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
أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Do you not know that to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth? He punishes whom He wills and forgives whom He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ
They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing.
وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَهُمْ فَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَأَغْرَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ ٱلْعَدَاوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ وَسَوْفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ
And from those who say, "We are Christians" We took their covenant; but they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded. So We caused among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. And Allāh is going to inform them about what they used to do.
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.