Surah 5: Al Ma'idah (Day 1) | Original English Commentary | Project Illumine

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl presents his Quranic commentary on Surah 5: Al Ma'idah as part of the ongoing Project Illumine: Light of the Quran series at The Usuli Institute (www.usuli.org). Recorded at The Usuli Institute on 17 December 2022.
Project Illumine is a year-long intensive immersion into the unique moral messages in each of the 114 surahs (chapters) of the Quran, the fruit of this scholar's lifetime relationship with the Quran. This is the 92nd surah in the series. This is not the traditional line-by-line exegesis, but a chapter-by-chapter thematic approach that seeks to rediscover the original meaning received by the early Muslims that sparked their passion such that they transformed from desert dwellers to civilization builders. It is an investigation of the timeless moral and ethical lessons of the Quran then applied to our modern day. In the introduction, our Executive Director Grace Song shares reflections on the tafsir journey now that Dr. Abou El Fadl will be covering the final chapter of the Qur'anic revelation.
Please support the Usuli Institute at www.usuli.org/donate to help us continue in our endeavors. Your donation to The Institute for Advanced Usuli Studies will help fund important work to combat extremism and ignorance. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity dedicated to research and education to promote humanistically beautiful and morally elevating interpretations of Islam. We seek to support our brightest minds to advance knowledge and to build a community of individuals founded on dignity, respect and love for all of God's creation.
For quick links to all previous Project Illumine halaqas, go to: www.usuli.org/project-illumin... Visit linktr.ee/usuliinstitute for more resources.

[@stephenconnolly1830]

