Sura 5: The Feast
(Al-Maa'edah)

I

n the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful


1. O you who believe,
you shall fulfill your covenants.
Permitted for you to eat
are the livestock, except those
specifically prohibited herein.
You shall not permit hunting
throughout Hajj pilgrimage.
GOD decrees whatever He wills.

2. O you who believe, do not violate
the rites instituted by GOD,
nor the Sacred Months,
nor the animals to be offered,
nor the garlands marking them,
nor the people who head for the
Sacred Shrine (Ka`bah ) seeking
blessings from their Lord and
approval. Once you complete the
pilgrimage, you may hunt.* Do not
be provoked into aggression by your
hatred of people who once prevent-
ed you from going to the Sacred
Masjid. You shall cooperate in
matters of righteousness and piety;
do not cooperate in matters that are sin-
ful and evil. You shall observe GOD.
GOD is strict in enforcing retribution.

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*5:2 Hunting and the cutting of plants are forbidden during pilgrimage for the conservation of natural resources. With thousands of pilgrims converging on Mecca, if hunting were permitted, the land would quickly be stripped of its natural resources. Animal offerings are made part of the pilgrimage to provide for the converging pilgrims,
as well as the local population, and to replenish any depleted supplies. See 2:196.

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Only Four Meats Prohibited
"Animals that die of themselves" Defined

3. Prohibited for you are animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of
pigs,* and animals dedicated to other than GOD. (Animals that die of them-
selves include those ) strangled, struck with an object, fallen from a height,
gored, attacked by a wild animal--unless you save your animal before it
dies--and animals sacrificed on altars. Also prohibited is dividing the meat
through a game of chance; this is an abomination. Today, the disbelievers
have given up concerning (the
eradication of ) your religion; do not
fear them and fear Me instead.
Today, I have completed your
religion, perfected My blessing
upon you, and I have decreed
Submission as the religion for you.
If one is forced by famine (to eat
prohibited food
), without being
deliberately sinful, then GOD is
Forgiver, Merciful.

4. They consult you concerning what
is lawful for them; say, "Lawful for
you are all good things, including
what trained dogs and falcons catch
for you." You train them according
to GOD's teachings. You may eat
what they catch for you, and
mention GOD's name thereupon.
You shall observe GOD.
GOD is most efficient in reckoning.

5. Today, all good food is made lawful
for you. The food of the people of
the scripture is lawful for you.
Also, you may marry the chaste women
among the believers, as well as the chaste women
among the followers of previous scripture,
provided you pay them their due dowries.
You shall maintain chastity, not committing adultery,
nor taking secret lovers. Anyone who rejects faith,
all his work will be in vain, and in the Hereafter
he will be with the losers.

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*5:3 The "meat" of the pig is prohibited, not the "fat." Anything that is not specifically prohibited in the Quran must be considered lawful. See 6:145-146.
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Ablution

6. O you who believe,
when you observe the Contact Prayers (Salat ), you shall:
(1) wash your faces,
(2) wash your arms to the elbows,
(3) wipe your heads, and
(4) wash your feet to the ankles.
If you were unclean due to sexual
orgasm, you shall bathe.
If you are ill, or traveling, or had
any digestive excretion (urinary,
fecal, or gas ), or had (sexual )
contact with the women, and you
cannot find water, you shall
observe the dry ablution
(Tayammum) by touching clean dry
soil, then rubbing your faces and
hands. GOD does not wish to make
the religion difficult for you;
He wishes to cleanse you and to
perfect His blessing upon you,
that you may be appreciative.

7. Remember GOD's blessing upon
you, and His covenant that He
covenanted with you: you said,
"We hear and we obey." You shall
observe GOD; GOD is fully aware
of the innermost thoughts.

You Shall Not Bear False Witness

8. O you who believe, you shall be
absolutely equitable, and
observe GOD, when you serve
as witnesses. Do not be provoked
by your conflicts with some people
into committing injustice.
You shall be absolutely equitable,
for it is more righteous.
You shall observe GOD.
GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.

9. GOD promises those who believe and lead a righteous life
forgiveness and a great recompense.

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10. As for those who disbelieve
and reject our revelations,
they are the dwellers of Hell.

God Defends the Believers

11. O you who believe, remember GOD's blessings upon you;
when some people extended their hands
to aggress against you, He protected you
and withheld their hands.
You shall observe GOD;
in GOD the believers shall trust.

