5. Surah Al-Ma'idah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ...

5: 7. And call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, and His Covenant, which He ratified with you,

C705. There is a particular and a general meaning.

The particular meaning refers to the solemn Pledge and Covenant taken by two groups of people at 'Aqabah, a valley near Mina,

- the first about fourteen months before the Hijrah, and

- the second a little later.

These were Pledges of fealty to the Messenger of Allah, comparable to the Covenant under Mount Sinai taken in the time of Moses (See 2:63 and n. 78).

The general meaning has been explained in n. 682 to 5:1: man is under a spiritual obligation under an implied Covenant with Allah:

Allah has given man reason, judgment, the higher faculties of the soul, and even the position of vicegerent on earth (2:30), and man is bound to serve Allah faithfully-and obey His Will.

That obedience begins with cleanliness in bodily functions, food, etc. It goes on to cleanliness of mind and thought, and culminates in purity of motives in the inmost recesses of his heart and soul.

... إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا...

when ye said: "We hear and we obey":

... وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ﴿٧﴾

and fear Allah, for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.

Other versions:

5: 7 [al-Maidah, Medina 112]

Asad And [always] remember the blessings which God has bestowed upon you, and the solemn pledge by which He bound you to Himself when you said,………….

Yusuf Ali And call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you and His Covenant which He ratified with you when ye said: "We hear and we obey": and fear Allah for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.

Pickthall Remember Allah's grace upon you and His covenant by which He bound you when ye said: We hear and we obey; and keep your duty to Allah. Allah knoweth what is in the breasts (of men).

Transliteration Wazkuru_ ni'matalla_hi 'alaikum wa mis_qahul lazi wa_saqakum bih(i), iz qultum sami'na_ wa ata'na_, wattaqulla_h(a), innalla_ 'alimum bi za_tis sudu_r(i).