TIMESTAMPS Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem [Video suitable for viewing at increased Playback speed. Grace Song's preamble until 8:48] 10:50 pondering the personal responsibility of a scholar - the responsibility of transcending personal hypocrisy versus the transference of knowledge... 14:50 ...the potential of Project Illumine to transform the Muslim community in the face of grave adversity... 17:02 ...the useless, degenerate Muslim wealthy... 19:10 ...light \ Nur in our time, at last... 19:45 ...amid widespread Muslim apathy & ignorance \ Jahil since colonialism. 22:35 reference to the example of a well funded Islamophobic Muslim apostate ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Rachid )... 27:35 ...there being no equivalent Muslim medium to counter such efforts. 28:30 the US tax funded TV channel ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhurra ) providing a platform for Islamophobes and atheists to peddle their conspiracies and unscholarly, unhinged anti-Islamic pet theories, silent on the completely problematic nature of Judaism or Christianity or secularism ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Eissa ). 32:32 Surah al-Ma'ida \ chapter The Spread, #5... 32:45 ...traditional conflicting, contradictory narratives... 33:12 ...revealed close in time to the farewell pilgrimage \ Ḥijjat ul-Wadāʿ - 80-81 days prior to the Prophet's death (June 632 CE). 35:30 its message to signal the end of the Qur'anic/prophetic journey - complementing and concluding Surah al-Baqara. 37:35 the contractual relationship to the Divine without permanent status - no-one fated their place/birthright in society. 39:05 the liberation in submission to the Creator... 40:15 ...the Jewish corruption of God's chosen people... 40:28 ...the Christian corruption of original sin and blood sacrifice leading to salvation via the church... 41:30 ...falsification via Surah al-Baqara epitomising the Islamic revolution - no entitlement or taking God etc for granted. 42:59 the corollary obligations owed opening Surah al-Ma'ida, Ayah #1: "ya-ayyuh alladheena amanoo awfoo bil-'uqood..." (O you who believe! Fulfill your commitments...). 50:19 reference to ibn Tufayl's work ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayy_ibn_Yaqdhan ), the basis of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe as well as Locke's/Rousseau's flawed social contract theory... 56:05 ...the western philosophical myth perpetuated - their liberation from status morality to relational morality... 57:15 ...resulting in the potential for the affirmation of ego-centric positions... 58:10 ...contradicting the Qur'anic paradigm - the need for balanced social rights & duties; its core morality/philosophy... 59:30 ...a surprising development for the contemporaneous Arabian Muslims. 1:00:25 failure to honour obligations resulting in Muslims lacking a work ethic - the opposite conforming to an Islamic work ethic... 1:02:20 ...exemplified in the old Arab cultural attitude giving and keeping their word/promise without fail... 1:03:35 ...ibn Abass's understanding of Ayah #1's message: "honour your word." 1:05:46 Ayah #1 continued... "...uhillat lakum baheemat ul-an'ami illa may yut'la alaykum ghayra muhill is-saydi wa-antum hurum inn al-laaha yahkumu may yureed" (...Livestock animals are permitted for you, except those specified to you; but not wild game while you are in pilgrim sanctity. God decrees whatever He wills). 1:05:58 Ayah #2: "ya-ayyuh alladheena amanoo la tuhilloo sha'a-ir al-lahi wal ash-shahr al-harama wal al-hadya wal al-qala-ida wala ammeen al-bayt al-harama yabtaghoona fadlan min rabbihim warid'wana wa-idha halaltum fas'tadoo wala yajrimannakum shana-anu qawmin an saddookum an il-masjid il-harami an ta'tadoo wata'awanu al al-birri wal-taqwa wala ta'awanoo al al-ith'mi wal-'ud'wan wattaq ool-laaha inn al-laaha shadeed ul-'iqab" (O you who believe! Do not violate God's sacraments, nor the Sacred Month, nor the offerings, nor the garlanded, nor those heading for the Sacred House seeking blessings from their Lord and approval. When you have left the pilgrim sanctity, you may hunt. And let not the hatred of people who barred you from the Sacred Mosque incite you to aggression. And cooperate with one another in virtuous conduct and conscience, and do not cooperate with one another in sin and hostility. And fear God. God is severe in punishment). 1:07:12 the practical matter of the prohibition on hunting while on pilgrimage in Ayah #1. 1:08:32 the uncrossable red lines which invalidate the Muslim covenant with God, Ayah #2: "...la tuhilloo sha'a-ir al-lah..." (...Do not violate God's sacraments...)... 1:17:29 ..."...wal ash-shahr al-haram..." (...nor the Sacred Month...) - representing any of the 4 sacred months, due to the concept and ethic of Divine time in operation. 1:21:20 the anti-corruption angle over the intention and process corresponding to the following: "...wal al-hadya wal al-qala-ida..." (...nor the offerings, nor the garlanded...). 1:25:16 facilitation of the pilgrims on their way to God's house in Mecca: "...wala ammeen al-bayt al-harama yabtaghoona fadlan min rabbihim warid'wana..." (...nor those heading for the Sacred House seeking blessings from their Lord and approval...)... 1:28:00 ...the problem with the nation state of Saudi Arabia - comodification of the pilgrimage by determining who gets a visa to enter the country, regulating the Hajj/Umrah for predominantly commercial reasons. 1:33:00 maintenance of the ethic of egalitarianism around God's holy precincts. 1:36:27 "...wa-idha halaltum fas'tadoo..." (...When you have left the pilgrim sanctity, you may hunt...). 1:38:04 the core of the Islamic covenant: "...wala yajrimannakum shana-anu qawmin an saddookum an il-masjid il-harami an ta'tadoo wata'awanu al al-birri wal-taqwa wala ta'awanoo al al-ith'mi wal-'ud'wan wattaq ool-laaha inn al-laaha shadeed ul-'iqab" (...And let not the hatred of people who barred you from the Sacred Mosque incite you to aggression. And cooperate with one another in virtuous conduct and conscience, and do not cooperate with one another in sin and hostility. And fear God. God is severe in punishment). 1:39:16 the contention Ayah #2 was revealed years earlier... 1:41:11 ...instead this passage of the Ayah revealed to address the following negative dynamics: (1) the reactionary attitude of some Muslims; (2) the scepticism of the veterans against the new Muslim converts (status). 1:50:45 revisiting Ayah #2: "...wala yajrimannakum shana-anu qawmin an saddookum an il-masjid il-harami an ta'tadoo..." (...And let not the hatred of people who barred you from the Sacred Mosque incite you to aggression...). 1:52:19 continuing, "....wata'awanu al al-birri wal-taqwa wala ta'awanoo al al-ith'mi wal-'ud'wan..." (...And cooperate with one another in virtuous conduct and conscience, and do not cooperate with one another in sin and hostility....) - al-Birr = righteousness... 1:57:45 ...the problem of the co-existence of injustice/cruelty/ugliness with God - undermining God consciousness \ Taqwa. 2:02:00 morality \ أخلاق \ Akhlaq ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_ethics#:~:text=Akhlaq%20(Arabic%3A%20%D8%A3%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%2C%20%2F,used%20Islamic%20term%20for%20morality. ). 2:05:21 Ayah #3: "hurrimat alaykum ul-maytatu wad-damu walahm ul-khinzeeri wama uhilla lighayr il-lahi bihi wal-mun'khaniqatu wal-mawqoodhatu wal-mutaradiyatu wan-nateehatu wama akal as-sabu'u illa ma dhakkaytum wama dhubiha al an-nusubi wa-an tastaqsimoo bil-azlam dhalikum fis'q' al-yawma ya-is alladheena kafaroo min deenikum fala takhshawhum wakh'shawn il-yawma akmaltu lakum deenakum wa-atmamtu alaykum ni'matee waradeetu lakum ul-is'lama deena famani ud'turra fi makhmasatin ghayra mutajanifi li-ith'min fa-inn al-laaha ghafooru raheem" (Prohibited for you are carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and animals dedicated to other than God; also the flesh of animals strangled, killed violently, killed by a fall, gored to death, mangled by wild animals-except what you rescue, and animals sacrificed on altars; and the practice of drawing lots. For it is immoral. Today, those who disbelieve have despaired of your religion, so do not fear them, but fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My favor upon you, and have approved Islam as a religion for you. But whoever is compelled by hunger, with no intent of wrongdoing-God is Forgiving and Merciful) 2:06:05 Ayah #4: "yasaloonaka madha uhilla lahum qul uhilla lakum ut-tayibatu wama allamtum min al-jawarihi mukallibeena tu'allimoonahunna mimma allamakum ul-laah fakuloo mimma amsakna alaykum wadh'kur oos'm al-lahi alayh wattaq ool-laah inn al-laaha saree' ul-hisab" (They ask you what is permitted for them. Say, "Permitted for you are all good things, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you." You train them according to what God has taught you. So eat from what they catch for you, and pronounce God's name over it. And fear God. God is Swift in reckoning). 2:10:10 the principle of removing the blood from the dead animal and invocation of God's name in lieu of His permission over the hunted animal/carcass. 2:12:25 the flow of knowledge from the Source, via man to animal, per Ayah #4: "...wama allamtum min al-jawarihi mukallibeena tu'allimoonahunna mimma allamakum ul-laah..." (..."what trained dogs and falcons catch for you." You train them according to what God has taught you...)... 2:15:20 ...the impossibility of the separation of morality and ethics from the enterprise of knowledge - God entrusting oneself with that knowledge. 2:17:55 reference to Ibn al-Marzuban, author of the book: "The Superiority Of Dogs Over Many Of Those Who Wear Clothes." 2:19:32 more prohibitions on divination - to rid oneself & companions of superstitious ritualistic pagan practices - in Ayah #3: "...wama dhubiha al an-nusubi..." (...and animals sacrificed on altars...)... [Surah al-Ma'ida, Day 1 timestamps continued - PART 2]