Conditions for Staying Within
God's Protection*

12. GOD had taken a covenant
from the Children of Israel,
and we raised among them twelve
patriarchs. And GOD said,
"I am with you, so long as you
observe the Contact Prayers (Salat ),
give the obligatory charity (Zakat ),
and believe in My messengers and
respect them, and continue to lend
GOD a loan of righteousness.
I will then remit your sins,
and admit you into gardens with
flowing streams. Anyone who
disbelieves after this, has indeed
strayed off the right path."

Consequences of Violating
God's Covenant

13. It was a consequence of their
violating the covenant that we
condemned them, and we caused their hearts
to become hardened. Consequently,
they took the words out of context,
and disregarded some of the commandments
given to them. You will continue to witness
betrayal from them, excepting a few of them. You shall pardon them,
and disregard them. GOD loves those who are benevolent.

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*5:12 If you fulfill the requirements stated in this verse, God will let you know that He is with you; you will have no doubt about it. Prominent among God's signs are mathematical signs for those who understand the Quran's miracle (Appendix 1).
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Christians, too, Must Obey God's Messenger

14. Also from those who said, "We are Christian,"
we took their covenant.
But they disregarded some of
the commandments given to them.
Consequently, we condemned them
to animosity and hatred among themselves,
until the Day of Resurrection.
GOD will then inform them
of everything they had done.

The Quran: God's Message
to the Jews and Christians

15. O people of the scripture,
our messenger has come to you
to proclaim for you many things
you have concealed in the scripture,
and to pardon many other transgres-
sions you have committed.
A beacon has come to you from
GOD, and a profound scripture.

16. With it, GOD guides those
who seek His approval.
He guides them to the paths
of peace, leads them out of darkness
into the light by His leave,
and guides them in a straight path.

Gross Blasphemy

17. Pagans indeed are those who say
that GOD is the Messiah,
the son of Mary. Say,
"Who could oppose GOD
if He willed to annihilate
the Messiah, son of Mary,
and his mother,
and everyone on earth?"
To GOD belongs the sovereignty
of the heavens and the earth,
and everything between them.
He creates whatever He wills.
GOD is Omnipotent.

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God's Messenger to the Jews, Christians and Muslims

18. The Jews and the Christians said, "We are GOD's children and His beloved."
Say, "Why then does He punish you for your sins? You are just humans like
the other humans He created." He forgives whomever He wills and punishes
whomever He wills. To GOD belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and
the earth, and everything between them, and to Him is the final destiny.

God's Messenger of the Covenant

19. O people of the scripture,
our messenger has come to you,
to explain things to you, after a
period of time without messengers,
lest you say, "We did not receive
any preacher or warner."
A preacher and warner has now
come to you. GOD is Omnipotent.*

20. Recall that Moses said to his
people, "O my people, remember
GOD's blessings upon you:
He appointed prophets from
among you, made you kings, and
granted you what He never granted
any other people.

God Gives the Holy Land to Israel

21. "O my people, enter the holy land
that GOD has decreed for you, and
do not rebel, lest you become losers."

22. They said, "O Moses, there are
powerful people in it, and we will
not enter it, unless they get out of it.
If they get out, we are entering."

23. Two men who were reverent and blessed by GOD said, "Just enter the gate.
If you just enter it, you will surely prevail.
You must trust in GOD, if you are believers."

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*5:19 This verse reports the fulfillment of the biblical and Quranic prophecy regarding the advent of God's Messenger of the Covenant (Malachi 3:1, Quran 3:81). The name of this messenger is mathematically coded into the Quran as "Rashad Khalifa." This
very special verse warrants the presentation of specific evidence. By adding the gematrical value of "Rashad" (505), plus the value of "Khalifa" (725), plus the sura number (5), plus the verse number (19), we obtain a total of 505+725+5+19 = 1254, or 19x66. Nineteen is the Quran's common denominator, which was revealed through
Rashad Khalifa. More evidence and specific details are in Appendix 2.

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Despite All the Miracles They Saw

24. They said, "O Moses, we will never enter it,
so long as they are in it.
Therefore, go--you and your Lord--and fight.
We are sitting right here."

25. He said, "My Lord, I can only control myself and my brother.
So allow us to part company with the wicked people."

26. He said, "Henceforth, it is forbidden them for forty years,
during which they will roam
the earth aimlessly. Do not
grieve over such wicked people."

