Aḥbār (the Scribes/Monks) has already preceded this.

Al-Hasan said: Al-Rabbāniyyūn are the scholars of the People of the Injīl (Gospel), and Al-Aḥbār are the scholars of the People of the Tawrāt (Torah).

Others said: Both terms refer to the Jews because the context follows the mention of them.

The meaning is that Allah Almighty found it reprehensible that the scholars among the People of the Book did not forbid their lower classes and common folk from committing sins.

This indicates that the one who abandons enjoining good and forbidding evil is considered like the one who commits the sin itself.

We assert this because Allah condemned both groups in this verse using the same phrasing. In fact, we can argue that the condemnation of the one who abandons forbidding evil is stronger.

Why? Because regarding those who actively commit transgression, aggression, and consuming illicit wealth (Suḥt), Allah said:

{لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ} (Al-Ma'idah: 62) (Evil indeed is that which they were doing.)

But regarding the scholars who refrain from forbidding evil, He said:

{لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ} (Evil indeed is that which they were making/practicing.)

The term Ṣun' (making/practicing) is stronger than 'Amal (doing/working) because an action is only called a Ṣinā'ah (a practice/craft) when it becomes established, firm, and deeply rooted.

Thus, Allah made the offense of the active wrongdoers a non-established sin, while He made the sin of those who abandon forbidding evil an established/deep-rooted sin.

In reality, this is precisely the case, because sin is a disease of the soul. Its cure is knowledge of Allah, His Attributes, and His Rulings. If this knowledge is attained, yet the sin persists, it is like a patient who drank the medicine but the illness did not subside. In that scenario, the knowledge gained is that the illness is severe and difficult to remove. Similarly, when a scholar commits a sin, it indicates that the disease of the heart is extremely powerful and severe.

Ibn Abbas narrated: "This is the most severe verse in the Qur'an." Al-Ḍaḥḥāk narrated: "There is no verse in the Qur'an that frightens me more than this one." (And Allah knows best.)

Verse 64

Translation: And the Jews say, "The hand of Allah is chained up." Chained up are their hands, and they are cursed for what they have said. Rather, His two hands are extended; He spends how He wills. And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in insolence and disbelief. And We have cast among them enmity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. Every time they ignite a fire for war, Allah extinguishes it. And they strive to cause corruption in the land. And Allah does not love the corrupters.