يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعُقُودِ ۚ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّى ٱلصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ 1
Translations
O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts. Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you [in this Qur’ān] - hunting not being permitted while you are in the state of iḥrām. Indeed, Allāh ordains what He intends.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu awfu bi-al-uqud. Uhillat lakum bahimat al-an'am illa ma yutla alaikum ghayra muhilli al-saydi wa antum hurum. Inna Allah yahkumu ma yureed.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Al-Ma'idah commands the believers to fulfill their covenants and contracts, establishing the foundation for Islamic jurisprudence on obligations. It then permits the consumption of livestock except those forbidden by Islamic law, while prohibiting the hunting of game animals for those in the state of ihram (consecration for Hajj). Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that covenant fulfillment extends to all agreements—with Allah, with the Prophet, and with other people—making this ayah foundational to Islamic ethics and the concept of amanah (trust).
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Madinah during a period of increased legislative activity regarding halal/haram matters and community contracts. The opening command reflects the Quranic emphasis on establishing justice and mutual trust in the developing Muslim community, particularly addressing disputes over lawful transactions and hunting during pilgrimage.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most grievous lie is when a man lies about his dream,' and more broadly, 'Whoever is given a trust should return it to the one who trusted him' (Sunan Abu Dawud, 3535). Also, 'There is no game (hunting) for one in ihram' (Sahih Al-Bukhari 1840), directly reflecting the prohibition mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that honoring one's commitments—whether to Allah or to fellow humans—is a fundamental pillar of Islamic morality, while respecting the boundaries set by Islamic law regarding what is permissible. For modern believers, it underscores the importance of integrity in business transactions, personal relationships, and religious observance.
Related Ayahs
فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابًا يَبْحَثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُۥ كَيْفَ يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ أَعَجَزْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِثْلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْغُرَابِ فَأُوَٰرِىَ سَوْءَةَ أَخِى ۖ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّـٰدِمِينَ
Then Allāh sent a crow searching [i.e., scratching] in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the disgrace [i.e., body] of my brother?" And he became of the regretful.
أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allāh in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those are the companions of Hellfire.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَيَبْلُوَنَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلصَّيْدِ تَنَالُهُۥٓ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَرِمَاحُكُمْ لِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَخَافُهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, Allāh will surely test you through something of the game that your hands and spears [can] reach, that Allāh may make evident those who fear Him unseen. And whoever transgresses after that - for him is a painful punishment.