The First Murder*

27. Recite for them the true history of
Adam's two sons. They made an
offering, and it was accepted from
one of them, but not from the other.
He said, "I will surely kill you."
He said, "GOD accepts only
from the righteous.

28. "If you extend your hand to kill me,
I am not extending my hand
to kill you. For I reverence GOD,
Lord of the universe.

29. "I want you, not me,
to bear my sin and your sin,
then you end up with the dwellers
of Hell. Such is the requital
for the transgressors."

30. His ego provoked him into killing
his brother. He killed him, and
ended up with the losers.

31. GOD then sent a raven
to scratch the soil, to teach him
how to bury his brother's corpse.
He said, "Woe to me; I failed to be as intelligent
as this raven, and bury my brother's corpse."
He became ridden with remorse.

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*5:27-31 The names of the two sons involved in this first murder are not relevant. But they are given in the Bible as Abel and Cain (Genesis 4:2-9).
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Grossness of Murder

32. Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel
that anyone who murders any person
who had not committed murder
or horrendous crimes,
it shall be as if he murdered all the people.
And anyone who spares a life
it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people.
Our messengers went to them
with clear proofs and revelations,
but most of them, after all this,
are still transgressing.

Capital Punishment:
When is it Justified?

33. The just retribution for those who
fight GOD and His messenger,
and commit horrendous crimes,
is to be killed, or crucified,
or to have their hands and feet
cut off on alternate sides, or to be
banished from the land.
This is to humiliate them in this
life, then they suffer a far worse
retribution in the Hereafter.

34. Exempted are those who repent
before you overcome them.
You should know that GOD is
Forgiver, Most Merciful.

35. O you who believe, you shall
reverence GOD and seek the ways
and means to Him, and strive in His
cause, that you may succeed.

The Cost of Disbelief

36. Certainly, those who disbelieved,
if they possessed everything on earth,
even twice as much, and offered it as ransom
to spare them the retribution
on the Day of Resurrection,
it would not be accepted from them;
they have incurred a painful retribution.

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37. They will want to exit Hell, but alas,
they can never exit therefrom;
their retribution is eternal.

Mathematical Proof Supports Quranic Justice

38. The thief, male or female, you shall mark their hands*
as a punishment for their crime, and to serve as an example from GOD.
GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.

39. If one repents after committing this crime, and reforms, GOD redeems him.
GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

40. Do you not know that GOD
possesses the sovereignty of the
heavens and the earth?
He punishes whomever He wills,
and forgives whomever He wills.
GOD is Omnipotent.

41. O you messenger, do not be sad-
dened by those who hasten to dis-
believe among those who say,
"We believe," with their mouths,
while their hearts do not believe.
Among the Jews, some listened
to lies. They listened to people who
never met you, and who distorted
the words out of context, then said,
"If you are given this, accept it,
but if you are given anything
different, beware." Whomever
GOD wills to divert, you can do
nothing to help him against GOD.
GOD does not wish to cleanse their
hearts. They have incurred
humiliation in this world,
and in the Hereafter,
they will suffer a terrible retribution.

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*5:38 The practice of cutting off the thief's hand, as decreed by the false Muslims, is a satanic practice without Quranic basis. Due to the special importance of this example, God has provided mathematical proof in support of marking the hand of the thief, rather than severing it. Verse 12:31 refers to the women who so admired Joseph that they
"cut" their hands. Obviously, they did not "cut off" their hands; nobody can. The sum of sura and verse numbers are the same for 5:38 and 12:31, i.e., 43. It is also the will and mercy of God that this mathematical relationship conforms with the Quran's 19-based code. Nineteen verses after 12:31, we see the same word (12:50).

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42. They are upholders of lies, and eaters of illicit earnings.
If they come to you to judge among them,
you may judge among them, or you may disregard them.
If you choose to disregard them,
they cannot harm you in the least.
But if you judge among them,
you shall judge equitably.
GOD loves those who are equitable.

43. Why do they ask you
to judge among them,
when they have the Torah,
containing GOD's law,
and they chose to disregard it?
They are not believers.

Honoring Previous Scripture

44. We have sent down the Torah,*
containing guidance and light.
Ruling in accordance with it
were the Jewish prophets,
as well as the rabbis and the priests,
as dictated to them in GOD's
scripture, and as witnessed
by them. Therefore, do not
reverence human beings; you shall
reverence Me instead.
And do not trade away My
revelations for a cheap price.
Those who do not rule in
accordance with GOD's revelations,
are the disbelievers.