[@sharifhamedal]

Thank you for the timestamps Alhamdulillah!

[@Lens.Grinder]

Thank you!

[@DawoodMehmood-pw4wx]

ماشاءاللہ

[@58314]

Thank You

[@idrisali1672]

جزاكم الله خيرا الجزاء Amazing as always! Thank you

[@mariaelisabettasesselego9607]

Thanks a lot for that

[@stephenconnolly1830]

[PART 2 - Surah al-Ma'ida, Day 1 timestamps continued] 2:25:05 ...surrendering to the notion all fate and willpower emanating from the hands of God - the consistent failure to register this resulting in the series of messengers sent to humanity. 2:26:29 "...tastaqsimu bil-azlami dhalikum fis'q'..." (...the practice of drawing lots. For it is immoral...) 2:27:39 the concern of the Muslim community on hearing the passage in Ayah #3 knowing this is the end: "...il-yawma akmaltu lakum deenakum..." (...Today I have perfected your religion for you...)... 2:28:12 ...the finalisation of both the religious and moral/ethical laws... 2:28:55 ...the same passage continued: "... wa-atmamtu alaykum ni'matee..." (...and completed My favour upon you...)... 2:29:17 ..."...waradeetu lakum ul-is'lama deena..." (...and have approved Islam as a religion for you...) ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verse_of_Ikmal_al-Din#:~:text=This%20day%20those%20who%20disbelieve,religion%2C%20Submission%20(Islam). ). 2:36:21 [Grace Song's outro]

[@sihamabdelnaby]

Alsalamu Alikum I can not access Day 2 of sura Almaida, I get a message of private video! Thanks for all your work and knowledge.

[@TheUsuliInstitute]

Day 2 of Surah Al Maidah is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmGYnICAiq1ofrs

[@obaidulhaque7687]

Someone instead of God to took covenant with is as took “intermediary” - min dunn illah; which Christian did. And ironically some Muslim doing now a days. 😢😢In islam ☪️ there no “Intermediary” Its all about you and Your God .