The Law of Equivalence

45. And we decreed for them in it that:
the life for the life, the eye for the eye,
the nose for the nose, the ear for the ear,
the tooth for the tooth, and an equivalent injury for any injury.
If one forfeits what is due to him as a charity, it will atone for his sins.
Those who do not rule in accordance with
GOD's revelations are the unjust.

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*5:44 The Torah is a collection of all the scriptures revealed through all the prophets of Israel prior to Jesus Christ, i.e., today's Old Testament. Nowhere in the Quran do we find that the Torah was given to Moses.

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The Gospel of Jesus: Guidance and Light

46. Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary,
confirming the previous scripture, the Torah.
We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light,
and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah,
and augmenting its guidance and light,
and to enlighten the righteous.

47. The people of the Gospel shall rule
in accordance with GOD's
revelations therein.
Those who do not rule
in accordance with GOD's
revelations are the wicked.

Quran: The Ultimate Reference

48. Then we revealed to you this
scripture, truthfully, confirming
previous scriptures, and superseding
them. You shall rule among
them in accordance with GOD's
revelations, and do not follow
their wishes if they differ from
the truth that came to you. For
each of you, we have decreed laws
and different rites. Had GOD
willed, He could have made you
one congregation. But He thus
puts you to the test through the
revelations He has given each of you.
You shall compete in righteousness.
To GOD is your final destiny--all
of you--then He will inform you of
everything you had disputed.

49. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD's revelations to you.
Do not follow their wishes, and beware lest they divert you from some
of GOD's revelations to you. If they turn away, then know that GOD wills
to punish them for some of their sins.
Indeed, many people are wicked.

50. Is it the law of the days of ignorance that they seek to uphold?
Whose law is better than GOD's
for those who have attained certainty?

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Certain Jews and Christians Cannot Be Friends*

51. O you who believe, do not take certain Jews and Christians as allies;
these are allies of one another. Those among you who ally themselves
with these belong with them. GOD does not guide the transgressors.

52. You will see those who harbor doubt in their hearts hasten to join them, saying,
"We fear lest we may be defeated." May GOD bring victory, or a command
from Him, that causes them to regret their secret thoughts.

53. The believers will then say, "Are these the same people who swore
by GOD solemnly that they were
with you?" Their works have been
nullified; they are the losers.

54. O you who believe, if you revert
from your religion, then GOD will
substitute in your place people
whom He loves and who love Him.
They will be kind with the believers,
stern with the disbelievers, and
will strive in the cause of GOD
without fear of any blame. Such is
GOD's blessing; He bestows
it upon whomever He wills.
GOD is Bounteous, Omniscient.

55. Your real allies are GOD and His
messenger, and the believers who
observe the Contact Prayers (Salat ),
and give the obligatory charity
(Zakat ), and they bow down.

56. Those who ally themselves with
GOD and His messenger, and
those who believed, belong in
the party of GOD;
absolutely, they are the victors.

Which Jews and Christians

57. O you who believe, do not befriend those among the recipients of previous
scripture who mock and ridicule your religion,
nor shall you befriend the disbelievers.
You shall reverence GOD, if you are really believers.

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*5:51 Relations with other people are governed by the basic rule in 5:57 & 60:8-9. The Jews and Christians who cannot be friends are specifically mentioned in 5:57; they are the ones who mock and ridicule the believers, or attack them.
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Recipients of the Scriptures Transgress

58. When you call to the Contact Prayers (Salat ), they mock and ridicule it.
This is because they are people who do not understand.

59. Say, "O people of the scripture, do you not hate us because
we believe in GOD, and in what was revealed to us,
and in what was revealed before us,
and because most of you are not righteous?"

60. Say, "Let me tell you who are worse in the sight of GOD:
those who are condemned by GOD
after incurring His wrath until
He made them (as despicable as )
monkeys and pigs, and the idol
worshipers. These are far worse,
and farther from the right path."

61. When they come to you, they say,
"We believe," even though they
were full of disbelief when they
entered, and they are full of disbelief
when they leave. GOD is fully
aware of everything they conceal.

62. You see many of them readily
committing evil and transgression,
and eating from illicit earnings.
Miserable indeed is what they do.

63. If only the rabbis and the priests
enjoin them from their sinful
utterances and illicit earnings!
Miserable indeed is what they
commit.

Blaspheming Against God

64. The Jews even said, "GOD's hand is tied down!"
It is their hands that are tied down. They are condemned
for uttering such a blasphemy. Instead, His hands are wide open,
spending as He wills. For certain, your Lord's revelations to you
will cause many of them to plunge deeper into transgression and disbelief.
Consequently, we have committed them to animosity and hatred among them-
selves until the Day of Resurrection. Whenever they ignite the flames of war,
GOD puts them out. They roam the earth wickedly,
and GOD dislikes the evildoers.


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Salvation For Jews and Christians

65. If only the people of the scripture believe and lead a righteous life,
we will then remit their sins, and admit them into gardens of bliss.

They Must Believe in This Quran

66. If only they would uphold the Torah and the Gospel,
and what is sent down to them herein from their Lord,
they would be showered with blessings
from above them and from beneath their feet.
Some of them are righteous,
but many of them are evildoers.

The Messenger Must Deliver

67. O you messenger, deliver what is
revealed to you from your Lord--
until you do, you have not delivered
His message--and GOD will protect
you from the people. GOD does
not guide the disbelieving people.

68. Say, "O people of the scripture,
you have no basis until you uphold
the Torah, and the Gospel, and
what is sent down to you herein
from your Lord." For sure, these
revelations from your Lord will
cause many of them to plunge
deeper into transgression and
disbelief. Therefore, do not feel
sorry for the disbelieving people.

Minimum Requirements For Salvation

69. Surely, those who believe,
those who are Jewish,
the converts, and the Christians; any of them who
(1) believe in GOD and
(2) believe in the Last Day, and
(3) lead a righteous life,
have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

70. We have taken a covenant from the Children of Israel,
and we sent to them messengers.
Whenever a messenger went to them with anything they disliked,
some of them they rejected, and some they killed.

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71. They thought that they would not be tested,
so they turned blind and deaf, then GOD redeemed them,
but then many of them turned blind and deaf again.
GOD is Seer of everything they do.

Today's Christianity Not Jesus' Religion*

72. Pagans indeed are those who say
that GOD is the Messiah, son of Mary.
The Messiah himself said, "O Children of Israel,
you shall worship GOD; my Lord*
and your Lord." Anyone who sets up
any idol beside GOD, GOD has
forbidden Paradise for him,
and his destiny is Hell.
The wicked have no helpers.

73. Pagans indeed are those who say
that GOD is a third in a trinity.
There is no god except the one god.
Unless they refrain from saying this,
those who disbelieve among them
will incur a painful retribution.

74. Would they not repent to GOD,
and ask His forgiveness?
GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

75. The Messiah, son of Mary, is no
more than a messenger like the
messengers before him, and his
mother was a saint. Both of them
used to eat the food. Note how we
explain the revelations for them,
and note how they still deviate!

76. Say, "Would you worship beside
GOD powerless idols who can
neither harm you, nor benefit you?
GOD is Hearer, Omniscient."

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*5:72-76 In John 20:17, we see that Jesus taught that he was neither God, nor the son of God. Many theologians have concluded, after careful research, that today's Christianity is not the same Christianity taught by Jesus. Two outstanding books on this subject are "The Myth of God Incarnate" (The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1977) and The "Mythmaker" (Harper & Row, New York, 1986). On the front jacket of "The Mythmaker" we read the following statement:
" ...Hyam Maccoby presents new arguments to support the view that Paul, not Jesus, was the founder of Christianity....it was Paul alone who created a new religion through his vision of Jesus as a divine Saviour who died to save humanity."
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Choose Your Friends Carefully

77. Say, "O people of the scripture,
do not transgress the limits
of your religion beyond the truth,
and do not follow the opinions
of people who have gone astray,
and have misled multitudes of people;
they are far astray from the right path."

78. Condemned are those who disbelieved
among the Children of Israel,
by the tongue of David and Jesus,
the son of Mary. This is because
they disobeyed and transgressed.

Apathy Condemned

79. They did not enjoin one another
from committing evil.
Miserable indeed is what they did.

80. You would see many of them
allying themselves with those who
disbelieve. Miserable indeed is what
their hands have sent forth on behalf
of their souls. GOD is angry with
them and, consequently, they will
abide forever in retribution.

81. Had they believed in GOD,
and the prophet, and in what was
revealed to him herein, they
would not have befriended them.
But many of them are evil.

A Statement of Fact

82. You will find that the worst enemies
of the believers are the Jews
and the idol worshipers.
And you will find that the closest
people in friendship to the believers
are those who say, "We are Christian."
This is because they have
priests and monks among them,
and they are not arrogant.

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83. When they hear what was revealed to the messenger,
you see their eyes flooding with tears
as they recognize the truth therein,
and they say, "Our Lord,
we have believed,
so count us among the witnesses.

84. "Why should we not believe in GOD,
and in the truth that has come to us,
and hope that our Lord may admit
us with the righteous people?"

85. GOD has rewarded them for saying
this; He will admit them into gardens
with flowing streams. They abide
therein forever. Such is the reward
for the righteous.

86. As for those who disbelieve and
reject our revelations,
they are the dwellers of Hell.

Do Not Prohibit Lawful Things

87. O you who believe, do not prohibit
good things that are made lawful
by GOD, and do not aggress;
GOD dislikes the aggressors.

88. And eat from the good and lawful
things that GOD has provided for
you. You shall reverence GOD,
in whom you are believers.

Do Not Take God's Name in Vain

89. GOD does not hold you responsible
for the mere utterance of oaths;
He holds you responsible for your
actual intentions. If you violate
an oath, you shall atone by feeding ten poor people
from the same food you offer to your own family,
or clothing them, or by freeing a slave.
If you cannot afford t

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Intoxicants and Gambling Prohibited

90. O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols,
and the games of chance are abominations of the devil;
you shall avoid them, that you may succeed.

91. The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you
through intoxicants and gambling, and to distract you
from remembering GOD, and from observing
the Contact Prayers (Salat ).
Will you then refrain?

92. You shall obey GOD, and you shall
obey the messenger, and beware.
If you turn away, then know
that the sole duty of our messenger
is to deliver the message efficiently.

93. Those who believe and lead a
righteous life bear no guilt by
eating any food, so long as
they observe the commandments,
believe and lead a righteous life,
then maintain their piety and faith,
and continue to observe
piety and righteousness.
GOD loves the righteous.

Game Conservation

94. O you who believe, GOD will test
you with some game within reach
of your hands and your arrows
(during pilgrimage ). GOD thus
distinguishes those among you who
observe Him in their privacy.
Those who transgress after this
have incurred a painful retribution.

95. O you who believe, do not kill any game during pilgrimage. Anyone who
kills any game on purpose, his fine shall be a number of livestock animals
that is equivalent to the game animals he killed. The judgment shall be set
by two equitable people among you. They shall make sure that the offerings
reach the Ka`bah . Otherwise, he may expiate by feeding poor people, or by an
equivalent fast to atone for his offense. GOD has pardoned past offenses.
But if anyone returns to such an offense, GOD will avenge it.
GOD is Almighty, Avenger.

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All Creatures of the Sea Lawful to Eat

96. All fish of the sea are made lawful for you to eat. During pilgrimage, this may
provide for you during your journey. You shall not hunt throughout the
pilgrimage. You shall reverence GOD, before whom you will be summoned.

97. GOD has appointed the Ka`bah , the Sacred Masjid,* to be a sanctuary
for the people, and also the Sacred Months, the offerings (to the Sacred
Masjid ), and the garlands marking them. You should know that GOD knows
everything in the heavens and the earth,
and that GOD is Omniscient.

98. Know that GOD is strict in
enforcing retribution, and that
GOD is Forgiving, Most Merciful.

99. The sole duty of the messenger is
to deliver the message, and GOD
knows everything you declare and
everything you conceal.

100. Proclaim: "The bad and the good
are not the same, even if the
abundance of the bad may impress
you. You shall reverence GOD,
(even if you are in the minority, )
O you who possess intelligence,
that you may succeed."

101. O you who believe, do not ask
about matters which, if revealed
to you prematurely, would hurt
you. If you ask about them in light
of the Quran, they will become
obvious to you. GOD has
deliberately overlooked them.
GOD is Forgiver, Clement.

102. Others before you have asked
the same questions, then became disbelievers therein.

103. GOD did not prohibit livestock that begets certain combinations of males and
females, nor livestock liberated by an oath, nor the one that begets two males
in a row, nor the bull that fathers ten. It is the disbelievers who invented such
lies about GOD. Most of them do not understand.

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*5:97 The idol-worshiping Muslims have instituted two "Sacred Masjids" by consecrating the Prophet's tomb. The Quran talks only about one Sacred Masjid.

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Do Not Follow Your Parents' Religion Blindly

104. When they are told, "Come to what GOD has revealed,
and to the messenger," they say, "What we found our parents doing
is sufficient for us." What if their parents knew nothing,
and were not guided?

105. O you who believe, you should worry only about your own necks.
If the others go astray, they cannot hurt you,
as long as you are guided.
To GOD is your ultimate destiny,
all of you, then He will inform
you of everything you had done.

Witnessing A Will

106. O you who believe, witnessing a
will when one of you is dying
shall be done by two equitable
people among you. If you are
traveling, then two others may do
the witnessing. After observing the
Contact Prayer (Salat ), let the wit-
nesses swear by GOD, to alleviate
your doubts: "We will not use this
to attain personal gains, even if the
testator is related to us. Nor will
we conceal GOD's testimony.
Otherwise, we would be sinners."

107. If the witnesses are found to be
guilty of bias, then two others
shall be asked to take their places.
Choose two persons who were
victimized by the first witnesses,
and let them swear by GOD:
"Our testimony is more truthful
than theirs; we will not be biased.
Otherwise, we will be transgressors."

108. This is more apt to encourage
an honest testimony on their part,
fearing that their oath may be disregarded
like that of the previous witnesses.
You shall observe GOD and listen.
GOD does not guide the wicked.

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The Dead Messengers Totally Unaware

109. The day will come when GOD will summon
the messengers and ask them,
"How was the response to you?"
They will say, "We have no knowledge.
You are the Knower of all secrets."

110. GOD will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary,
remember My blessings upon you and
your mother. I supported you with
the Holy Spirit, to enable you to
speak to the people from the crib,
as well as an adult. I taught you the
scripture, wisdom, the Torah, and
the Gospel. Recall that you created
from clay the shape of a bird by My
leave, then blew into it, and it
became a live bird by My leave.
You healed the blind and the
leprous by My leave, and revived
the dead by My leave. Recall that I
protected you from the Children of
Israel who wanted to hurt you,
despite the profound miracles you
had shown them. The disbelievers
among them said, 'This is obviously
magic.'

111. "Recall that I inspired the
disciples: 'You shall believe in
Me and My messenger.' They said,
'We have believed, and bear
witness that we are submitters.' "

The Feast

112. Recall that the disciples said, "O Jesus, son of Mary,
can your Lord send down to us
a feast from the sky?" He said,
"You should reverence GOD, if you are believers."

113. They said, "We wish to eat from it,
and to reassure our hearts, and to know for sure
that you have told us the truth.
We will serve as witnesses thereof."

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Greater Miracles Bring Greater Responsibility*

114. Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "Our god, our Lord, send down to us a feast from
the sky. Let it bring plenty for each and every one of us, and a sign from You.
Provide for us; You are the best Provider."

115. GOD said, "I am sending it down. Anyone among you who disbelieves after
this, I will punish him as I never punished anyone else."*

On The Day Of Resurrection

116. GOD will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary,*
did you say to the people, 'Make
me and my mother idols beside
GOD'?" He will say, "Be You
glorified. I could not utter what
was not right. Had I said it, You
already would have known it. You
know my thoughts, and I do not
know Your thoughts.
You know all the secrets.

117. "I told them only what You com-
manded me to say, that: 'You
shall worship GOD, my Lord and
your Lord.' I was a witness among
them for as long as I lived with
them. When You terminated my
life on earth, You became the
Watcher over them. You witness
all things.

118. "If You punish them, they are Your
constituents. If You forgive them,
You are the Almighty, Most Wise."

119. GOD will proclaim, "This is a day
when the truthful will be saved by
their truthfulness." They have deserved gardens with flowing streams.
They abide therein forever. GOD is pleased with them,
and they are pleased with Him. This is the greatest triumph.

120. To GOD belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth,
and everything in them, and He is Omnipotent.

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*5:114-115 The Quran's overwhelming miracle (Appendix 1) is described in 74:35 as "One of the greatest miracles," and brings with it an uncommonly great responsibility.
*5:116 It is noteworthy that the Quran consistently calls Jesus "son of Mary" and the Bible calls him "son of man." God knew that some will blaspheme and call him "son of God!"
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